A great corporate headshot can open doors. A bad one can close them just as quickly — and you won’t even know it’s happening. In a world where your headshot appears on LinkedIn before anyone reads a word of your profile, gets pulled up during a Google search of your name, and sits next to your bio at every speaking engagement, it’s worth getting right. Here are the corporate headshot dos and don’ts every professional should know.
Corporate Headshot DOs
DO Hire a Professional Photographer
This is the most important decision you’ll make. A professional headshot photographer in Dallas or Little Rock brings lighting expertise, posing guidance, and post-production skill that a friend with a nice camera simply cannot replicate. The difference in how you appear — in confidence, in polish, in lighting — is immediately visible to everyone who sees your photo.
DO Wear Colors That Complement Your Skin Tone
Navy, deep jewel tones, and soft neutrals are generally the safest and most flattering choices. Your clothing should frame your face — not compete with it. Stick to solid colors when in doubt, and avoid anything with logos, busy patterns, or fine stripes that can create a visual shimmer on camera.
DO Bring Multiple Outfit Options
Even if you only have one session, two or three outfit changes give you variety in your gallery. Different looks for different platforms — a more formal option for LinkedIn or a press bio, a warmer option for your website About page — extend the value of your session significantly.
DO Communicate Your Goals Before the Shoot
Tell your photographer what industry you’re in, how the photos will be used, and what impression you want to make. A corporate attorney and a startup founder may want completely different things from the same headshot session. Your photographer should ask — and if they don’t, volunteer the information. Merrick Multimedia’s pre-session process is built around understanding your brand before we pick up the camera. Start that conversation here.
DO Update Your Headshots Every 1–2 Years
If your LinkedIn photo is more than two years old, there’s a good chance it no longer looks like you — or reflects who you’ve become professionally. Updated headshots signal that you’re active, growing, and invested in your professional presence.
Corporate Headshot DON’Ts
DON’T Use a Selfie or a Cropped Group Photo
This one should go without saying — but the number of professionals on LinkedIn using phone selfies or photos where you can see someone else’s shoulder is staggering. It signals a lack of investment in your professional brand that potential clients, employers, and partners notice immediately.
DON’T Wear Distracting Patterns or Busy Prints
Fine stripes, small checks, and busy florals can create a moiré shimmer effect on camera. They also draw the eye away from your face — which is the point of the photo. When in doubt, go solid.
DON’T Use Your Headshot From a Different Era
If you had significantly different hair, a different career, or a different aesthetic even five years ago, your headshot is working against you. Showing up at a meeting looking nothing like your photo is an immediate trust disruptor — even if it’s subtle.
DON’T Over-Edit
Heavy skin smoothing, digital slimming, or over-filtering creates a headshot that looks great on screen but creates an uncomfortable disconnect when someone meets you in person. Professional retouching should enhance your natural appearance — not transform it.
DON’T Neglect the Background
Cluttered, busy, or inappropriate backgrounds undermine even the best portrait. Whether you choose a clean studio backdrop, a blurred office environment, or an architectural outdoor setting, the background should be intentional — not accidental.
Beyond Headshots: When to Consider a Branding Session
If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or service professional, a full branding photography session goes far beyond headshots — giving you a complete visual library for your website, social media, and marketing materials. Merrick Multimedia provides both corporate headshots and full branding sessions across Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock, and throughout Texas and Arkansas. View our commercial photography portfolio to see examples of both.
Frequently Asked Questions: Corporate Headshots
A standard individual headshot session typically runs 30–60 minutes. Sessions with multiple outfit changes or locations may run 60–90 minutes. Team headshot days are typically scheduled in 15–20 minute slots per person.
Professional corporate headshot sessions in Dallas typically range from $250 for a basic individual session to $600 or more for a session with multiple looks, an extended session, and comprehensive editing. Team and group rates are available for companies needing multiple headshots.
Get a good night’s sleep, bring 2–3 clothing options in solid colors that align with your professional brand, steam or iron everything, and arrive with freshly styled hair. For women, professional makeup applied specifically for photography is worth considering — HD lighting picks up more than you might expect.
Yes. We provide professional corporate headshots for individuals and teams across Dallas, Fort Worth, Little Rock, and the broader Texas and Arkansas region.
Your headshot is working for you — or against you — right now. Contact Merrick Multimedia to book a professional corporate headshot session in Dallas or Little Rock.
