The Visual Handshake: Why Your Legal Headshot Matters

“OK, Mr. Gillett, smile.” Every single bad lawyer headshot I received when I was a litigator started that way. I always ended up looking like a loser. My focus was always on whether I like the picture or not, which I never did. That myopic perspective hid from me the broader implications of a bad legal headshot.

In law, first impressions can set the tone of an entire relationship long before you argue a motion, negotiate a settlement, or meet a client in person. Your headshot is more than a picture; it’s a visual handshake. In a single frame, it should convey confidence, credibility, and professionalism. Like a handshake, it can be firm and reassuring or limp and forgettable. I still remember the last guy who gave me a weak, moist handshake. The difference often lies in small but critical choices.

Why the headshot matters for lawyers

A headshot lives everywhere your reputation does: firm websites, LinkedIn, speaking bios, bids, press releases. Before clients, judges, or opposing counsel meet you, they meet your image. That photograph carries cues about how trustworthy you appear, how engaged you seem, and whether you project authority or warmth. Research in psychology shows people form judgments of competence and likability in milliseconds. For lawyers, your headshot is the first piece of evidence people review. 

As a lawyer, what do you have to market except a certain perceived level of expertise? Firms will spend all sorts of money on class-A off space, expensive build out, expensive artwork, etc. to make it look like they are good at what they do, to increase their perceived level of expertise, but they frequently fail to take headshots seriously, and headshots are the first thing most people are going to see about you, and it is way more cost effective than that art installation.

Do’s: Making the most of your visual handshake

• Do use genuine expression: Confidence shows in the eyes; likability in the mouth. Together, they increase your perceived level of expertise. Forced smiles or stiff stares fail that test.
• Do consider the message you want to send: A trial lawyer may want gravitas; a family lawyer may lean into warmth. There’s no “one right” look. The headshot should serve your practice, not just “look nice.”
• Do refresh periodically: If your appearance has changed meaningfully, update your headshot. Outdated photos or AI-generated stand-ins are a form of professional misrepresentation. Clients expect candor, not catfishing.

Don’ts: Pitfalls that undermine authority

• Don’t rely on selfies or casual snapshots: What works for personal social media rarely conveys the seriousness of legal counsel.
• Don’t over-edit: Excessive retouching erases authenticity and can signal insecurity. A headshot should present the best version of you, not an airbrushed stranger.
• Don’t ignore body language: Subtle posture cues matter. Crossed arms can suggest defensiveness, while a deep lean can signal disengagement. Tilting your head towards the shoulder closer to the camera makes you look weak.

The broader impact in law

A strong headshot doesn’t just open doors with clients. It also reinforces a firm’s collective reputation. Cohesive, polished headshots across partners and associates communicate unity, attention to detail, and credibility. Mismatched or outdated images, by contrast, suggest inconsistency and lack of investment. In an era where clients often research attorneys online before making contact, these cues can be decisive.

Think of your headshot the way you’d think of a handshake in court or a boardroom: intentional, practiced, and aligned with the impression you want to leave. Done well, it’s one of the simplest yet most effective tools in your professional arsenal.