Protip – Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of using a solid background for your headshot. Don’t get me wrong, I like a beautifully blurred background as much as anyone, but this can be distracting when it comes to your headshot. Your headshot’s sole purpose is to have the viewer looking at you and not the background.

I see a trend online and on various social media sites where photographers use a blurry background. It is not something new, as it has been popular for some time now. As mentioned above, I don’t mind this look if used in the proper context. I do, however, feel that it is overused when it comes to headshots. I think this is because it looks more creative and artistic, so the photographers and their clients like it. In many cases, the problem is that the person viewing your headshot will be looking at the background and not you. Hence their eyes wander around the frame.

A great example of a plain solid background is a white background. You guessed it, just a solid white background. The only thing the viewer can look at when viewing your headshot is you. Just what we want. The funny thing about a white background is many people think it is simple and easy to pull off. The truth is that to do this correctly, it’s not super simple. If you are interested in going with a white background for your headshot, my recommendation is to do your research while looking for a photographer to hire. Check out their website and social media sites to see if they have any sample images with a white background. Again, if done correctly, it can be very effective.

Some other examples of solid backgrounds that are very popular are grey, black, and blue. These are especially great for business headshots as they are more neutral.

They are just as powerful for actors, but it is also great to explore other opportunities for color. Maybe red, orange, yellow, and teal, for example. Regardless of the background color of choice, I always recommend choosing something that compliments your clothing. Mixing and matching different colored backgrounds with different clothing can be fun and produce tremendous and unique results. My motto here is do not be afraid to explore and try different options.

So, after all of the rambling above, you might wonder what is my point? What am I trying to say here? Well, the point is – when it comes to your headshot, why give the viewer’s eyes any opportunity to wander!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding any of the information provided in this article, and as always, I look forward to working with you.