Cropping Headshots for Maximum Impact

I like to crop my headshots tightly because I know it has a powerful effect on how people see them. To illustrate my points, I’ve included a side-by-side comparison of the same image with a tight crop and a loose crop.

Why I crop my headshots tightly:

I want my headshots to make a powerful impression on the people who view them. The tighter crop allows the viewer to feel the man’s confidence projecting out from the photo.

Headshots are all about expression. If we show the upper torso, their face fills less than 20% of the photo. At that small size, their expression has almost no impact. All you can see is a man in an “everyman,” but if we crop tightly, we see a confident man with a strong will and depth of character.

Headshots are usually displayed online. There’s a lot of competition for attention on web pages. So, I want my customer's face to fill the frame and command the viewer's attention regardless of the surrounding distractions.

Dean-

Dean Birinyi is an award-winning photographer, founder, and owner of Silicon Valley Headshots and Professional Headshots Palo Alto. He specializes in expression coaching to guide his customers on presenting themselves as confident, approachable professionals ready for the next opportunity.