A headshot’s ideal size and ratio depend on how it will be used. For example, many social media sites use square headshots, while professional actor headshots should have a 4:5 ratio.
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1) What size should a headshot be?
Your headshot’s size will depend on how and where it’s being used. Here’s our complete guide to headshot sizing, ratio, and format to help ensure your headshots are perfect for their intended purposes.
a) Actor headshot size
Although we live in a digital world, casting agents and directors still expect a physical copy of your headshot. This should be 8 x 10 inches in size and printed on matte paper without borders. It’s commonplace to print your name on the photograph and your resume on the back.
Actor headshot photos must be high-resolution—normally at least 300 dpi—to meet the industry standard. When digitizing your actor headshots, use compressed JPEG, JPG, or PNG files. The chosen photo should be carefully cropped so that your face is centered and occupies the upper third of the image.
b) Facebook headshot size
Headshots for Facebook pages and profiles should be square, with the face occupying the center of the image. Facebook automatically applies a circular border to the photo and resizes it according to the device it’s being viewed on. Aim for a high-quality image of around 400 x 400 pixels. Lower-resolution images will look OK on mobile devices but blurred on desktop browsers.
c) Instagram headshot size
Instagram headshots should also be square, but the ideal size is slightly lower than Facebook’s: 320 x 320 pixels. Luckily, most digital photo storage facilities let you resize photos to meet these specific requirements.
d) LinkedIn headshot size
A professional headshot photo for LinkedIn should be 400 x 400 pixels to maintain high resolution on both mobile and desktop platforms. The minimum image size is 268 x 268 pixels, but be aware that this may lead to blurring and lower resolution.
e) X (Twitter) headshot size
Headshots for X (formerly Twitter) should be square and a minimum of 200 x 200 pixels. The recommended size is 400 x 400 pixels but must not exceed 2 MB.
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We know we’re throwing a lot of numbers at you. As our professional photography team creates your personal brand profile, you can be sure that we’ll happily and expertly provide headshot photos in the recommended sizes and formats to suit your needs. Whether you're a rising social media star or a corporate professional, we’ve got you and your perfect headshots covered!
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Welcome to Studio S Portraits, a contemporary, magazine-worthy portrait photography studio run by Shruthi Venkatasubramanian. Based in West Boston, Massachusetts, Studio S Portraits has emerged as a premier provider of high-quality photography services, bringing a touch of artistic flair to headshots, personal branding, and portrait photography. Â
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If you enjoyed this article, you might also like 'What to wear for a headshot'.
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