There's nothing more basic than a mug shot.
In Hollywood, they call it a head shot. You know what it is: the photo of a public figure's face, usually in black-and-white. You see them in newspaper stories and opeds, on the TV news and on web sites.
Most mug shots are terrible. Not because the person is ugly. It's just so easy to screw up this shot.
Here are three common mug shot mistakes and what to do about them.
1) Letting a Reporter Shoot You
They'll say, "Hey, I've got a little camera. We can just shoot a quick mug over by that wall."
Don't do it. Do reporters intentionally take unflattering photos? No. Not at all. They'll do their best.
The facts simple. Reporters aren't typically photojournalism majors who switched over to writing stories. They don't usually pack $5,000 digital cameras. They won't spend half an hour, and burn 300 frames, to get the perfect mug shot.
A reporter will shoot one or two shots with whatever camera the newspaper gave them, usually a point-and-shoot. If you're lucky, the reporter will use their own camera.
I've been there. As a reporter, I shot a lot of quick mug shots. They never turn out great, no matter how hard you try. Reporters aren't professional photographers, and thirty seconds by the brick wall outside City Hall at 7 p.m. is no substitute for half an hour in a professional photographer's studio with the right lighting.
Related mistakes: having a staffer, husband, wife or friend shoot your mug.
How to fix it: Pay the money for a professional photographer. Often, they'll have what they call a Realtor's special, because every Realtor needs a mug shot. It's not as expensive as you think.
2) Bad Backgrounds and Clothing
An otherwise perfect mug shot can get ruined by distracting backgrounds and clothing.
Backgrounds are tough. It's why the best mug shots are done in studios with a neutral background.
Striped shirts and patterned clothing can often go seriously wrong in a photo. Patterns that look fine in real life can create a moire effect. White shirts are also a mistake, because it's too much contrast with your face, and contrasts are only heightened with mug shots because they usually get printed in black-and-white.
How to fix it: Shoot indoors, in a studio, and stick to solid colors like navy.
3) Fake Smiles and Crazy Grins
The goal is to look competent, not to seem like the happiest person in the world. If you have a great big smile, and look natural showing off all your dental work, wonderful. Use it.
Most people look a bit strange in their mugs because they're straining to smile as big as they can. It's not natural. The strain shows.
Related mistakes: frozen face. It's amazing how smart, charming and funny people turn their face into a mask once the camera starts snapping.
How to fix it: You're going to shoot a ton of frames. Tell the person getting photographed that these are practice shots, and have them goof off a little and talk while the photographer shoots away. Ask them to tell a joke, or a funny story. Ten bucks says those practice shots are more natural and better than the "real" shots.