16 Best Modern Ideas of Real Estate Agent Headshots for Men

The best male realtor headshots are a great balance of the formal and the casual.

You want to hit the notes that make you professional and trustworthy, but you also want to look warm, relaxed, and approachable.

A studio setting with an off-white or gray backdrop and a black or dark suit to contrast and make the person really pop is always a beautiful look.

In order to offset the formality of the setting and attire, the session needs to be casual. There needs to be music playing.

Real estate headshot photographers have to keep the conversation going and break it up every so often to show the client shots of what they think is working and what could be done better.

The session should be collaborative and not one way.

Men should mostly avoid facing the camera directly, a slight tilt away but direct eye contact with an authentic smile is always a winning pose.

— Kari Bjorn, Kari Bjorn Photography, Owner/Photographer

The key elements are:

– Lighting
– Wardrobe
– Posing

Lighting should be used in such a way that is flattering to the subject. There are a few lighting techniques from which the best should be chosen to the subject’s specific age, skin, mood, and size.

Of course, the male realtor attire should match the style of communication the subject aims to express.

And finally, posing should make sense with all of the above.

— Mauricio Alanis, Citrique Photography, Founder & CEO

For headshot portraits, whether it’s classic headshots, real estate team headshots, lifestyle portraits, or environmental portraits, my advice is to put your best face forward.

Remember, it’s all about you, your brand, and your story.

We listen to what you want and plan your portrait together. We put you at ease, light you just right, and make plenty of poses for you to choose from.

Your selected images are touched up as needed to create polished yet natural professional images.

— David Fox, David Fox Photography & Digital Transfer Services, Photographer

We are a brick-and-mortar studio and virtually all of our formal headshots are done in studio.

I strike up a conversion with the person in our lobby about just anything that might stand out, so the person becomes relaxed.

We’ve just met the person, they are in strange surroundings, which may add to their nervousness.

I’ll lead them to our headshot studio and help them choose a background, which coordinates with their clothing.

Once the selected background is in place, I’ll discuss with them how the headshot will be used, whether it’s for web only, web and business card, or business card only.

This information helps me determine how to format the final image or images if it is to be used both for web and as a business card picture.

Then I’ll survey their clothing. If wearing a tie, I make sure the knot is tight against the neck button of his shirt.

I’ll notice if the tie at least comes down to his belt, and if the shirt is tightly tucked into the pants. If any item is not as stated above, I’ll have them correct the issue.

If wearing a coat, I’ll determine if the top coat button can be buttoned (some have outgrown their clothing). If the coat can be buttoned, I do so.
The buttoning creates a “V” shape in the portrait, which in my view spells “professional.”

If the coat is noticeably wrinkled when buttoned, I’ll have the person grip the left/right fabric area under the large coat pockets and pull down, which, in almost every case, removes the coat’s wrinkles.

At this point, I have the person face towards the “fill” light, which is at a 45-degree angle from them, then turn their face toward the camera which is straight ahead.

I ask them to smile at this point. If they are too uncomfortable to smile, I tease them or insult them (Don Rickles comedian style) in such a way that they do smile.

I will then take several pictures, about 6 to 9 snaps, then pause.

Our camera room has multiple “fill” lights, so if the person has been facing the fill light on their left, I will move them so they are facing the “fill” light on their right.

After surveying the person’s clothing to make sure all is in order, I’ll remind them to smile and then resume taking pictures of them.

— James “Grider” Lee, Picture It Studios, Inc., Owner/President

A few factors go into taking the best real estate headshots for men which can be taken either at a property that the agent is selling, or in a more professional setting such as a studio.

To start with, I determine the following:

1. Ideal location that the agent prefers. Will it be an indoor shoot in a studio with controlled lighting or on location?

Some real estate agents prefer to show a house blurred out in the background to show that they are indeed an agent.

Personally, I prefer to shoot outdoors as working with natural light makes the image pop and it gives you more room to work with compared to a studio.

As an example of a creative outdoor real estate headshot, the background is either blurred out somewhat and distraction-free, creating a clean look.

2. Time of day of the shoot. This matters so as to avoid harsh shadows and unflattering light on the agent’s face.

I try to avoid the hours between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. but if I can’t, I will find a spot (if shooting outdoors) in the shade, or at the very least, with the sun behind the agent.

3. The clothes you wear to the shoot matters! I can’t stress this enough as a photographer.

I tell any male/female client who is posing for me that they not only should dress the part and look professional, but that the real estate agent attire they choose on that day shouldn’t have any crazy patterns or colors.

Their clothes should always be clean and properly steamed. Solid colors work best.

A suit jacket and a tie always make a male client stand out and look presentable.

I will also stress to the agent that getting plenty of rest beforehand and staying hydrated is just as important.

— Todd Beltz, Todd Beltz Photography LLC, Owner/Photographer

I always suggest to males, if they are getting a fresh cut, to make sure it happens a week before their photoshoot.

I accentuate the jawline, making it more defined and angular, and I tend to position my client’s head with an angle to achieve that.

With their body, I try to position them in a V-shape to give the appearance of broad shoulders and a thinner waistline.

I also tend to have men put their hands in their pockets or thumbs through their belt loops or crossing their arms.

With a male client’s legs, it depends on if they are standing or sitting. If they are standing, I try to create angles with the legs also, or sometimes, having the client put a foot on the wall.

— Michelle Freed, Michelle Freed Photography, Owner/Photographer

Subject sits four feet in front of a backdrop, preferably gray or white. There are two soft box lights, within two feet of the subject, at 45-degree angles to the head.

The camera is four feet from the subject, using a 70-200mm lens set about 90mm. I have the body chest turned with the shoulder aimed at the camera, and head (nose) towards the lens.

I then take images that include the entire head, but also some that crop off the top part of the head.

I learned this method from Peter Hurley in person at a PPA conference.

— Robert “General Bob” Felderman, Bob Felderman Photography and General Bob Realty, Photographer/Real Estate Broker

The setting and style must match the personality, desired location, and preferred dress style of the subject. Always, however, technical excellence is critical for the success of the images.

— Evan B. Siegel, Coastal Images, Owner and Principal Photographer

It starts with the attire, in my opinion. For men, they should mostly be wearing just a shirt and dress pants.

The shoot should be in a casual setting, like the neighborhoods or parks they work with, preferably with some greenery in the background.

In order to get a relaxed and approachable look, I have longer sessions and break up the shoot every 5-10 minutes to chat and tell jokes to build trust and make people more comfortable in front of the camera.

Keeping the conversation on the lighter side also helps my clients bring out a natural smile.

Poses should be natural. Here is a good one: one hand loose while the other is half way in the pocket, the chest is facing slightly away from the camera while the head is facing it.

This pose also ensures jackets look great.

I want people to feel like they aren’t being photographed, and I want the photos to look as unposed as possible.

— Kari Bjorn, Kari Bjorn Photography, Owner/Photographer

Get them talking, walking, joking — anything to help them forget that you’re doing a photoshoot. Most agents are really personable, friendly people — it’s part of their job!

You just have to help that come across in a situation where a lot of people get self-conscious and tense up.

Sometimes that means getting them to engage in a conversation. Other times, it’s as simple as wearing them down by shooting a bunch.

The first few shots might be a little stiff, but the novelty of the shoot wears off eventually and they’ll get used to it and relax.

— Patrick Heagney, Patrick Heagney Photography, Owner/Photographer

The key to taking great men’s real estate headshots is to make it personable. And to keep it real.

I see many real estate agents who either display photos from fifteen years ago, or are so heavily photoshopped you barely recognize them when you see them in real life.

Have the photographer concentrate on good lighting and flattering angles, instead!

— Tom Bertolotti, Portrait Philosophy – Tom Bertolotti Photography, Owner and Photographer

When photographing individuals vs real estate teams, work with them to identify where they will use pictures from the session.

Many agents include them on a business card, their signs in front of their listings, and on websites.

Each of these areas have a bit different visibility requirements and likely have a different tone. Business cards are mainly to establish a relationship, so they tend to be more casual or informal.

— David Teter, Hounds and Houses Media, Owner

Casual, to me, means no tie and, in some cases, no jacket for an in-studio setting.

For an even more casual look, I might take the person outdoors in the shade and put them in front of a medium-sized tree of some tall bushes.

If their position is causing their face to be in shadow, I’ll have my assistant use a 4′ x 6′ reflector to bounce some light toward the person’s face in order to override the shade.

The rest of the process is similar to the formal one.

— James “Grider” Lee, Picture It Studios, Inc., Owner/President

I would shoot a headshot in the same manner whether or not it’s casual or professional.

One may require an agent to be dressed up more for the professional shots.

Whereas for the casual ones, they may opt out of wearing a suit and tie (when taking realtor headshots for men), or maybe throw the suit jacket over their shoulder for a more casual look.

— Todd Beltz, Todd Beltz Photography LLC, Owner/Photographer

The best way to get a casual photo is to talk to your client, find out what makes them happy, and get them talking and thinking about it.

It relaxes the face and allows the photographer to capture natural casual expression.

— Michelle Freed, Michelle Freed Photography, Owner/Photographer

Assess the overall look, style, location, and preferred “feel” of the images to be taken and respond accordingly, making sure that an honest professional appraisal of the likely success of the session(s).

— Evan B. Siegel, Coastal Images, Owner and Principal Photographer