Glasses in Headshots?!
When it comes to taking a professional headshot, one of the most common questions people ask is: Should I wear my glasses? If you’re someone who wears glasses daily, it’s a valid concern. After all, your headshot is often the first impression you make online, and you want it to represent you authentically and professionally. So, how do you decide whether to include your glasses in your headshot? Here’s everything you need to know.
Glasses Are Part of Your Personal Brand
If you wear glasses regularly, they’re likely a significant part of your personal style and identity. Removing them for a headshot could make you feel less like yourself and even confuse people when they meet you in person. A great headshot reflects you as you are—so if glasses are part of your everyday look, it makes sense to include them.
For professionals, especially those who work in corporate, creative, or entrepreneurial roles, consistency is key. If your LinkedIn profile photo shows you without glasses, but you always wear them in meetings or client calls, it can create a disconnect. A professional headshot featuring your glasses ensures that people recognize you instantly.
Working with Glass Glare and Reflections
One of the most common concerns about wearing glasses in headshots is the potential for glare or reflections. This happens when light hits the lenses at certain angles and obscures your eyes—the focal point of any good headshot.
The good news? We know how to work around this. By adjusting the lighting, angles, and poses, glare can be minimized or eliminated entirely. If glare is unavoidable, we can remove it in post production.
To Wear or Not to Wear: Consider Both Looks
If you’re truly torn about whether to include your glasses, why not do both? During your headshot session, you can take photos both with and without your glasses. This gives you options and allows you to choose the headshot that best suits your professional needs.
For instance:
– Use the headshot with glasses for LinkedIn, where authenticity matters most.
– Opt for the headshot without glasses for a corporate or industry-specific profile that leans toward a cleaner, more formal look.
Having both options also allows you to update your profiles depending on the audience or platform.
Summarize | Pros and Cons of wearing glasses in your headshots
Pros
– Enhances Your Personal Style: Frames can act as an accessory that complements your wardrobe, adding an extra touch of personality to your look. For instance, bold or colorful frames can make your headshot stand out.
– Conveys Confidence and Authority: Glasses can create a strong, authoritative impression, reflecting confidence and professionalism.
– Adds Depth and Character: A pair of glasses can add visual interest and highlight your unique style, making your headshot more memorable.
– Shapes Your Face: For those with round or oval faces, glasses can provide definition, creating a balanced and polished look.
– Versatile Looks: With multiple pairs, you can switch between different styles—professional, trendy, or casual—allowing for a range of headshot options.
Cons
– Potential for Glare: Glasses without an anti-reflective coating may reflect studio lights or natural light, obscuring your eyes and distracting from the overall image. We will take care of it with the right positions and angles. In case there is still a little glare left, we will remove it in post- production.
– Frame Dominance: Thick or oversized frames can overpower your facial features, drawing attention away from your expression.
– Transition Lenses Issues: Glasses with transition lenses can create uneven tinting under studio lighting, appearing distracting and unprofessional in headshots.
Whether you choose to wear your glasses or not, the most important thing is that you feel confident and comfortable. A headshot is meant to showcase you at your best, and confidence shines through in the final image.
If glasses are a part of what makes you YOU, embrace them! Your headshot should represent the real, professional version of yourself—and that includes your unique style.
