Doctors Headshots
What is a Doctor Headshot?
A doctor headshot is a professional portrait used by physicians and healthcare providers across all their online and print platforms—websites, hospital directories, LinkedIn profiles, and more. It’s an essential part of your personal brand that will help your potential patients and colleagues form a positive first impression before they even meet you.
Why a Great Doctor Headshot Matters
Patients will often choose their doctors based on a mix of credentials and first impressions. The first impression matters. If you look uptight or unapproachable, people will pass you up. Your headshot builds trust and credibility, it shows you as confident, compassionate, and competent. Whether you're part of a private practice, hospital staff, or launching your own practice, your headshot plays a big role in connecting with current and prospective patients.
What to wear for your medical headshot
The wardrobe you choose should show professionalism. Lab coats are the go to standard headshot for most and you want to have that. Consider also having some headshots or portraits taken without it, this gives you a chance to show the more approachable, warm bedside manner side of yourself. These can often be more welcoming than the lab coat. Think of these on your “About Me” page.
Stick to solid colors or soft patterns. We don’t want logos unless it’s on your lab coat with the name of your practice or hospital where you practice. Stick to colors that are not too close to your skin tone.
Keep jewelry to a minimum, we want to keep the focus on your face and your expressions.
On-Location Headshots For Medical Teams
If you want to add more context into what kind of medicine your practice and what your space looks like, consider a personal branding session.
These are designed to give you a variety of photos to use across your website, social media, print and digital marketing. These gives potential clients a glimpse into what it looks like to be a patient in your office. They get to see the space and get to see the people before they walk in the door for the first time.
This can be a great way to warm potential clients up and help reduce the anxiety that needing a doctor can cause. To see if this would be a good fit for you, reach out and we can chat about your practice and what kinds of images you need. I can provide a free quote for you.
These are from a branding session I did with Darnestown Smiles, a local dental office in Darnestown, Maryland.
In total I delivered about 150 images for them.
If you’re interested in an idividual session for yourself, you can see my pricing down below. If you have a team of 5 or more, reach out for a free quote on having me come to your office and photograph your whole team, or your team can come to my studio.
Residency, Doctors, & Physician Headshots - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I don’t really know what to do with my arms during a photo - will John help me get the “pose” right?
A: Absolutely - Included in your session is a bit of coaching and a few “tricks of the trade” to help us achieve the best possible results from your doctor headshot session.
Q: Can you come to our clinic or practice and do multiple professional headshots at once?
A: You bet - I can do on-site headshot photo sessions that can build upon your office branding. Reach out to me and we’ll discuss the logistics.
Q: What should I wear for my headshot session?
A: That's hard to say - but I do recommend bringing a few outfits to your session - different shapes, patterns, and colors can make a big difference in the outcomes. Steer clear of loud full-outfit patterns - but a pop of pattern underneath a blazer or sweater can be a great touch. Ladies, bring that favorite power outfit - Men, bring a few ties and/or a few blazers. Ultimately bring clothes that make you feel amazing and confident - right down to your favorite shoes. If you feel great - that will come through in your photos and lead to a great headshot.
Q: What should I bring to my professional headshot session?
A: Along with your wardrobe options - bring your favorite little things - lip gloss, extra makeup - a compact mirror, and your favorite water bottle. I can have a stylist on hand to do hair and a makeup artist if you prefer. Let's talk about it and design the best possible experience for YOU! You may wish to wear your doctor's coat with your name and hospital/clinic logo for a healthcare worker or physician headshot. Be sure it's pristine and pressed - every speck and wrinkle can show up on light-colored fabrics in a photo.