Guide · by Aoi
How to Take a Professional Headshot at Home
Updated August 2026 · 5 min read
You need three things: a phone with a rear camera, a window, and a plain wall. Face the window, put the camera at eye level about 1.5 meters away, and shoot 10–12 frames mixing front and three-quarter angles. That set is enough for a professional result — or to train an AI model.
What you’ll need
- A phone — the rear camera, not the selfie camera (it's sharper and less distorted)
- A window — your only light source for this method
- A plain wall, 1–2 steps of free space in front of it
- Something to prop the phone at eye level (shelf, stack of books, partner)
Lighting: the window rule
Stand facing the window, about one meter away. Front-facing window light is soft, wraps the face evenly, and lights both eyes — the single biggest quality factor in any portrait.
For more shape, rotate so the window is 45° to one side: one cheek catches more light, the jawline gains definition. Never light from directly above, and never stand with the window behind you.
Camera setup
- Rear camera, at your eye level — not above, not below.
- Distance: about 1.5 meters (5 feet). Closer distorts; farther crops detail.
- Use the 2× telephoto mode if your phone has one — it compresses like a portrait lens.
- Tap your face on screen to lock focus and exposure before shooting.
The 12-shot checklist
Shoot more than you think you need; selection is where the good frame comes from.
- 3–4 front-facing, eye level, neutral and slight smile
- 2–3 three-quarter (45°) angles, both directions
- 2 with different expressions (confident / approachable)
- 1–2 with subtle lighting changes (step closer to the window)
- Shoulders relaxed, chin slightly forward and down
- Lens at eye level — never shot from below
This checklist matches our upload guidance for AI training sets — a well-shot dozen works for both a DIY headshot and training a personal model.
Common mistakes
Overhead lighting
Ceiling lights cast downward shadows that exaggerate eye bags and hollow cheeks. Windows are almost always better.
Backlighting
Standing in front of a window turns you into a silhouette. Face the window instead.
Wide-angle selfies at arm’s length
Phone front cameras at close range stretch noses and shrink ears — the distortion reads as "not quite you".
Busy backgrounds
A bookshelf or kitchen competes with your face. A plain wall puts all the pixels on you.
Yesterday’s photo
A headshot older than two years sets the wrong expectation at the first meeting.
Or skip the hassle
The honest math: shooting, culling, and editing a dozen frames takes an hour even when it goes well. If what you actually need is the finished headshot — for LinkedIn, a listing, a CV — the same phone photos power our AI training, and the first preview is free.
Upload one selfie, see one free preview.
No card, no account required for the first photo.
FAQ
Can I use selfies for a professional headshot?
Arm-length front-camera selfies distort facial proportions. Use the rear camera at 1.5 meters with a timer or a helper — the geometry is what makes it look professional.
What should I wear for an at-home shoot?
The same rules as any headshot: solid mid-tone colors, a collar or V-neck to frame the face, no busy patterns. See the full what-to-wear guide (linked below).
How do I edit the result without making it look fake?
Less is more: crop, straighten, and a mild exposure lift. Skip skin smoothing — it reads as uncanny at thumbnail size. If the base photo needs heavy editing, reshoot with better window light instead.
Next: what to wear for a headshot · what headshots cost in 2026