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One of the questions that I hear a lot from my high school and college senior clients is whether they should smile or not during their headshot. 

Since your senior headshot is likely to be posted on social media, LinkedIn, used in the yearbook, framed and placed on the family wall, used for your college ID badge, or placed on your academic or job application, it is important that you think about whether to smile or not. 

I like smiles. Unless that is not in your personality’s repertoire, then smiling is a great way to go. You come across as friendly, easy to work with, great to get along with, and an all-around nice person. Non-smile images can work great too and are certainly appropriate. Take both kinds of images and see which you like better. 

Even if you do not plan to use the senior headshot in your college application or LinkedIn profile, it is important that you smile. Having the right vibe to your headshot by smiling allows you to make a positive impression on the viewer. Just think about the message that you are trying to convey. 

Consider the following to decide whether to smile in your headshot or not. 

•        Where will you use the picture?
•        What you hope to convey?
•        Do you feel comfortable smiling?

At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you are comfortable with and the type of picture you want captured. However, a smile requires no extra effort and makes you look good.