SHOT BY SHELDON — FREE GUIDE

What Does Your Headshot Say About You?

A quick self‑audit to see if your photo is helping—or hurting—your first impression

Your headshot is your first impression with recruiters, clients, and collaborators. It takes less than a tenth of a second for someone to form a judgement about you from your photo. This mini‑audit will help you see exactly where your current headshot is working—and where it's costing you.

< 3 Days
Turnaround
98%
Client Satisfaction
7 Years
Experience

How to score each criterion:
1 – Major issue (actively hurting your first impression)
2 – Noticeable problem
3 – Passable
4 – Solid
5 – Nailed it

Be brutally honest. Pull up your current headshot — look at the circular thumbnail on LinkedIn.

The 10-Point Headshot Audit

1. Lighting Quality

Is the light soft, directional, and flattering? Or harsh, overhead, with unflattering shadows?

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đź”´ Red flag: fluorescent office light, direct flash, heavy shadows on one side
2. Background

Clean, intentional, non‑distracting? Does it complement your face?

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đź”´ Red flag: cluttered rooms, bathroom mirrors, other people visible
3. Expression & Energy

Approachable, confident, natural? Or stiff, forced, deer‑in‑headlights?

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đź”´ Red flag: fake smile, resting frustrated face
4. Framing & Crop

Mid‑chest to just above head? Face fills enough of frame for thumbnail?

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🔴 Red flag: full‑body shot as headshot, forehead cut off
5. Image Resolution & Sharpness

Crisp at full size? Eyes are sharpest point?

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🔴 Red flag: pixelated, blurry, front‑facing phone camera
6. Wardrobe

Matches impression you want? Wrinkle‑free, well‑fitted, appropriate for industry?

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đź”´ Red flag: logos, graphics, colours that clash with skin tone
7. Eye Contact & Connection

Looking directly into lens, creating real eye contact?

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🔴 Red flag: off‑camera gaze, half‑closed eyes
8. Brand Alignment

Matches who you are now and the role you're going for? Recognisable?

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đź”´ Red flag: photo 3+ years old, different hairstyle or weight
9. Consistency Across Platforms

Same headshot used on LinkedIn, website, email signature?

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đź”´ Red flag: different photo on every platform
10. Overall Gut Check

What would a stranger assume about you? Confident professional? Or someone who didn't bother?

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đź”´ Red flag: you cringe when you see it

YOUR TOTAL SCORE: ___ / 50

40–50 — Great shape. Fine‑tune weak spots.
25–39 — Room to grow. Passable but not building trust.
10–24 — Time for an upgrade. A professional session would be a high‑impact move.

Ready to see what a great headshot can do?
The Shot by Sheldon Experience includes: free 15‑min strategy call, custom shot list, professional session with posing coaching, all images edited, Vision‑Match Guarantee. Starting at $149.

📸 shotbysheldon.ca · @shotbysheldon · [email protected]