There’s a lot that makes a good headshot. First, hire a professional and never use a selfie. A professional headshot photographer will have the technical skill and gear to produce high-quality photos. The setting also matters – the background. You’ll need to also project in your face the emotion you want to convey. It could be a gentle smile in a commercial look or a strong glare in a theatrical look. Finally, what you wear will also impact how good it is. Keep what you’re wearing simple.

You will need a studio setting, good quality strobe lighting, a good camera – no, a smartphone is not a good camera, a good photographer that has the technical skills, and good post-production. Then, the person in the photo will need to be well prepared. This means wearing the right clothes, being well-groomed, etc. All these elements combine for a good corporate photo.

In most cases, yes, a smile is good. It should be a relaxed smile and not one that is forced. Some people find it difficult to do this so, be comfortable first. A theatrical headshot for an actor is usually without a smile and some model beauty or glamour shots might be without a smile too.