Why Do I Have A Double Chin In My Headshot?

Do you know someone with a double chin in their corporate headshot? A lot of people get double chins in their photographs, when they don’t really have on in real life. We’ve seen it in people from all age groups and body types. Why does it happen?

Biggest Cause Of Double Chins In Photos

The most common complaint about headshots is double chins.

And I don’t mean hiding a double chin you have in real life. Even the slimmest person suddenly grows a double chin when they stand in front of a camera.

It’s terrible, because a headshot is close up, and accentuates any features you have.

I’m sure you’ve seen it in photos of friends and family, even your own photos. Why are some great, and others you have a double chin?

Good Posture Gives You A Double Chin!

The problem is in the pose. Remember how your mum told you to stand up tall, back straight? We may slouch around on the sofa watching TV, but when posing for a photograph this advice pops back into our minds.

Unfortunately, while this good posture will make your physio happy, it’s terrible for photos. You see, in real life we see in 3D. There’s depth, there’s eye contact, there’s motion.

In your headshots, there is none of these. It’s flat and unmoving. And standing with your back straight gives your headshot the appearance of a double chin.

Example Of Posture Causing Double Chin

These are 2 shots in the same headshot session. The left is how he moved into place naturally. Does he look friendly? Yes. He also have a double chin.

Does he look like that with a double chin in real life? Not at all.

This is the type of shot where they’ll just not like it, something is off. They won’t be able to put a word on it. Some less experienced photographers won’t know why. They’ll try to get you to stand straighter, or change the lighting. But it has nothing to do with the camera or lighting equipment.

On the right is after we spent a few moments positioning him correctly, and showing him how to stand. No double chin and a representation of him that feels correct.

The result is night and day.

Anyone Can Have Headshots Without Double Chins

We have photographed thousands of people from all industries. Did we just happen to run into a few thousand people with no double chins? No.

It’s all in the guidance and direction we give as a portrait photographer. We’ve spent years learning about people, and how to bring out the best in them. For each person, we show you how to pose, we give you expression coaching.

This is why you choose an experienced headshot photographer. Corporate headshots is a specialty completely different from other forms of portrait photography. You wouldn’t get a headshot photographer to shoot your wedding, so why trust your wedding photographer with your business brand?

What If I Really Have A Double Chin?

This is an interesting question. Some people have double chins, and it’s completely fine. When you talk to someone, you’re not fixated on a double chin. You are listening to their tone of voice, you have eye contact, you have gestures.

In the same way, we reduce the prominence of your double chin in your headshot. It’s done naturally so you look your best but not faked.

Be Proud Of Your Headshot

If you’ve been avoiding updating your business profile because you always look terrible in photos, it’s probably just your photographer. Gear is just the first step. Most of the work comes in the preparation, positioning, posing, and crafting an image that connects with your target audience.

This comes from not technical knowledge, but our ability to understand you as a human. We learn about you and bring out the best already within you. The result are photographs that look amazing but are also genuine.

Our headshots are so easy and effortless, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier! See what Andrew had to say about his experience.

Executive Images provides Professional Headshot Photography in the studio or at your business location. If you want something more than cookie-cutter snaps, contact us now and let us help you make your best first impression.