Him vs. Her: Should you wear glasses in your professional headshots?

It’s a dilemma every professional faces: the need for professional pictures. Most will, at one point or another, opt to have professional headshots take. But even if you wear glasses in your day-to-day life, you may be wondering if your eyewear has a place in these shots. Opinions differ, including those of our resident experts, Des and Erin.

ERIN: Absolutely! Your glasses can be a great reflection of who you are. Just make sure they match your outfit and represent who you are as a professional.

DES: I would say no. Your face should be the focus, especially when you’re talking about such a close shot. Wearing your contacts will allow you to be comfortable while showing off your best asset: You.

ERIN: But what if you normally wear glasses? You want people to be able to recognize you when you walk in the door for a meeting or interview, and glasses transform your face so much. If you normally go for glasses, your headshot should represent that.

DES: I disagree. Plus, there’s the matter of ease when it comes to photography. If you don’t have an anti-reflective coating, you may end up with a glare in your photo, which will distract from the rest of the picture.

ERIN: Professional photographers will be able to work within that kind of situation, whether in the session or afterward during editing.

DES: I suppose you’re right. But if you do choose to wear glasses, at least keep it professional. What you wear on a regular basis is an entirely different matter than what will be representing you in a conference program or on LinkedIn. You want to put your best foot forward, and that means stylish but professional frames.

ERIN: I would agree with that. While I advocate for fun frames in the office, your headshots are the place to accentuate you and your face, so you don’t want to distract from that.