How to Pose for Corporate Headshots and Business Photos
Updated: Oct 12
Almost everyone who steps in front of my camera says some version of the same thing. "I'm not photogenic." "I never know what to do with my hands." "Just tell me where to stand."
Good news. You don't need to know how to pose. That part is my job.
I photograph founders, executives, attorneys, doctors and growing teams around Austin. They run companies and see patients, and very few of them have ever modeled. So I give them the same handful of cues on set, and you'll find them below.
Why people freeze, and how I get you past it
The camera makes most people self-conscious. Shoulders creep up, breathing gets shallow, and the smile turns into something you'd never make at a dinner table.
The fix is direction. I won't just say "relax" and hope for the best. I tell you exactly what to move. "Weight on your back foot." "Chin out toward me, then down a touch." "Drop your left shoulder."
I also shoot tethered, so each image lands on a monitor a few seconds after I take it. You see what I see. When a pose works, you know it right away, and that confidence shows up in the next frame. When something looks off, we adjust it together on the spot.
Posture: tall, loose and leaning in
Good posture carries more of a portrait than people expect. This is the setup I use for almost everyone.
Stand tall. Imagine a string pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling.
Shoulders down. Roll them back once, then let them settle away from your ears.
Lean from the hips. A slight lean toward the camera reads as engaged and approachable. Leaning back can come across as guarded.
That lean feels odd while you're doing it. On the monitor it looks natural, and you'll see why the first time we review a few frames.
Angles that flatter almost everyone
Standing square to the camera can make shoulders look wide and the pose look stiff. Instead, I'll have you:
Turn your body about 30 to 45 degrees away from the lens.
Bring your face back toward the camera.
Push your chin forward and slightly down. This defines the jawline and keeps the camera from looking up your nose.
Small changes in head tilt make a big difference, so I'll call these out in tiny increments. You only have to follow along.
What to do with your hands
Hands are the number one worry I hear. They're also easy to solve once you have a few go-to positions.
Crossed arms, done relaxed. Arms resting loosely across your body look confident. Tight arms with gripping fingers look defensive. I'll often have you rest your hands on your forearms rather than tucking them under.
Hand in pocket, thumb out. Slide one hand partway into a pocket and leave the thumb outside. It keeps the arm relaxed and avoids a sleeve bunching at the wrist.
Hold something you use. A pen, your glasses or a laptop gives your hands a job. Hold it the way you would in a meeting, not out in front like a prop.
Rest on a table. For seated or leaning shots, hands resting lightly on a desk or table look calm and in control. Keep fingers soft and slightly curled.
One hand on the jacket button. If you're wearing a jacket, a hand lightly at the button is a classic executive look. It works well in a three-quarter crop.
Whatever we choose, the goal is soft hands. Tension shows up in fingers first, so I watch for white knuckles and clenched fists and call them out.
Standing vs seated poses
Standing shots tend to feel energetic and work well for website headers, speaker bios and LinkedIn banners. Weight on your back foot, front knee soft, and you're set.
Seated shots feel more conversational. Sit toward the front edge of the chair, not back against it. Lean forward a little from the hips and keep your back straight. Forearms on your knees or hands resting on a table both work.
During a typical headshot session I like to get both, since you'll use them in different places. Sessions usually run 45 minutes to 1 hour with 1 to 2 looks, so there's time to try each without rushing. You can see more about how those sessions work on my professional headshots page.
Group and team poses
Team photos have their own rules. People tend to stand shoulder to shoulder like a lineup, which looks stiff.
What I do instead:
Angle people toward the center of the group so the photo feels connected.
Stagger heights and depth, with some people a half step forward and some seated or leaning.
Overlap shoulders slightly so there are no awkward gaps.
Give hands a plan, the same way I do for individuals, so nobody ends up with arms hanging straight down.
Organizing a team photo day? My guide to planning one covers scheduling and setup.
Expressions: a real smile or a confident closed-mouth look
Most clients need two expressions.
A genuine smile for website bios, social profiles and anything that should feel welcoming. Real smiles reach the eyes. Forced ones stop at the mouth.
A confident closed-mouth expression for more formal uses, like a board page or a conference program. Think calm, focused, a hint of a smile in the eyes.
Getting a real laugh is where I bring in my hospitality background. I spent 17 years in hotel operations before photography became my full-time business, and I learned how to put people at ease fast. We talk. I ask about your work, your weekend, your dog. Sometimes I say something a little silly on purpose.
That real laugh usually happens between poses, when you think the shot is over. I shoot on a Canon 1D X Mark III, which is fast enough to catch that moment instead of the forced smile right before it.
What to practice in a mirror beforehand
You don't need hours of rehearsal. Ten minutes the night before helps.
Find your chin position. Push it forward and slightly down, and notice how your jawline changes.
Try the body turn. Turn your shoulders, then bring your face back to the mirror.
Test two or three hand positions from the list above and pick the ones that feel most like you.
Practice both expressions. Smile with your eyes, then try a relaxed closed-mouth look.
Breathe out before each "shot." A slow exhale drops your shoulders on its own.
My session preparation page covers wardrobe and what to bring, so you can show up ready.
Borrow the direction
Posing is a skill you can borrow from your photographer. Come in rested, wear something you feel good in, and leave the rest to me. You'll see every frame on the monitor as we go, and edited images arrive within two business days after the session.
If your company adds people often, my monthly retainers can include new-hire headshots on a regular schedule, posed and lit to match the rest of the team.
Ready for headshots that look like you on a good day? Request a date through my contact page and I'll take it from there.
