ERAS Headshots
11 Tips for Taking an ERAS Headshot
Medical students often need professional headshots, particularly ERAS headshots, for their medical residency application. Residency programs receive thousands of applications yearly and must sift through them to find the students who best match their needs.
Visual information is how people understand or perceive the world. Therefore, a professional ERAS headshot may help increase a student’s chances of ensuring residency.
Why Should I Take a Professional ERAS Headshot?
If you have put effort and thought into a professional ERAS headshot, it shows that you are determined to succeed at your residency. That’s what residency programs demand.
Should I Use a Casual Photo?
You will be amazed at how professional headshots stand out from casual photos taken by non-professionals. Factors such as lighting, retouching, and natural posing make professional photographers outstanding at their work.
Denver Headshot Co. has been working with professionals for years. We know how to take outstanding ERAS headshots for your residency application.
Don’t leave your ERAS headshot to amateurs. Doing this endangers your chances of receiving the residency of your dreams. Instead, let us take professional headshots that display your medical brand and maximize your chances.
1. What Are the Photo Requirements?
ERAS headshots have strict and specific requirements. Photos must be 2. 5 x 3.5 inches, the resolution should be 150 dpi, and the file size should be 100 KB.
Headshots should be in color, displaying the face and shoulders with a frontal view and centered in the photo.
2. What Should My ERAS Headshot Highlight?
Consider the psychology behind a great headshot. In general, headshots highlight your professional attitude and determination to succeed. Your ERAS headshot follows the same philosophy:
You want to show that you are a good match for the residency program.
You are a professional who is approachable and easy to work with.
You are confident in your knowledge and driven to deliver your best self.
You look trustworthy and dependable.
Finally, you wish to show you are polite and friendly without being frivolous.
Overall, you want to convince the decision-makers that you deserve the residency!
3. What Should I Wear for an ERAS Headshot?
Our photographers at DHC will first ask you to avoid wearing scrubs or a white coat, as it may be considered tacky.
It is best to work on the safe side and choose conservative clothes. Suits work best for men and women. You should wear a good-fitting jacket in dark, solid colors such as dark blue, gray, or charcoal.
Men should wear a tie, although not flashy, and a shirt—but not a button-down one. Good shirt colors are white, blue, or gray.
Women should wear a jacket and shirt or blouse for their headshot. Avoid deep necklines and patterns, as they are distracting. Choose solid colors such as white, off-white, blue, or light gray. When it comes to jewelry, keep it simple and discreet. Avoid dangling earrings and large necklaces. Choose items that highlight your personality but do not detract from the overall image.
4. What Is the Best Pose for an ERAS Headshot?
In general, you should pose for ERAS headshots the same way you’d pose for corporate headshots.
Look straight at the camera and position your chin not too high nor too low. Also, work your angle: the ideal pose positions your body at an angle to the camera with your eyes looking directly at the lens. Lean slightly toward the camera to look engaged and interested. Then, relax your shoulders, arms, and hands. Now, smile!
5. Should I Smile for My ERAS Headshot?
People love genuine smiles. They are welcoming and display an approachable and friendly demeanor, which teams greatly appreciate.
Therefore, we suggest that you smile in your ERAS headshot. A warm, gentle smile makes you look radiant. It helps people connect with you and instantly creates a positive feeling. However, we suggest you avoid wide grins as if you just heard a good joke. Opt instead for your most authentic and gracious smile.
6. What Sort of Background Works Best?
Most medical students applying for a residency choose a neutral background—usually white, gray, or off-white. There is good reason for doing so, as this type of background is also the preferred choice by the residency decision-makers.
You should use a professional studio for your headshots. The outdoors tend to draw the eye away from your face and can look unprofessional. Also, because the size of your photo will be relatively small, an external background will often look blurry in the final image.
A good, professional studio like Denver Headshot Co. gives you complete control over the background, the lighting, and the final headshot.
7. When Is the Best Time to Arrange My ERAS Headshot?
Don’t leave your ERAS headshot for the last minute. Residency applications begin in the summer before your final year. Applications are reviewed in October.
Plan for your ERAS headshot well in advance so you have time to prepare and organize your application with peace of mind.
8. Do You Retouch ERAS Headshots?
Our general philosophy here at Denver Headshot Co. is that we like photos as natural as possible. Having said that, we may lightly retouch and airbrush headshots, including ERAS headshots, for blemishes, shadows, and wrinkles.
We can also slightly retouch and whiten your eyes and teeth, but we want you to look like you, so our retouching will be fine, discreet, and specific.
9. Do I Need Makeup for My ERAS Headshot?
Light makeup can add depth to your face and hide spots or blemishes. Don’t overdo it, though, as your ERAS headshot is aimed at a professional position, not a date. Highlight your best features with light touches and bring out the best of you in your headshot.
10. What about Glasses?
If you wear glasses, keep them on. Glasses maintain the success of your ERAS headshot.
11. Do I Need to Prepare Beforehand for My Headshot?
You can prepare for your headshot by taking into account our tips above. Just don’t leave it for the last minute. Take time to sleep, exercise, and bring out your best self.
If you want a haircut, arrange for it a week or ten days before so that your haircut has settled and looks natural.
Try the clothes you plan on wearing to ensure they sit nicely on you and don’t feel too tight or bulky. You want them to fit you well and make you feel comfortable. If your clothes are dirty, have them dry-cleaned well in advance so that you have your outfit ready for your ERAS photo shoot.
Trust Denver Headshot Co. for Your ERAS Headshot
Your ERAS headshot will be among thousands of competitors. Making a good impression from the start may help with your application. Residency programs are overwhelmed with applications, so an eye-catching one may help ensure that the person responsible for the selection takes a look at yours.
Call us at 720-712-4829 to book your photo shoot and let our professional photographers help you start your medical career!
