Not all headshots are the same. The style, framing, expression, and wardrobe that work for a corporate team page look completely wrong for an actor's submission reel — and vice versa. Here's what distinguishes each type and how to figure out which one you need.

Corporate headshots

Corporate headshots are the most common type. They're used on company websites, team directories, email signatures, business cards, conference speaker bios, and press materials. The defining characteristics:

  • Clean, neutral backdrop — white, grey, or dark. Occasionally environmental (in an office or boardroom setting).
  • Business or business-casual wardrobe — the formality level depends on your industry and role.
  • Confident, approachable expression — professional but not stiff. You want to look like someone a client would trust.
  • Tight crop — head and shoulders, sometimes extending to mid-chest.

Corporate headshots are appropriate for most professionals: finance, law, consulting, tech, real estate, healthcare administration, and anyone with a public-facing professional presence.

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LinkedIn headshots

LinkedIn headshots are technically a subset of corporate headshots, but they have specific requirements driven by the platform. LinkedIn displays your photo at small sizes (56×56px in feeds, larger on your profile page), so the image needs to be clear and recognizable even when compressed.

The best LinkedIn headshots are:

  • High contrast — your face should stand out clearly from the background
  • Tight framing — face and shoulders only; full-body shots lose all detail at small sizes
  • Direct eye contact — you're making a connection with someone scrolling a feed
  • Warm and approachable — LinkedIn is a networking tool, not a corporate directory

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Actor headshots

Actor headshots have completely different conventions from corporate photography. Casting directors and agents look at hundreds of submissions — the goal is to stand out while clearly communicating your type and range.

Key differences from corporate headshots:

  • Personality over polish — actors' headshots should feel alive, specific, and interesting. Corporate headshots prioritize professionalism; actor headshots prioritize presence.
  • Natural light or soft environmental lighting — harsh studio lighting is less common in actor headshots than in corporate work.
  • Multiple looks — actors typically shoot several looks to show range: dramatic, comedic, commercial, character.
  • Eyes above everything — in actor headshots, the eyes carry the shot. If the eyes aren't alive, the photo doesn't work.

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Modelling headshots / comp cards

Model headshots (often called comp card photos) are used for agency submissions and are structurally different from both corporate and actor headshots. Agencies want to see the model clearly — face, bone structure, skin, and proportions — without styling choices getting in the way.

  • Clean, minimal makeup — agencies want to see what they're working with, not what makeup can do
  • Neutral wardrobe — avoid anything that distracts from the face
  • Both beauty and full-body — comp cards typically include a close-up and at least one full-length shot
  • Multiple expressions and angles — agencies want to see range and versatility

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Which type do you need?

Quick guide: If you're a working professional updating LinkedIn and your company bio → corporate/LinkedIn. If you're submitting to agents or casting → actor or model. If you're not sure, corporate is the versatile default — it works across almost every professional context.

Most non-performers need a corporate or LinkedIn headshot. The choice between them usually comes down to primary use case: if it's mainly for LinkedIn and your company website, book a LinkedIn session. If it's for a broader range of professional uses (press, speaking, marketing materials, team directory), book a corporate session.

Actors and models should always book the session type specific to their industry — the conventions are different enough that using a corporate headshot for performance submissions will immediately signal that you don't understand the industry standard.

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