How is this outdoor headshot for secondaries [see image]?

[PotGoblinsales10]

In terms of acceptability and desirability, how is this?

Shall I not do it outdoors?

So here is the regular version:



Here is the cropped version I hope to upload:



The cropped version better?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ciestar]

Cropped. It shouldn’t be obvious it is a selfie, either.

 

[allantois]

Eh I’d go with a passport style photo on white background

 

[mimelim]

Passport style or indoor professional. Don't lose points on your freakin photo...

 

[smukke]

No

 

[atomi]

Professional studio by a professional photographer skilled in these shots and can do the lighting and make sure your posture and face angle is correct, which it is not currently not. This will run you about $200.

2 piece suit instead of three piece. Lose the pocket square. Your jacket needs to be tightened up. Your tie is too brightly colored.

Just let a professional do it for you.

 

[gyngyn]

A vest...?
A pocket square?
Outdoors? Is that a chain link fence?

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Professional studio by a professional photographer skilled in these shots and can do the lighting and make sure your posture and face angle is correct, which it is not currently not. This will run you about $200.

2 piece suit instead of three piece. Lose the pocket square. Your jacket needs to be tightened up. Your tie is too brightly colored.

Just let a professional do it for you.

Agree with the second paragraph advice re: vest/pocket square/tie.

Don't think someone needs to go as far as getting a professional photo, though. There's plenty of that in med school and residency. At least at places where I have been the secondary headshots are used for nothing more than a brief reminder of who the person is and to make sure you have the right person with the app for interviews. As long as it's not an unprofessional photo (casual, obvious cropped out people, doesn't resemble you currently, etc.) it doesn't really affect much of anything.

 

[smukke]

Agree with the second paragraph advice re: vest/pocket square/tie.

Don't think someone needs to go as far as getting a professional photo, though. There's plenty of that in med school and residency. At least at places where I have been the secondary headshots are used for nothing more than a brief reminder of who the person is and to make sure you have the right person with the app for interviews. As long as it's not an unprofessional photo (casual, obvious cropped out people, doesn't resemble you currently, etc.) it doesn't really affect much of anything.

To be honest I didn't even notice the vest/pocket square/tie at first. The background being too busy took my eye away, then I got distracted by the rest.

Anyone who is semi-competent at photography will be able to produce a decent headshot. It's very formulaic. Minimize background distractions (ie no outside). Minimize foreground distractions (ie no backlighting, use lots of diffuse light and flash only for fill). Candidates should also remember that these are often printed out in black and white on poor quality printers.

 

[atomi]

The point is that having a professionally done photo has zero chance of hurting you. At some point, something less than a professional headshot will hurt you. Do you really want to gamble and try to guess where that threshold is?

 

[trobinsonmd]

Agree with above comments, probably would not go three piece... it makes it look like you were going to a wedding and just decided to use this photo for your secondaries instead of getting a professional headshot taken... also the pocket square may not be appropriate. The trees as a background is not professional, I would say go to your closest Costco or maybe walmart and get a passport photo taken... and do not wear a vest this time

 

[atomi]

Agree with above comments, probably would not go three piece... it makes it look like you were going to a wedding and just decided to use this photo for your secondaries instead of getting a professional headshot taken... also the pocket square may not be appropriate. The trees as a background is not professional, I would say go to your closest Costco or maybe walmart and get a passport photo taken... and do not wear a vest this time

Agree. Nobody is going to fault you either for a simple passport photo with plain suit jacket and tie if you do not want to spring for a professional photo. This is what I did years back for both med school and residency. However, in retrospect I would not have done this for residency as >95% of the residency apps I review have a pro shot, and not having this makes you stick out.

 

[manohman]

Oh wow we're supposed to be wearing a suit? I wore a tshirt.

 

[Oso]

Hahaha dude just find a white-ish wall in your house then use the pic above for your SDN photo, like I did with my sick forest selfie.

 

[Oso]

Oh wow we're supposed to be wearing a suit? I wore a tshirt.

You will never be a doctor.






Jk I bet your photo's still better than the OP's.

 

[Robin-jay]

You guys are brutal.

 

[justcuriouser]

Mine was in front of a giant Christmas tree outside and I was wearing a pink scarf and no one said anything.

 

[Saifa]

That infinite depth of field led my eyes directly to a chain link fence. Idk what's wrong with having a pocket square though, I never photographed/interviewed without one.

 

[Oso]

Mine was in front of a giant Christmas tree outside and I was wearing a pink scarf and no one said anything.

... As in, no one offered you an interview?

 

[justcuriouser]

... As in, no one offered you an interview?

No one said anything at my interviews

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

Can you please add a pocket watch? This picture is likely to influence your acceptance chances? Worth posting on SDN?

 

[gyngyn]

No one said anything at my interviews

What could we say...?