Headshot Trends for 2025: What’s In and What’s Out
The professional headshot has come a long way from the stiff, overly formal portraits of the past. In 2025, headshot photography is all about authenticity, creativity, and versatility. With the rise of social media, personal branding, and virtual networking, your headshot needs to do more than just look professional—it needs to tell a story about who you are.
If you’re planning to update your headshot this year, here’s a look at what’s trending in 2025 and what’s best left in the past.
What’s In: Trends for 2025
1. Authentic Expressions
Gone are the days of overly posed, static headshots. The trend in 2025 is all about capturing genuine expressions that reflect your personality and approachability.
The Look: Relaxed smiles, natural laughter, or a confident gaze that feels authentic.
Why It Works: Authentic expressions help you connect with your audience, whether they’re potential clients, employers, or collaborators.
Pro Tip: A skilled photographer will help you feel comfortable during your session, allowing your true personality to shine through.
2. Creative Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the tone of a headshot, and 2025 is embracing creative approaches to illumination.
Soft, Natural Lighting: Mimics the look of sunlight, creating a warm, approachable feel.
Dramatic Lighting: Adds depth and sophistication with subtle shadows and highlights, ideal for more artistic or formal branding.
Color Accents: Incorporating subtle colored lights for creative industries or branding photography adds a modern twist.
Pro Tip: Discuss lighting preferences with your photographer to ensure the style matches your professional goals.
3. Personalized Backgrounds
In 2025, the background of your headshot is just as important as your pose. Personalized settings that reflect your industry or personality are on the rise.
Neutral Backdrops: Classic white, gray, or black backgrounds remain timeless for corporate and professional headshots.
Lifestyle Backgrounds: Workspaces, outdoor scenes, or industry-relevant settings add context and uniqueness.
Blurry Bokeh: Soft, blurred backgrounds that subtly highlight your professional environment without distracting from you.
Pro Tip: Choose a background that aligns with your profession and personal brand. For example, an entrepreneur might opt for a workspace setting, while an artist might choose a studio or gallery.
4. Variety in Poses
Static, face-forward poses are making way for dynamic angles and natural stances. The goal is to capture a look that feels approachable yet professional.
Relaxed Postures: Slightly angled shoulders, leaning poses, or seated shots add visual interest.
Action-Oriented Shots: Incorporating simple actions, like gesturing or holding a prop, to make the image feel dynamic.
Body Language: Using open, inviting gestures to convey confidence and warmth.
Pro Tip: Experiment with different poses during your session to find what feels most comfortable and authentic for you.
5. Modern Wardrobe Choices
2025 is about blending classic professionalism with modern flair. Wardrobe trends emphasize style that is polished yet reflective of your individuality.
Minimalist Layers: Blazers over clean shirts, or cardigans for a softer look.
Jewel Tones and Neutral Colors: These colors photograph beautifully and complement a wide range of skin tones.
Subtle Patterns and Textures: Small checks or textured fabrics add depth without being overwhelming.
Pro Tip: Avoid overly trendy or loud patterns that might date your photo quickly.
6. Headshots with Movement
A growing trend is incorporating subtle movement into headshots, creating a sense of energy and vitality.
The Look: Tossed hair, a slight turn of the head, or walking toward the camera.
Why It Works: Movement adds dynamism and makes the image feel less static, perfect for social media and personal branding.
Pro Tip: Discuss movement ideas with your photographer to ensure they fit naturally into your session.
7. Vertical and Horizontal Crops
With the increasing use of headshots across different platforms, having both vertical and horizontal options is a must in 2025.
Why It’s Trending: Horizontal crops are ideal for website banners and LinkedIn cover photos, while vertical images are perfect for profile pictures.
Versatility: Request a mix of orientations from your photographer to maximize the usability of your headshots.
What’s Out: Trends to Avoid in 2025
1. Overly Airbrushed Photos
Heavily edited, “plastic-looking” headshots are a thing of the past. Audiences value authenticity over perfection.
Why It’s Out: Over-editing can make you appear less trustworthy and out of touch. Subtle retouching is fine, but your photo should still look like you.
2. Harsh Studio Lighting
Bright, harsh lighting that creates unflattering shadows is being replaced by softer, more natural setups.
Why It’s Out: Harsh lighting can make your features look overly sharp and detract from the warm, approachable feel that modern headshots aim to achieve.
3. Dated Backgrounds
Plain, flat-colored backgrounds without depth or context are being replaced by more visually interesting options.
Why It’s Out: These backgrounds can feel generic and fail to communicate anything about your personality or profession.
4. Rigid, Formal Poses
Standing stiffly with arms crossed and no visible personality is a relic of the past. Today’s headshots focus on natural, engaging postures.
Why It’s Out: Formal, rigid poses can come across as cold or intimidating, which isn’t ideal in today’s approachable professional world.
5. Distracting Props
Props that don’t serve a clear purpose or distract from the subject are no longer in vogue.
Why It’s Out: Props should add to the story, not detract from it. Anything that doesn’t align with your professional image is better left out.
How to Stay On-Trend in 2025
To ensure your headshot is modern and relevant:
Work with a Professional Photographer: They’ll know how to incorporate these trends while ensuring your photo is timeless.
Customize Your Session: Share your goals, industry, and personal style with your photographer to create a headshot that feels uniquely yours.
Refresh Regularly: Update your headshot every 2-3 years to keep it aligned with your evolving brand and professional goals.
Capture the Trends with Sylwia Ok Photography
Sylwia Ok specializes in crafting modern, trend-forward headshots that elevate your brand. Whether you’re looking for a natural, authentic portrait or a creative, dynamic shot, she’ll work with you to create an image that represents your best self.
Ready to embrace 2025’s headshot trends? Book your session today and make your first impression unforgettable!
