How to choose the best headshot from a gallery in Fort Worth

A headshot is simply a tightly framed portrait — usually from the chest up — made to represent you in professional settings. It’s not a selfie, not a family photo, and not a candid shot from a party. It’s the picture people see when they look you up on LinkedIn, read your company bio, or open your resume. At some point, you’ll need one. So how do you pick the best one from a gallery of 30+ images that all look pretty good?

Start by removing the noise

Most people pick a headshot based on how they feel in it — "I like my smile here," or "This one makes me look thinner." That’s emotional, not strategic. The first step is to strip away the noise. Delete any frame where your eyes aren’t sharp, your shoulders are hunched, or your collar is crooked. Then delete any image where your expression looks forced — the kind where you’re smiling because you were told to, not because something actually clicked. I’ve seen too many clients keep a photo just because it’s the only one where they didn’t blink. That’s not a good headshot. That’s a compromise.

Use the squint test

Here’s a technique I use every time I review a gallery with a client: squint your eyes. Not just a little — really squint. Now look at the image. If your face collapses into a blur of light and shadow and you can’t tell where the eyes are, or if the contrast between your skin and shirt is flat, that photo won’t work. A strong headshot holds up when you reduce it to grayscale in your mind. It’s about structure, not color. The light should define your jawline, catch a hint of the eye socket, and leave just enough shadow to show depth. If you squint and everything looks the same tone, it’s not a good portrait. I shoot with a 85mm lens on a full-frame camera for headshots — it gives enough separation from the background without distorting your features. That lens choice alone changes how the light falls across the face, and you can feel it when you squint.

Check it at thumbnail size

Most people will see your headshot as a tiny icon — on a website, in an email, on a mobile screen. So resize your top 5 candidates to 100x100 pixels. If you can’t tell who it is, or if the expression disappears into a blob, that’s not the one. I’ve had clients pick a photo that looked amazing at full size, then realized it looked like a blurry blob on their LinkedIn profile. That’s because the lighting didn’t create enough contrast in the eyes, or the background was too busy. A good headshot must communicate identity at a glance. I always ask clients to view their final selections on their phone, zoomed out, before we lock anything in. If it doesn’t work on a phone screen, it won’t work in the real world.

Get outside eyes — but not too many

Ask two people who don’t know you well to look at your top three photos. Not your partner, not your best friend. Someone who’s never seen you in person — a coworker from another department, a neighbor, even a casual acquaintance. Ask them: "Who do you think this person is?" Not "Do you like it?" — that’s useless. Their answer will tell you if the photo reads as confident, approachable, or corporate. I’ve had people pick a photo that looked like a banker, when the client is a software engineer. That mismatch happens because the lighting and pose created an unintended vibe. Two opinions are enough. More than that, and you’ll get conflicting advice that paralyzes you. In Fort Worth, where the culture leans toward friendly professionalism, the right headshot needs to feel warm without being casual. That’s different than what works in Plano, where corporate formality runs higher. But the test stays the same: clarity, not charm.

Keep it consistent

Once you pick the frame, use it everywhere. Same crop. Same lighting. Same expression. Don’t swap it out for a "newer" version on LinkedIn because you think it looks more updated. People don’t notice the difference — they notice the inconsistency. If your resume uses a headshot from 2023 and your company bio uses one from 2025, it looks sloppy. It raises questions: Did you change your mind? Are you hiding something? I’ve seen clients update their LinkedIn profile with a different photo, then get a message from a recruiter: "I thought you looked different in your bio." That’s not about your appearance — it’s about perception. Keep the same image across LinkedIn, your website, conference materials, email signatures, and printed resumes. Consistency builds trust faster than any single perfect shot ever could.

Frequently asked

How long does a headshot session take?

A typical session lasts about 45 minutes. We start with a quick chat to get you relaxed, then shoot in batches — full face, three-quarter turn, slight tilt — changing just one variable at a time. We don’t rush, but we also don’t waste time. In March in Fort Worth, the light is soft and directional by mid-morning, so we schedule shoots between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. to take advantage of that.

Do I get raw files?

No. Every image you receive is edited — color corrected, exposure balanced, skin gently refined, background cleaned. Raw files aren’t deliverables. They’re starting points. I don’t sell them. If you need them for archival purposes, we discuss it before the shoot — but it’s rare, and it changes the package.

What if I hate all the photos?

You won’t. I’ve never had a client who genuinely hated every frame. But if you feel that way, we’ll revisit the lighting or pose. Sometimes it’s not the photo — it’s the pressure. I’ve had people freeze because they were afraid of looking "not professional." We reset, take a breath, and try again. The right image is always there. It just needs space to show up.

I shoot headshots in Fort Worth — for engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and executives. The right portrait doesn’t try to be someone else. It just shows you clearly, consistently, and without distraction. Find it, lock it, and use it everywhere.