How to Choose Professional Headshot Background: 15 Best Ideas
June 22, 2022Taking a headshot is always very important, even though most people tend to be more concerned with how they look. To make your headshot more attractive or professional, you must choose a good background. However, a great headshot background should not be more distracting in your photo, instead should draw more attention of the viewers towards you. The background of your headshot should showcase your professionalism and personality.
For instance, if you are a mechanic and have a well-organized working and lit toll bench for work, using the bench in your background can tell more about your precession. For this reason, you can see that taking a headshot is more than just taking any other photo of yourself. This article focuses on the essential ideas you may consider when choosing the best headshot background for your shot.
How to choose the best headshot background?
Before choosing a background for a headshot, you need to understand that they are of two types, including the natural shot and the studio shot. For natural background, this involves any shot taken in the real world. The headshots can be taken against the wall or outside against a unique scenery or building. The photo can be lightened in this type of background without changing the background. Most people prefer natural background headshot as the best way to add unique features to a photo.
On the other hand, studio backgrounds are the common backgrounds you see in many photos. They can be black, grey, or white and are always preferred for professional headshots used in advertisements or business cards. This is because this background is simple and will draw viewers' attention to what the photo looks like. Therefore, when choosing the background, consider the following steps;
Step 1: Choose your background considering the purpose of your headshot. This is the most factor that will make the photo reveal your profession.
Step 2: Consider your dressings when choosing a background. This will help you select a background color that perfectly matches your dress color to make the shot more attractive.
Step 3: Choose a background headshot that will make the photo tell more about your personality. A good background always tells more about the personal character of a person. Therefore, you need to choose a background that tells more about your personality.
Step 4: Choose your background keeping in mind the lighting and time of the day. Because lighting is the most important aspect to consider when taking the headshot photo, ensure you pick a background that can make the light bounce off via the reflectors when taking the headshots.
15 Best Ideas for your professional headshot background
After considering the types of background that exist and their use, you now stand a chance to choose the best one for your headshot according to the purpose of the shot. Now, let's discuss the essential ideas you need to consider after selecting your preferred headshot background to make your photos more attractive.
1. Solid white background
These are the simplest and most basic background headshots for studio headshots. It may be the best option for you, especially when you need a professional shot free from distractions.
2. Grey studio backgrounds
Kate Hot Sale 10x12ft Solid Grey Cloth Backdrop Portrait Photography
A grey background can be a great idea, especially if you want your headshot to have a unique look. It makes your shot have a more inviting feel and less intense than the white background.
3. Solid black background
If you want your photo to be more ceramic with a moody appearance, this background will perfectly do the trick for you. A solid black background is suitable for creating a captive headshot by getting more creative with the lighting.
4. The solid color backgrounds
This headshot background can be a good option for you, especially if you don't like your headshot to have a shade of black and white in the background.
5. Textured background
Kate 5x7ft Abstract Texture Atlantic Blue Hand Painted Backdrop
Instead of restricting yourself to solid colors, you can also try a textured background and compare the look. You should be able to notice that a textured background adds more beauty to your photo. Textured backgrounds from the studio come in different colors, and therefore, you will have to select your desired color for the headshot.
6. Natural woodland backgrounds
To take your headshot with a natural woodland background, you may consider visiting a forest with nice lights and some unique colors. The woodland background headshot can be a good option if you like working outside most of the time. It will perfectly showcase your real working nature.
7. City background
A city is always a perfect natural background for headshots due to its unique features, such as attractive buildings. The city background headshot is more suitable when you live and work in the city. However, you can also use the background when you tour a city of your choice. It will help you keep the interesting memories of your tour adventure in the area.
8. Entryways or corridors as backgrounds
This background is more popular in places like here. There are always many unique entryways and corridors that have attractive design architecture in such places. This makes them have a fantastic look when used as a headshot background. However, these places may sometimes make the background blurred.
9. Your working places
When you use your workplace as a headshot background, it will perfectly showcase what you do and your real nature. This is very important, especially when you want your real career and talent to be known. For instance, if you are an artist, you may consider taking the headshot in your shots in your studio to show your talent. On the other hand, if you are a teacher, you may consider taking the headshots using the classroom as your background to show your profession.
10. The mural's background 
Kate Brick Wall Photography Backdrops Colorful Painting Graffiti Backdrop
Some people also prefer murals as their natural background when taking headshots. These murals are always found around towns. However, when you decide to choose a mural as your headshot background, it is not a must to include it as a whole in your shot. You may consider taking a section of it with unique colors and lines for your headshot background. If possible, you can search for a mural with colors that perfectly represent your real identity.
11. Strong lines background
You can also consider choosing strong lines as your headshot background. These lines can be found in buildings with strong architectural elements, including columns in a row and a set of stairs that are wide. The strong lines make a unique and great background for headshots with an attractive look.
12. Your client's workplace
Apart from taking the headshot in your place of work as your background, you can also consider your client's place of work. However, this will be more suitable if you and your client work in different places with different environments look. In addition, it is good to take the headshot in the place if you have been there before to make you familiar and comfortable with the light.
13. Solid wall color background
This is one of the best places to use your natural background when taking your headshots. You may consider colorful walls made of bricks as a classic backdrop. On the other hand, you can also use a concrete wall that adds some lovely texture to the photo and makes the background have a wonderful portrait.
14. Greenscreen background
You can make work easier for you when searching for a headshot background by choosing a windscreen background. You will only need to have a green screen to act as your background and take as many shots as you may want.
15. Lace Curtain as background
You can also use your lace curtains as background for headshots, especially if you take the shots in a home studio. However, when using your curtains as background, you will have to make some little adjustments to your lights. Try using natural light to make work easier for you, which works the best with the lace curtains.
Conclusion
Taking headshots has become one of the important photography today. The need for the headshots has increased in different sectors, such as recruiting professionals, casting directors, and some decision-makers that frequently make use of the headshots. For this reason, it is important to have your headshot as a way to display your professionalism in a photo. However, it is not all about taking the shot; you also need to select the best background that perfectly describes your professionalism and does not destruct the photo.
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