The Importance of the Background in your Headshots

If you were to ask anyone what they thought was involved in having a headshot photo taken, I suspect they’d imagine it was a 2-minute process that involved standing in front of a photographer taking a few snaps of them looking straight at the camera.

Not quite…but that’s for another time.

For now, have you ever considered what’s actually behind you when standing in front of a camera?

A headshot background can take many forms, but its main purpose should always be to compliment the sitter. A well thought out backdrop should work with your skin tone and features, as well as your hair style and hair colour. It can also influence your choice of clothing, and vice versa. Ultimately, a proper background will be something that will enhance your headshot rather than distract.

Depending on the purpose of the headshot, whether it’s for a chief executive or a team member, for an acting job, or for your own personal social media accounts, there are a range of options available:

White

A white background gives a clean and contemporary look to the image and tends to be slightly more casual and less formal. This is a good option for someone working in the catering industry, or in health and fitness, for example, and tends to suit a company’s workforce rather than board members.

Off white / Grey

This is less ‘clinical’ than a pure white background and has a softer feel, while still retaining the professional headshot feel. Similar in effect to the warm/neutral option, it’s understated and does not detract from the sitter and will gently enhance their features.

Warm/neutral colours

This has a similar effect to the off white/grey option but tends to be softer and more inviting – less corporate. It has a soft, understated, quiet, timeless appeal and allows the warmth of the subject to radiate.

Dark grey

One of my favourite background choices, this allows colours to pop from the page and can really enhance all types of skin tones. This look is also good for a corporate boardroom.

Cool colours

Similar to the dark grey background, cooler colours tend to be for a more conservative, corporate, look. Colours are generally blue.

Black

Black, like pure white, can be stark but is wonderful for bringing out the details in a sitter’s face. It is sometimes used to totally isolate the face, especially if dark colours are worn. The face therefore becomes the primary element in the frame.

Office/Interior

This suits a more relaxed, casual, look, and backgrounds are generally blurred out so that no features are identifiable. This is a good choice for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Outdoors

This is similar to the office/interior background but shows someone who is more involved in the outdoors or is more at home in an outdoors setting. This could suit a dog walker, an outdoor tradesman, or, in this case, a dance music composer.

So, the next time you arrange to have your headshots taken, remember to speak with your photographer to make sure you are complemented with the best choice of background.