Media Day · Headshot prep
A little direction. A natural result.
Eight adaptable starting points for your Media Day headshot. Your slot runs about two minutes and we coach you through every frame, so skim these and walk in knowing exactly what to do with your shoulders.
Pose 01
The three-quarter turn
Turn your shoulders 30 to 45 degrees away, bring your face back to the lens, and ease your forehead slightly forward. Try both sides.
Watch for: Twisting the neck hard or lifting the near shoulder.
Pose 02
The squared-up
Face the lens with shoulders nearly square and settled. Keep your chin level and your jaw soft. Try neutral, then a small smile.
Watch for: Pulling the shoulders rigidly back or clenching the jaw.
Pose 03
Crossed arms, relaxed
Angle your torso slightly. Fold your arms loosely near your lower ribs or waist, wherever comfortable. Let your shoulders fall.
Watch for: Squeezing the chest or gripping the sleeves.
Pose 04
The small lean
Keep your spine long and hinge an inch or two toward the camera from your hips, as if listening closely to a client.
Watch for: Rounding the upper back or reaching with the chin alone.
Pose 05
The real smile
Think of a friend saying something funny. Breathe out, let the laugh happen, then reconnect with the lens as it settles.
Watch for: Holding a wide smile until it becomes tense. Reset often.
Pose 06
The seated angle
Sit toward the front of a stable seat. Turn slightly, keep your feet supported, and let your hands rest on your thighs.
Watch for: Sinking into the seat, or perching so far forward you lose balance.
Pose 07
One hand in a pocket
Stand at a slight angle. Slip one hand lightly into a trouser pocket and let the other arm hang naturally. Drop the shoulders.
Watch for: Burying both hands deeply or pushing an elbow wide.
Pose 08
The light jacket touch
Lightly touch the jacket edge as if you have just adjusted it. Keep the elbow low, the wrist easy, and the fingers soft.
Watch for: Gripping or tugging the fabric, or holding a stiff hand.
Hand-based poses need a wider frame; the hand placement disappears in a tight headshot crop. We shoot both, so you get the close crop and the wider portrait either way.
Before the day
Small changes that help on camera.
Plan the crop
We capture a head-and-shoulders frame and a wider portrait, so leave room in your mind for both. Square and circular profile crops come from the tighter one.
Keep the wardrobe familiar
Bring two well-fitting outfits that feel like your working style. Simple colors are an easy start. Steam clothing, empty bulky pockets, and check collars and lapels.
Check glasses early
Wear your everyday glasses if they are part of your look. Clean the lenses; we take a test frame and adjust your angle if reflections cover the eyes.
Reset neck and shoulders
Exhale, drop the shoulders, and imagine length through the crown of your head. Ease the forehead forward only a little. The position should feel comfortable.
Photograph the transitions
We shoot neutral, a small smile, and a fuller smile, and talk between sets. The keeper is usually the expression as it settles, and we review frames with you early.
Arrive rested
Sleep the night before does more than anything sold in a bottle, and a haircut sits best three or four days ahead, not the morning of.
Finding the light, the lens, and the focus are our job, not yours. We usually shoot outside with a soft, blurred background. Show up a couple of minutes before your slot and we handle the rest.