{"id":4906,"date":"2013-07-05T10:19:14","date_gmt":"2013-07-05T14:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/?page_id=4906"},"modified":"2024-07-01T09:35:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T13:35:15","slug":"best-background-for-headshots","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/faq\/best-background-for-headshots\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Best Background for Headshots?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are wondering what is the best background for headshots<\/em>, you are certainly not alone.\u00a0 As headshot photographers<\/a>, we get asked that question more than any other – by far!<\/p>\n

Answering this question is not as easy as it seems which is why it is included in our Top 10 Tips for Professional Headshots<\/a> FAQ.\u00a0 You definitely need to determine how your head shot will be used.<\/strong>\u00a0 which is why it is #4<\/strong> in our Top Do’s<\/strong> list.<\/p>\n

Are your professional head shots going to be used on a corporate website? Business cards? Social media sites?\u00a0 It is critical to know how your head shot will be used before<\/strong> the photo shoot since how the image will be used will determine the type of background used. Our favorite headshot backgrounds are those that are taken on-location in natural surroundings like the executive headshots we did for the leadership team of a Metro Detroit consulting company and the on-location environmental headshots<\/a> we did for Northwestern University.<\/p>\n

Is there a “best background” for professional head shots?<\/h2>\n

Ideally, you want a headshot background that does not draw any attention to itself.\u00a0 The standard headshot backgrounds we use in the studio are white and black. In our professional experience, the white background (aka high key background) is clean and is the most adaptable for web, print and media usage. It is a “standard” in actor and model portfolios because it does not provide and distractions and the viewer’s attention is immediately pulled into the face in the image. But, you may want to think twice before using a high key head shot on a website with a white background since the image will visually blend with the website and appear to “float”.\u00a0 Even so, this can be easily remedied by placing a thin border around the image if it is to be used online (look at our examples below).<\/p>\n

On the opposite end of the spectrum are dark backgrounds for headshots.\u00a0 They are also very good because dark colors do not demand attention and the viewer’s attention is easily drawn into the face since it is the brightest part of the image.<\/p>\n

For comparison purposes, here is the exact same professional business headshot with a white background, neutral gray background as well a dark color-coordinated background.\u00a0 Which one is your favorite?\u00a0 Which one looks the “best”?\u00a0 The decision is quite subjective, isn’t it?\u00a0 Can you tell which one we shot and which two have been Photoshopped?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

\"High<\/a>
Best Background for Headshots – White Background<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Plain<\/a>
Best Background for Headshots – Gray Background<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Metro<\/a>
Best Background for Headshots – Colored Background<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Here is another great example of a white headshot background versus a dark color-coordinated headshot background for a business casual headshot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

\"Best<\/a>
Best Background for Headshots – White Background<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Business<\/a>
Best Background for Headshots – Colored Background<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

While we are on the topic of color-coordinated backgrounds, gray on gray is a classic look that may never go out of style!<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a>
What is the Best Background for Headshots?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are in Metro Detroit or southeast Michigan, we would love the opportunity to talk with you about providing updated, professional headshots<\/a> that will help you build your personal brand.\u00a0 Please feel free to contact us online<\/a> or call 313-883-9500 for additional information.\u00a0 We can’t wait to work with you!<\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n

Save<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you are wondering what is the best background for headshots, you are certainly not alone.\u00a0 As headshot photographers, we get asked that question more than any other – by far! Answering this question is not as easy as it seems which is why it is included in our Top 10 Tips for Professional Headshots […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10160,"parent":3088,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"content-type":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-4906","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/best-background-for-headshots-600x317.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/best-background-for-headshots-600x317.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4906"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4906\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.paulmanoian.com\/photography\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}