Context Slice Professional Headshot Style Guide
Style Categories
Corporate Executive
The classic boardroom professional. Conveys authority, trustworthiness, and success. Neutral backgrounds (grey gradient, soft blue, or subtle office blur), conservative lighting with soft fill to minimize harsh shadows.
Key elements: Clean, evenly lit face, subtle catchlights in eyes, professional attire appearance, confident but approachable expression, neutral or muted background.
Prompt approach: "Transform into a professional corporate headshot, soft neutral grey gradient background, studio lighting with main light at 45 degrees, subtle fill light, sharp focus on eyes, business professional appearance, LinkedIn-ready quality"
Creative Professional
Tech, design, and creative industries. Slightly more relaxed while still professional. May include environmental context or bolder backgrounds while maintaining polish.
Key elements: Natural but refined lighting, personality showing through, smart-casual appearance, clean composition with possible environmental hints (subtle office, studio).
Prompt approach: "Transform into a modern professional headshot, clean contemporary background with subtle gradient, natural-feeling studio light, approachable confident expression, creative professional aesthetic, high-quality portrait photography"
Friendly Approachable
Service industries, coaching, healthcare, real estate. Warm and inviting. Brighter backgrounds, softer lighting, genuine smile emphasis.
Key elements: Warm color temperature, soft even lighting, genuine smile with visible teeth, bright but not blown-out background, trustworthy and welcoming vibe.
Prompt approach: "Transform into a warm professional headshot, soft bright background, friendly genuine smile, approachable expression, even flattering lighting, service professional quality, welcoming presence"
Lighting Approaches
Rembrandt lighting: Classic portrait lighting with triangular highlight under the eye on the shadow side. Adds depth and dimension, suits executive style.
Butterfly lighting: Soft shadow under nose creating butterfly shape. Glamorous, flattering for most face shapes. Main light directly in front and above.
Loop lighting: Small shadow of the nose loops toward the cheek. Most common headshot lighting—professional without being dramatic.
Flat lighting: Even illumination minimizing shadows. Very approachable and clean, common for LinkedIn and team pages.
Background Options
Solid neutral: Grey gradients (light to medium), soft blue, warm cream. Timeless, works for any industry.
Environmental blur: Soft office or professional environment in background. Adds context while keeping focus on subject.
White/high-key: Bright, clean, modern. Common for tech companies and startups.
Dark/low-key: Deep grey or navy. More dramatic, suits executive and legal professionals.
Technical Considerations
Framing: Head and shoulders, subject centered or slightly off-center (rule of thirds for eyes). Leave appropriate headroom. Portrait orientation typical.
Focus: Tack-sharp on the eyes. Slight background blur acceptable but face must be crisp.
Skin: Natural but refined. Smooth obvious blemishes without making skin look plastic. Preserve texture and authenticity.
Expression: Eyes engaged with camera. Slight smile or confident neutral. Avoid forced grins or stiff expressions.
Transformation Approach
When editing a casual photo into a headshot:
- Enhance lighting to professional studio quality
- Soften or replace background to neutral/professional
- Refine skin while keeping natural texture
- Adjust color temperature for professional warmth
- Sharpen eyes and facial features appropriately
- Ensure professional appearance (collar visible, neat presentation)
Example Prompts
Casual to corporate: "Transform this casual photo into a polished corporate executive headshot, soft grey gradient background, professional studio lighting with subtle rim light, sharp focus on eyes, confident approachable expression, LinkedIn professional quality"
Selfie to creative professional: "Transform this selfie into a modern professional headshot, clean contemporary background, natural but refined lighting, authentic expression, creative industry aesthetic, high-quality portrait photography"
Phone photo to friendly headshot: "Transform into a warm welcoming professional headshot, soft bright neutral background, even flattering lighting, genuine friendly expression, service professional quality, approachable trustworthy presence"
User Customization Options
Ask users about:
- Industry/role (corporate, creative, service, medical, legal)
- Mood preference (authoritative, approachable, friendly, creative)
- Background preference (neutral, environmental hint, dark, bright)
- Any specific requirements (company brand colors, team page consistency)