How to Look Natural in Headshots

One of the most common things people say before a session is, “I just want to look natural.” Which sounds simple, right? But how do you look natural when you’re suddenly aware of your hands, your face, your posture, and the fact that someone is pointing a giant camera at you?

Here’s the truth: looking natural in a headshot has very little to do with looking perfect. And thank goodness for that. You don’t need to know your “good side” or practice smiling in the mirror like you're preparing for your debut as a toothpaste commercial. The most compelling photos come from small, honest moments. A real laugh. A subtle shift in expression. That little eyebrow raise you do when you're thinking.

So how do you get there without overthinking it? 

1. Don’t fake a smile. Find a real one.

The fake smile—we all know it. It usually shows up after someone says, “Say cheese!” and ends with your cheeks hurting and your eyes silently begging for help.

A natural smile isn’t about showing all your teeth or holding your face in the perfect angle—it’s about connecting to something that genuinely makes you feel good. The best photographers won’t tell you to smile on command. They’ll probably ask about your dog, your favorite pizza topping, or what show you’re currently binge-watching. Or they’ll give you a situation to imagine you’re in, like laughing at a 5-year-old’s joke.

For more tips, check out our blog on how to smile naturally. 

2. Don’t forget to breathe. Seriously.

It sounds silly, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to breathe when a camera is pointed at them. It’s like your brain goes: Camera = danger. Initiate statue mode.

Take a deep breath in. Now out. Roll your shoulders. Blink a few times. That’s you, resetting. That’s you, being in the moment. And yep—that is where natural starts.

3. Embrace your quirks.

Got a crooked smile? A signature smirk? A habit of laughing with your whole face? Bring it. Your quirks are the best part.

Looking natural doesn’t mean looking generically photogenic. It means looking like you on a good day, caught in a moment where you feel like yourself. The head tilt you do when you’re thinking? The way your eyes light up when you talk about your dog? That’s the gold. Don’t tone it down—let it shine.

4. Wear what you actually like.

If you wear it to meet a friend for coffee and they don’t recognize you, it’s probably not the right outfit for your headshots. The best thing you can wear is something that feels like you—not stiff, not scratchy, and definitely not something you’re going to tug at every five seconds.

Yes, it should be clean and fit well. But it should also make you feel like you could take on the world—or at least your inbox. 

5. Let go of trying to “pose.”

There is no magic pose. There is no secret formula. If you’re standing there wondering what to do with your hands, you’re in good company. (Spoiler: everyone asks that.)

But a good photographer won’t leave you hanging. They’ll guide you, give you things to do instead of just “pose,” and help you ease into the process. Your only job is to show up and be open to following directions and working with your photographer to try new things. 

Looking natural in headshots isn’t about performance.

It’s about presence. It’s about showing up as your honest, wonderfully human self. And when you do that? The camera will capture it.