Taking a professional headshot

Follow these tips to take your own professional headshot photo.

1. Dress in professional attire

Solid, neutral colors such as black, gray or navy often photograph best.

2. Choose a neutral background

Pick a plain, neutral wall as your photo background. Check the background for any objects that may distract from your photo, such as electrical cords, and remove them from view.

3. Position your camera between yourself and a natural light source

Positioning your camera between yourself and a window will give you the best lighting for clean lines and a flattering amount of brightness. 

Avoid direct sunlight, such as when the sun glares through your window around sunset. A bright, cloudy day may be your best option. 

4. Align your camera angle

The ideal camera angle for headshot photos is to place your camera about 3 inches higher than the height of your eyes, tilting down slightly towards you.

If you're taking your own photo, align your camera with a tripod or create a makeshift tripod by setting your phone against a wall or stack of books.

5. Angle your body position

Avoid facing the camera directly; instead, angle your body 45 degrees away from the camera.

6. Capture your photo

If you're taking your own photo, use your camera's self-timer feature. Capture multiple photos so you have several options to choose from.

7. Submit your photo to the Office of Communications

Submit your new professional headshot photo as a .jpg file to the Office of Communications at pharm-web@buffalo.edu and we will upload it to your personal profile.