Aren’t headshots the same as portraits? If you are in search of an answer to this mind-boggling question, you are in the right place!
In this article, we will explain the differences between headshots and portraits. We will also cover how to choose between the two.
Headshots
Headshots are close-up photos of your face—shoulders and up—with the subject gazing straight into the camera. Headshots are used on business cards, websites, marketing materials, or online profiles that require a professional appearance.
Headshots are for introducing yourself to clients and communicating with them about your approachability, experience, and trustworthiness. Besides that, they are great for a LinkedIn profile, CV, company website, or an audition if you’re a musician, model, etc.
Portraits
A portrait is a distinct image of a person taken from a wider angle for different purposes. It’s “all about the story” in portraits. Portraits capture your personality and tell a story to your audience.
You can find Portraits of your favorite authors on book covers. They may incorporate props and instruments for storytelling, as well as more dramatic lighting and shadowing. In addition, portraits appear in editorial news pieces, lifestyle commercials, book jackets, blog posts, social media posts, and framed art on the wall.
Undoubtedly, you now know what headshots and portraits are. Let’s dive into the differences between them.
Focus
Lens focus is the distinguishing difference between a headshot and a portrait. The subject’s head is framed much closer in a headshot. Also, the emphasis is on the subject’s expression.
In contrast, portraits are framed with a broader look and display the subject’s body and environment while focusing primarily on the subject.
Space
Space in the photograph is another factor photographers think about pretty often when booking their clients. The amount of space needed for a headshot is smaller than that required for a portrait (particularly full length).
You can take headshots in a person’s living room. However, taking a full-length portrait would be nearly impossible.
Eye Contact
Most headshots have the subject looking directly into the camera; more eye contact in a photograph portrays more confidence with the viewer and the focus is drawn to the subject’s expression.
An excellent headshot will have a sharp focus around the eyes; most photographers will blur the backdrop.
Alternatively, the subject will not have direct eye contact in portraits, although some photographers may capture direct eye contact. The subject can also be captured glancing ‘off-camera.’ As a result, the image viewer becomes more of a bystander.
Lighting
You can change the lighting for a portrait or a headshot at any time. However, a silhouette headshot would be unusual! There aren’t any lighting settings that are specifically for portraits or headshots.
Most photographers tend to employ the same lighting schemes for portraits and headshots. They don’t use harsh lighting in either case, but soft lighting is better for headshots.
As a photographer, the only thing to think about here is the modifiers utilized. The ‘up-close nature of a headshot necessitates using small modifiers to get the ideal soft light. To achieve the same soft light in a wider-framed portrait, you will need to use large modifiers.
Environment
Another distinction between portraits and headshots is the environment setup.
Many headshots are taken against a plain background or cropped so that the surroundings aren’t visible. These are professional pictures that need no glamour or distractions from the environment.
However, in portraits, the surroundings may play a unique role in the shot if the photographer believes it adds to the story they are trying to tell about the subject. For example, a portrait picture of an artist’s drawing will cover the painting board, artistic frames on the wall, a full capture of the artist’s drawing, and more.
How to Choose Between Headshots and Portraits
The how-to depends on what you are looking to get from the session. Here are some factors to consider when choosing between a headshot or a Portrait:
- The Specific Purpose: Is the photograph going to be used professionally or for personal use? If professionally, is it in a group setting? If you are going to use the photograph professionally, a headshot is most likely your best bet. Alternatively, portraits are best for personal pictures, although, in some instances, portraits are great professionally, like capturing a picture of a professional corporate team.
- Mood: What emotion do you want to portray? Do you want to be serious, or present a casual tone, smiling and approachable, or other tones?
- Background: What picture setting do you desire? Do you want an image taken in your workspace or office? Or a neutral setting?
The three factors above will determine whether you should use a Headshot or Portrait.
Final Thoughts
The most significant distinction between headshots and portraits is the purpose for which they are used. Photographers should always ask questions to clarify their customer’s objectives.
Now that you’re well versed on this topic, check out some of the headshots and portraits our team of professional photographers has taken of our clients.
Related Tag:- Professional Headshots
