When people search for a photographer, two terms come up often: headshot photography and portrait photography. They sound similar, but they serve very different purposes. I do both frequently and here is my personal take on the difference between the two. I’ve also included some of my headshot photos and portrait photos so you can compare and see what might be best for you.
1. What is Headshot Photography?
Here are a couple of examples of headshot photography that I created:
As you can see, headshot photography is about creating a professional image of you, usually from the shoulders up. Most often you will be looking straight at the camera and it is all about your face.
Summary of what headshot photography is for:
- Purpose: Used for LinkedIn, company websites, speaking engagements, press releases etc
- Style: Clean background, natural light or studio lighting, direct eye contact, approachable expression.
- Goal: To make you look professional, confident, and trustworthy.
In short, a headshot is your professional picture that you can share so that people know what the professional version of you looks like. I love to do headshots, even though they seem quite simple, getting a good one can be harder than you think so sometimes it’s good to ask someone who knows what they are doing to do it for you.
2. What is Portrait Photography?
Portrait photography goes beyond the headshot. It’s designed to show personality, character, and context and tell more of a story about what you do. usually it shows more than just your head and shoulders. I took these portrait photos to try to tell more about the person.
Summary of what portrait photography is in this context:
- Purpose: Used for branding, website content and showing how it is to work with you.
- Style: Can be in-studio or on location, may include props, environments you work in and will show more that just head and shoulders
- Goal: To tell a story about you – your role, the way you work, your personality.
A portrait photo I shoot might capture a CEO in their office, a therapist in a consulting room, or an entrepreneur in a space that reflects their work.
3. Headshot vs Portrait Photography: Which Do You Need?
I think people need headshots for their main profile, but if they are building a website, want to show more about what they or their team does they need portrait photos.
Summary of headshots vs portraits:
- If you need a profile photo for LinkedIn or your company’s “About Us” page → headshot photography.
- If you want images that tell a story about you and your work → portrait photography.
- If you want to cover all bases → many clients choose both.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Headshot = professional clarity.
- Portrait = personality and story.
I like doing both. Both have value, and both can be tailored to your needs. If you want to chat about what’s best for you, just get in touch.
