A great headshot should feel natural, confident, and professional. Many people undercut their image with small, avoidable mistakes. Here are ten to watch for.
The Ten to Avoid
- Using a selfie or a cropped group photo instead of a real session
- Wearing busy patterns, logos, or overly trendy clothing
- Flat or harsh lighting that exaggerates shadows
- Stiff posture and forced expressions
- Heavy retouching that removes texture and character
- Distracting or mismatched backgrounds
- An outdated photo that no longer looks like you
- Ignoring where the image will actually be used
- Skipping professional direction on head tilt, eye line, and posture
- Treating the headshot as an afterthought
How Direction Fixes Most of This
Most of these come down to guidance. In a Len Marks session, lighting, posture, and expression are handled in the room, so you walk out with an image that looks like your best day rather than a lucky frame.
The Takeaway
A strong headshot is not about perfection. It is about clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Avoid these and your image supports your goals instead of working against them.