How to take a good headshot
One of the most important (and often overlooked) marketing assets in your toolkit is your headshot.
As someone who has managed a therapist directory site for the Gottman Institute and created social media graphics using bad therapist headshots, I feel strongly about this topic.
Spend a few minutes browsing profiles on Psychology Today and you don’t need to be a marketing professional to notice there’s a real problem: Photos are blurry, distorted, pixelated, dated, and some profiles don’t even have a photo!
My friends at Mental Health Match put together a free guide to help you take a good headshot. The goal is to have a photo that inspires both an emotional connection and a feeling of professional confidence.
According to Mental Health Match, there are four aspects of a good headshot. They should know—they’ve matched more than 60,000 people to therapists.
Lighting
Your face should be highlighted without shadows or glare.
Eye Contact
Your eyes should be clearly visible.
Background
A distracting background can pull attention away from you.
Presentation
Your pose, clothing, and facial expression should be relatable.
Download the free guide to see examples of what to do and what not to do. Not sure if your photo works? Send it to a friend and get their honest feedback.
Your headshot doesn’t need to be taken by a professional photographer in a studio, either. A friend or family member can help you stage a great photo. The best headshots I’ve seen are casual, where the therapist looks comfortable.
Bottom line: Be yourself.
Together, we can rid the internet of bad therapist headshots.