White Background Headshots:  Classic and Professional or Just Plain Boring?

It’s the comment we hear most frequently when we talk to our Cincinnati Headshot clients.  ‘I want a professional headshot, but I don’t want a boring, plain white background.’  Why the hate for the simple, classic, white background?  We’re not sure, but some where along the line the white background got a very bad rap.  This time in the blog we are tackling this concern and giving you the pros, cons, and our overall recommedations for the Must Have Headshot.

The Pros

• Make it All About You:  A white background removes all distractions and allows the focus of the headshot to be you, and only you.  If you’re looking for a new job, that selfie in the bathroom isn’t going to cut it.  Simp-li-fy.  Remove the clutter.
• Classic and Timeless:  White background headshots are the blue jeans of photography.  They never go out of style.  A headshot with a classic white background will look current in 10 or 15 years (not that we’re suggesting you wait that long for a new image!).
• Consistent:  If you’re taking pictures of multiple members of a team, classic white is a great way to insure that you get a consistent look.  This is key if you want to use those shots in marketing material or if you have frequent turn over.
• Professional Touch:  White backgrounds are not a DIY project.  Getting a properly exposed white background without washing out the face does take skill and training.  A white background usually indicates you value your image and invested in a headshot with a professional.
• Seamless Integration:  White backgrounds are ideal for use on most websites.  They blend visually with the overall page and allow the images to really shine.
• Friendly and Approachable:  A white background typically makes the headshot feel inviting and happy.  Do we really need to explain why this is a great option for job hunting or trying to pull in that target audience?

The Cons

• Not personalized:  If you want to show your personality or highlight other aspects of your brand, a personal branding shot might be more in line with your needs.  Our branding sessions go beyond the white background to draw in other brand elements into your image.
• Dark clothes or complexion:  If you want to wear dark clothing or have a dark complexion, a white background headshot might not be the best fit.  This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but definitely something to remember.
• Moody or Serious:  If you’re looking to present a more serious or confident tone, the white background might not be the best fit.  A tough prosecutor, responsible for taking on big corporations might want something more moody and dramatic.  Another example is this recent shoot with did for a local, home improvement company:

Our Recommendation

• Don’t have a professional headshot?  If you don’t have a professional headshot, our recommendation is to Go White!
• Need to be more serious:  Already have a classic headshot and need something to take your image to the next level, Go Grey!
• Newest trend:  Want an alternate?  We have more and more clients requesting transparent backgrounds so that they can create multiple looks with one image.  We can provide that and lots of other options.

Need help creating your perfect headshot?  Contact us!

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