The terms professional headshot and portrait are often used interchangeably. While these types of photos do have some overlap, there are differences. In simplest terms, a professional headshot is a type of portrait. A headshot is a tightly cropped photo of the face, from the shoulders up. The subject is camera aware — typically looking right in the lens. Years ago, headshots were reserved for actors and models. For talent, these images are in some ways more important than a resume. A casting director can scour through hundreds of photos in search of the perfect face for the role at hand. In today’s socially connected world, a modern headshot comes in handy for anyone looking to market themselves professionally (or personally — don’t forget about online dating profiles). If you don’t have a professional image of yourself (or the staff in your organization), then I always recommend starting with a headshot1. A portrait is a much broader term — essentially any image where the subject is aware she’s being photographed (even if she’s not looking at the camera). Depending on the specifics, you might be able to use a portrait where a headshot really makes the most sense1.
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