Not all headshots are created equal, and they shouldn't be.
The right headshot for a real estate agent looks very different from the right headshot for an actor or a tech professional, because each is solving a different goal. Here's how we approach each.
Real estate agents: trust and approachability
A realtor's headshot has one job above all: make a stranger feel comfortable inviting you into the largest financial decision of their life. That means warmth and approachability matter more than formal polish.
We typically recommend a genuine smile, open posture, and a background or wardrobe that feels professional but not intimidating. Many agents also benefit from a secondary, more dynamic shot, in front of a property or in a neighborhood setting, for marketing materials and yard signs. That kind of image library is exactly what a personal branding session is built for.
Tech professionals: competence and modernity
For tech professionals (founders, engineers, product leaders), the headshot needs to communicate competence and current relevance. Backgrounds tend to be cleaner and more minimal, lighting crisper, and wardrobe slightly more casual than traditional corporate, often no tie, sometimes no jacket, to reflect the culture of the industry.
We also see more tech clients requesting a secondary "in environment" shot, at a desk, with a laptop, in a more candid working pose, for personal websites, GitHub profiles, and conference speaker pages. And since your profile photo is often the first thing a recruiter or investor sees, it pays to get it right: see our business headshots for LinkedIn.
Actors: range and authenticity
Actor headshots are working tools, not vanity shots. Casting directors are scanning for type and authentic expression, not glamour. We focus on capturing genuine, specific emotion across a range of looks — commercial-friendly warmth, dramatic intensity, comedic energy — so an actor leaves with a versatile set that represents their full range.
Retouching is minimal and natural; the goal is accuracy. An actor who looks noticeably different in person than in their headshot creates a problem at auditions, not an advantage.
The throughline: the goal shapes the shot
Across every industry, the same principle holds: a great headshot starts with understanding who's looking at it and what decision they're making. A homebuyer evaluating trust. A casting director evaluating type. A potential hire or investor evaluating competence. The wardrobe, expression, lighting, and background should all serve that specific goal.
This is why a generic, one-size-fits-all session often falls short, and why we start every session at Droke Photography with a conversation about your industry and your goals before we ever pick up the camera.
Looking for headshots tailored to your industry?
