Residency Application Headshots
If you're completing a residency or fellowship application or even applying to med school you are aware a professional headshot can help you stand out from other applicants. It's been said that a Medical Headshot is as important to a health care professional, as an audition headshot is to actors and models in the talent industry. Your headshot is your first impression and your photo is your brand.
A well executed headshot shows your level of professionalism and how seriously you take the application process. When applying for residency you want to represent yourself in the best possible light to help the screeners get to know you and help you move forward in the process.
Elements of a Great ERAS Headshot
At a minimum, ERAS/VSAS Medical Headshots should have a clean and professional look that give the viewer a glimpse into your personality and bedside manner.
A natural facial expression is also a key part of an ERAS Headshot. Fake smiles can result in a disingenuous look that would not be advantageous. We have a special technique to help you look natural with a genuine smile. This is a key differentiator in the work we do and the connection we have with our clients.
Professional lighting and a non-distracting backdrop is also a key component to any professional headshot.
Proper ERAS/VSAS Image Sizing and Ratios
According to the AAMC they require a image format of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches and a resolution of no larger than150 dpi.
A higher resolution may seem desirable, but there is a maximum file size upload limit, so every headshot must be smaller than 100 KB in size.
We are of course happy to provide a hi-res copy of your headshot for your own personal use outside of the ERAS application.
How to Make Your Medical Headshots Stand Out
Your wardrobe is an important component of making your headshot standout from the rest. We recommend wearing a business suit as opposed to a white coat for your formal ERAS headshot. However, we can easily add on an additional look to have a photo in your white coat for later use on websites and marketing materials. In general, we recommend wearing a solid dark colored jacket with a white or blue collared shirt underneath for a classic look. Your tie choice or blouse color for the ladies is a great way to add a pop of color into your headshot while keeping the focus of the image on your face.
Hiring a Professional Photographer is another way to make your image stand out. Self-shot headshots using an iPhone are often distorted due to the wide angle lens used on smart phones. Typically, smart phones tend to enlarge the subjects nose and make other changes that are less than flattering. A professional photographer uses a special lens to make your features smaller and more flattering. In addition, as mentioned above, by using a professional your headshot will have correct lighting and a proper backdrop that does not distract from the subject.
Post Production or Photoshop Editing is one of the last important elements to help your headshot look it's best. We want any retouching to be natural looking and overdone. In post, we typically remove any distracting elements and ensure the subject looks their best in a natural way.