How to Take Professional Headshots by Yourself at Home

Ever found yourself needing a professional headshot yesterday? Maybe for that last-minute job application, an unexpected networking opportunity, or updating that increasingly outdated LinkedIn profile picture—yikes, does that even look like you anymore?

Fortunately, you don't need to rush and book a pricey studio session. You can learn how to take professional headshots by yourself at home for a fraction of the cost. And, you might (we said might) have a bit of fun in the process, too.

Below, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to take professional headshots by yourself—from setting up the perfect space to dialing in your outfits and poses.

Oh, and before we dive into the nitty-gritty tips, you might want to hear this first. You can skip all these steps and get straight to high-quality photos with Aragon.ai—it's our AI headshot generator that turns your so-so selfies into woah-woah professional headshots. Try it and see for yourself.

How to Take Professional Headshots by Yourself

Think you need a professional studio or an expensive photographer to get that perfect headshot? Think again.

We can help you turn your bedroom or living room into the perfect setting to capture your professional headshot. Plus, you won't need to run off to IKEA or Hobby Lobby to get any lighting or props—there's a good chance you already have everything.

1. Plan Your Headshots

Before you start painting your walls or moving furniture around the room, pause and think about the kind of headshot you need. Are you:

• Updating your LinkedIn profile picture with a professional look
• Going for a casual, relaxed vibe with your dating profile
• Taking a clean photo for your residency application
• Showing off your corporate side with a suit and tie

Everything you do next depends on your answer to this question, so take some time and think about it.

2. Find Headshot Examples You Like

Do a little extra homework before you start lining up the camera. Look around the internet for headshot examples that catch your eye. Need a starting place? Check out 13 Professional Headshot Examples to Inspire Your Own.

What draws you to (or away) from these examples? Do you like the way they posed, or is it the outfit they're wearing? What do you think about their expression? Did they do anything special with lighting?

This isn't about copying—it's about finding the qualities you want in your own headshot. Save these headshots for later. Once you're done with the process, it's fun to see how your final headshots compare to the examples that inspired you from the get-go.

3. Choose the Background

The right background takes your headshot from good to great. Sometimes, that's simply standing in front of a plain white wall—other times, it's incorporating a textured curtain or outdoor setting.

Regardless of your background choice, you'll always want to go for subtle. Remember, the headshot is about you—you are the focus. Never let your background steal the show. Its only purpose is to complement you.

You want to create enough contrast between you and the background to give you a special pop.

Here's a quick, general guide to choosing the right background:

• LinkedIn Profile: Go for a simple, uncluttered background with soft grays or blues.
• Creative Portfolio: Choose a textured background or outdoor setting (like a brick wall) to add a bit of artistic flair.
• Corporate Website: Use a solid, neutral backdrop or a professional office environment for corporate headshots.
• Dating Profile: Let your background add to your story. Are you the cozy-cafe coffee sipper or an outdoorsy adrenaline junkie?
• Modeling Portfolio: Mix things up with urban textures or play it safe with neutral background colors.
• Residency Application: Keep it simple with a clean background color.

4. Tweak Your Lighting

Light up your face. Good lighting can brighten eyes, smooth skin, and make your best side pop. Here's how to light it right:

• Chase the Sun: Natural light is your best friend. Position yourself near a window for soft, natural light. Avoid harsh direct sunlight, though—that can create shadows and highlights that are a bit too dramatic.
• Avoid Overhead Lighting: Stay away from overhead lights—they give you that raccoon look (and not in a good, cute way).
• Ring Light Magic: Ring light provides even light all around your face. It gives you that professional glow.

5. Dress for the Occasion

Your outfit (including your hair) might be your only prop—make it count. Again, this should never detract from you. Your wardrobe and style should highlight the best parts about you.

Remember, it's all about getting that job, impressing that investor, or winning that date. Nobody cares about your cool, patterned shirt—they care about you.

Stick with classic cuts and solid colors to keep your headshot timeless. Doing trendy outfits or hairstyles might feel fun, but it's what inevitably leads to those embarrassing high school yearbooks you won't let anyone open.

Scary.

Ultimately, do what makes you feel good, though. That's the most important part of taking your professional headshot by yourself at home. Look your best, feel your best, be your best—that's a safe motto to follow.

6. Set Up Your Gear

You don't need anything to fancy for your at-home photoshoot. Your smartphone camera will likely do the trick, but you can always whip out a digital camera if you're feeling fancy (and just happen to have one nearby).

Go ahead and position it on a stable surface. Please, for the love of this world, don't try to take a selfie for your professional headshot. There's only one time that works, and that's when you're using Aragon.ai's headshot generator to turn your selfies into headshots—if you're not using that, put your camera on a sturdy surface or tripod.

Please.

Set the camera at eye level. Too high, and you'll get bird-eye view vibes—too low, and you'll get a cute double chin. Use a remote shutter or smartphone assistant to take a hands-free picture.

7. Try Multiple Poses

Start with your go-to pose. You know which one we're talking about. The best part about taking professional headshots at home by yourself is that you have nothing to worry about—just have fun. Be yourself.

Nobody is watching. Do your executive impressions, play around with classic poses, and experiment with model shots.

You might try different angles. Look over your shoulder. Look directly at the camera. Look off to the side.

It's all about quality over quantity, so just take dozens of different pictures and narrow them down later.

8. Take Lots of Shots

Speaking of which, go to town on the shots. Delete some extra space on your phone or camera if you need to—give your headshots room to breathe.

More shots give you more opportunity to find that perfect headshot. Unless you're doing a modeling or actor headshot session, you don't need dozens of headshots. You usually just need one.

Change your poses, tweak your smile, and adjust your gaze—each shot might reveal a different part of your personality.

9. Edit, Edit, Edit

Editing is where the magic happens. It’s really important—that’s why I said it three times, you know, instead of once.

Start with the basics: adjust the brightness and contrast to make sure your face is well-lit and your features pop. Smooth out any distracting shadows or highlights. Then, tweak the color balance to keep your skin tones natural and healthy-looking.

Remember, less is more. Avoid over-editing. Edit too much, and you won't look like yourself anymore—and that's not what we're going for here.

Use tools like blemish removers sparingly. The goal is to polish your shot subtly so it still looks natural.

10. Choose Your Favorite Shots

You've done the hard part, and now it's time to kick back, relax, and reap the rewards. Lay out all your contenders and start by weeding out any obvious no-gos—those with awkward expressions, poor lighting, or just plain-off moments.

Quality over quantity here. If the headshot doesn't excite you or give you a meh vibes, get rid of it. No questions asked.

Focus on the ones that make you pause, the shots where you look and feel cool, confident, and approachable. Compare these top picks side by side. Look for clarity in your features, the right balance in lighting, and that undefinable spark in your eyes.

Don't rush the process. Sometimes, the best choice becomes more obvious the longer you sit with it.

Finally, get a second opinion. Ask someone to look through your options and choose their favorites. Fresh eyes can often spot things you might have missed (like that flyaway or wrinkly collar). And, after all, this headshot isn't just for you—it's for every potential client, employer, or special somebody who sees it.

Skip the At-Home Photo Session with Aragon.ai

Feeling a little camera shy or just not up for the DIY professional headshots by yourself at home? No worries—we created Aragon.ai for you.

Aragon.ai lets you skip the at-home photo session and get straight to high-quality headshots. Here's how:

• Super Simple: Forget about juggling gear and tweaking settings. Aragon.ai handles all the heavy lifting, from lighting and backgrounds to poses and outfits.
• Consistently Professional: Every shot is high-quality, ready for publication material. No additional editing necessary.
• Custom-Made: Choose from different backgrounds, poses, and styles that match your use case.
• Budget-Friendly: Save on studio fees, photographer costs, and travel. Aragon.ai offers quality headshots for around the same price as a week's worth of Starbucks.

Ready to let Aragon.ai take professional headshots at home for you? Try Aragon.ai and see how easy it is to get your headshot—right from the comfort of your home.