Someone gets their headshots back and thinks:
“I look older than I am.”
“I look tired.”
“My eyes are half closed.”
“I look like I want to murder someone.”
They assume the problem is their face.
In most cases, it isn’t.
The issue is usually the photography.
A headshot can make someone look flatter, wider, shinier, older and less like themselves if the setup isn’t right. And when companies run “quick headshot days” or photographers use a one-size-fits-all setup, these problems appear very quickly.
Bad headshots don’t usually fail because of complex technical mistakes. They fail because of basic things that were overlooked.
Let’s look at the common ones.
Flat Frontal Lighting
Lighting is the biggest factor in whether a headshot works.
If the light is too direct and too even, it removes shape from the face. Everything becomes flat and wide because there are no shadows creating structure.
Human faces need a little shadow to define cheekbones, jawlines and eye sockets. Without that, the image loses depth and the face can look broader than it really is.
Another common issue is when the light is placed almost directly above the camera. This wipes out most shadows and produces the classic “passport photo” look.
Different faces also need different lighting. Someone with strong features might suit slightly softer light. Someone with a rounder face often benefits from more directional light that creates shape.
When everyone is photographed with exactly the same lighting setup, some people will inevitably get a less flattering result.
Bad Posing
Most people are not professional models.
They don’t know what to do with their chin, shoulders, or posture when a camera is pointed at them. That’s completely normal.
A good headshot photographer guides people through this. Small adjustments can make a huge difference:
- Slightly lowering or raising the chin
- Turning the shoulders a little away from the camera
- Adjusting posture
- Bringing the head slightly forward to define the jawline
- Choosing the right moment to shoot between expressions
Without direction, people tend to stiffen up. They stand too straight, tense their shoulders, or push their chin back into their neck.
The result can be a photo that simply doesn’t look like them.
No Separation From The Background
Another common issue is when someone is photographed too close to the background.
If the subject is standing right against a wall, two things happen:
First, shadows appear directly behind them.
Second, the image loses depth.
A good portrait usually has some visual separation between the person and the background. That can be created with:
- Distance from the background
- Lighting on the subject but not the wall
- A shallow depth of field
- A different tone or colour behind the person
Without separation, the image can feel cramped and flat.
Poor Camera Position
Camera height matters more than most people realise.
A camera positioned slightly too low can be deeply unflattering. It shows more of the underside of the chin and neck and can make the face appear heavier.
For many people, placing the camera around eye level or slightly above produces a much more natural result.
The angle also affects how confident or approachable someone appears. Small changes in camera position can subtly change the entire feeling of the portrait.
Again, a one-size-fits-all setup rarely works well for everyone.
No Attention To Detail
The final stage of a good headshot is attention to detail.
This includes things like:
- Shine on the forehead
- Reflections on glasses
- Blown highlights on skin or clothing
- Flyaway hairs
- Slight colour corrections
- Small retouching adjustments
None of this is about heavy editing or making someone look artificial.
It’s about removing distractions so the viewer focuses on the person rather than technical flaws in the photo.
When these things are ignored, the result can feel unfinished and people become very self-critical when they see the image.
Why This Matters
Headshots are often used on websites, LinkedIn profiles, company marketing, and press features. They represent someone professionally.
When a headshot doesn’t work, people often blame themselves.
They think they looked tired that day.
Or that they are simply “not photogenic”.
Usually, the issue is much simpler.
Lighting, posing, camera angle and attention to detail have a huge influence on how someone appears in a photograph.
Get those things right, and most people look like themselves – just on a good day.
Get them wrong, and even a very confident person can end up feeling uncomfortable with the result.
