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We’ve Come a Long Way—The Evolution of Professional Headshots

There was a time not so long ago when Professional Headshots were predictable and often very formal.  They were almost an afterthought.  Or they were only considered important by a select few people higher up in the Corporate chain.  Professional Headshots were certainly not accessible to the everyday person.  I am here to say that has changed for the better.

Changing Needs For Professional Headshots

Even the need for a current Headshot is different now than in the past.  In the recent past, Headshots were often reserved for C-Suite Executives and used primarily in shareholder reports and the like.  The advent of the Internet and the Digital Age has changed all that.  Now it is imperative that most people have an up-to-date Headshot for myriad reasons.  Websites, resumes, social media and print are all reasons one needs to have a recent image of themselves.

A Trip Down Professional Headshots Memory Lane

Let’s look at the humble beginnings of Headshots and how they have evolved over time.

Let’s face it—people have been capturing images of themselves and others for millenia going back to ancient times.  These images were mainly for society’s elite and were a subtle form of marketing in many cases.  Painted portraits were very expensive and few could afford to have them created.  Rulers exploited their portraits to disseminate their likeness to create a more human connection with their subjects.  Paintings, sculpture and even coins were used as PR to create a personal connection.

Headshots and the Golden Age of Hollywood

Fast forward to the Twentieth Century—the modern Headshot begins to emerge with the advent of Hollywood and the Studio system.  Photos of actors and actresses were mass produced to promote the Film Studios and their projects. Magazines like Photoplay promoted upcoming productions to the public and created interest in popular stars. In addition, Studios wanted to have clear, closeup photos to evaluate actors for upcoming roles.  George Hurrell was a master of the Hollywood Headshot genre.  You can see more of George Hurrell’s work here.

By the 1950s Headshots were a must for aspiring actors and actresses looking for work.  These featured clean backgrounds, fairly simple lighting and minimalistic compositions to highlight a subject’s facial features and expressions.

The 1970s and 1980s saw an even greater demand for this type of photography, and Professional Photographers began specializing exclusively in the genre in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.

An offshoot of Headshots became popular in the 1980s with the start of Glamour Photography for women.  It was a type of photography that presented an idealized vision of women with makeup, soft lighting and filters that while often flattering, was not very realistic or true to the subject.  In fact, looking at it now, it is often viewed as incredibly cheesy or campy.

The 1990s to Now

With the early days of the Internet, the need for a Professional Headshot expanded beyond the Entertainment Industry.   Now it included professionals in almost every field.  The rise of the internet and the early stages of social media platforms like LinkedIn created new opportunities for people to show up in professional settings.

As businesses and corporations expanded their digital footprint, executives, entrepreneurs, and employees alike sought professional headshots for resumes, company profiles, and websites.

With the advent of the Internet, digital cameras and software became more accessible to Professional Photographers.  The changes in technology made it easier and more cost effective to experiment with techniques.  This lead to great innovation in the Headshot arena.  Digital technology also helped reduce the cost of Professional Headshots, making them more accessible to the general public.

Simultaneously, personal branding began to emerge as a crucial component of Marketing. A Headshot was no longer “just” a representation of what a person looked like.  It became a powerful tool to convey confidence, approachability, brand values and most importantly authenticity. Photographers needed to capture not simply an accurate image of their subject, but also the essence of a person’s brand—whether that be their professionalism, creativity, or leadership qualities.

The explosion of Social Media use has created a high demand for carefully curated images for most, if not all, individuals to present to the World.  No wonder—LinkedIn reports that profiles with a Professional Headshot garner 14 times the engagement!

Professional Headshots–Where We Are Now

A high level of customization has become the hallmark of good Headshots.  With a wide variety of lighting techniques, posing and body language, wardrobe styling and expressions, the modern Headshot experience has become more of a collaborative experience between the Photographer and their subject.

In conclusion, Headshot Photography has undergone a monumental shift.  Gone are the days of a stiff and boring headshot, replaced by dynamic images that can reflect a vast range of diversity and complexity.  In today’s fast paced digital world, your Headshot is your first impression and your digital handshake.  Make it count with Professional Photos.

Schedule a consultation by calling the Studio directly at (518) 584-4237 or using our Contact Form today.

Be sure to read our post on Building a Trusted Brand With Authenticity.