Choosing a background for a professional photo

Use a calm, plain background that is a little softer than your face: a smooth neutral colour or a soft blur. Avoid busy scenes, bright windows and anything that competes with your face.

Solid or blurred

• Solid colour: looks clean and consistent. Neutral (grey, warm light, soft green or navy) works with most clothes.
• Soft blur: keeps a sense of place without detail. It can look unnatural if the edge around your hair is rough.
• Original: keep your own background only if it is plain and tidy.

Check your background

• Is anything bright or moving behind you?
• Does your clothing blend into the colour? Pick a background that contrasts with it.
• Does the colour match your page or banner, if you have them?

Change it in your browser

In the free headshot maker the background choices are Studio, Navy, Warm, Soft green, Soft blur and Original. Pick one and slide between before and after. It runs in your browser and your photo is not uploaded.

If the edges look wrong

Try a different background, a different framing, or a photo with more even light and a plainer wall behind you. A photo taken in even light against a plain wall gives the cleanest result.