Professional headshot = pretentious?

[amakhosidlo]

I've got a bunch of friends who are either photojournalism/digital media/art (photographic emphasis) majors, and a few of them do really exceptional work. I'm thinking of getting them to take a few shots to send in as my passport-sized headshot. Nothing too artsy, but it would definitely be different, and I'm not sure how it would be interpreted.

Would sending in something more sophisticated than a standard passport photo be viewed as pretentious/conceited? I want to play it safe with the whole photo thing, but at the same time I don't want to send in some piece of garbage I took at office depot...

For those that applied last year, what did you do for your secondary pics?

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[witness23]

I used-ed my passport photo. While I have heard that they put your picture up during meetings, I don't think adcoms really comment on how hot or professional you are. They also apparently get your photo from the MCAT day, as security against superduper applicants who send substitute interviewees to represent for them.

 

[nick_carraway]

I had my GF take my photo. It came out well enough. I think you'd be surprised by how many people send in professional photos, so you won't stand apart too much (for better or worse). It might not be common on SDN, but it's very common in the fellowship apps I've seen and I'm sure that med school adcoms see their fair share too.

 

[stayclassy]

It's not that serious

 

[blackbird11384]

Hah I need to stop playing video games. When I first read the title of the thread I thought the OP was somehow referring to "headshots" in a first person shooter. So I thought he was referring to professional video game playing, and whether it would be pretentious to mention this in an application. I forgot that a "headshot" also refers to a photo of someone's head. 🙄

 

[nick_carraway]

Hah I need to stop playing video games. When I first read the title of the thread I thought the OP was somehow referring to "headshots" in a first person shooter. So I thought he was referring to professional video game playing, and whether it would be pretentious to mention this in an application. I forgot that a "headshot" also refers to a photo of someone's head. 🙄

Such a n00b.

 

[BlueElmo]

I think we are getting way too paranoid, here. I'm sure standard 2x2 passport photos will be more than sufficient.

 

[Excelsius]

...
Would sending in something more sophisticated than a standard passport photo be viewed as pretentious/conceited? I want to play it safe with the whole photo thing, but at the same time I don't want to send in some piece of garbage I took at office depot...
...

Just make sure it's not your avatar.

 

[BlueElmo]

Just make sure it's not your avatar.

.

 

[Charles English]

Just make sure it's not your avatar.

i don't know. i really dig that picture 😀 those glasses say "pizzazzz!"

 

[tkim]

Would sending in something more sophisticated than a standard passport photo be viewed as pretentious/conceited?

Unless you are a model I'd stick with the standard 2x2 passport.

 

[Compass]

The only way your picture would stand out is if you sent in a 2 foot x 2 foot self-portrait that you painted yourself.


I think I really want to try that! 😵

 

[Van Chowder]

The only way your picture would stand out is if you sent in a 2 foot x 2 foot self-portrait that you painted yourself.


I think I really want to try that! 😵

What if I got a four page spread in GQ and used one of those? Would that stand out?

( im actually not kidding.. Feb 09 issue with Lebron on the cover 😛)

 

[BlueElmo]

What if I got a four page spread in GQ and used one of those? Would that stand out?

( im actually not kidding.. Feb 09 issue with Lebron on the cover 😛)

Do it.

 

[dw2158]

I used-ed my passport photo. While I have heard that they put your picture up during meetings, I don't think adcoms really comment on how hot or professional you are. They also apparently get your photo from the MCAT day, as security against superduper applicants who send substitute interviewees to represent for them.

i think i'm losing my mind... i have NO recollection of getting my picture taken on MCAT day. i do remember being fingerprinted, but for sure not photographed. i assume it must have happened because y'all keep talking about it but i just can't remember!

 

[silverhorse84]

i think i'm losing my mind... i have NO recollection of getting my picture taken on MCAT day. i do remember being fingerprinted, but for sure not photographed. i assume it must have happened because y'all keep talking about it but i just can't remember!

From what I've heard, they take your picture without telling you. So basically, adcom members have a bunch of bad looking pictures of us, because we have no idea they're being taken. 😛

 

[Zona Pellucida]

I used-ed my passport photo. While I have heard that they put your picture up during meetings, I don't think adcoms really comment on how hot or professional you are. They also apparently get your photo from the MCAT day, as security against superduper applicants who send substitute interviewees to represent for them.

This better not be true! I saw my photo pop up on the screen as she took it and I looked tired and horrible

 

[nick_carraway]

This better not be true! I saw my photo pop up on the screen as she took it and I looked tired and horrible

It'd be fun if they took before/after photos on MCAT day. The adcoms could all laugh at how sad we looked. Might even earn us some pity points!

 

[dw2158]

From what I've heard, they take your picture without telling you. So basically, adcom members have a bunch of bad looking pictures of us, because we have no idea they're being taken. 😛

i'm doubting my sanity so much right now that i'm actually thinking what you're saying is true... please affirm for me that this is sarcastic. i would be uber depressed if i found out there was a candid picture of me from makeup-less, jewfro-y MCAT morning. oh dear lord.

 

[silverhorse84]

i'm doubting my sanity so much right now that i'm actually thinking what you're saying is true... please affirm for me that this is sarcastic. i would be uber depressed if i found out there was a candid picture of me from makeup-less, jewfro-y MCAT morning. oh dear lord.

Haha, I tend to be pretty sarcastic in person, but not so much online for some reason. This time, I'm serious, but it's something I've heard from another thread here on SDN, so please don't take me as a reliable source; it could just be gossip.

 

[witness23]

I actually smiled for my MCAT photo. The girl working there was cute and was surprised that I actually smiled for some reason. Should have hit. Regrets in life. What can you do?

 

[BlueElmo]

I actually smiled for my MCAT photo. The girl working there was cute and was surprised that I actually smiled for some reason. Should have hit. Regrets in life. What can you do?

Must have been nice. The guy who took my picture looked like he had a poker up his ass.

 

[Compass]

What if I got a four page spread in GQ and used one of those? Would that stand out?

( im actually not kidding.. Feb 09 issue with Lebron on the cover 😛)

Yeah, but someone took that picture of you. I'd have drawn myself! 😀

 

[plsletmein]

Hah I need to stop playing video games. When I first read the title of the thread I thought the OP was somehow referring to "headshots" in a first person shooter. So I thought he was referring to professional video game playing, and whether it would be pretentious to mention this in an application. I forgot that a "headshot" also refers to a photo of someone's head. 🙄

like this?

i don't think it would be pretentious- just don't overkill it

 

[student1799]

For those that applied last year, what did you do for your secondary pics?

I went to the local camera shop/photo place, which had a sign in the window saying they took passport pictures. I brought a blank CD with me, and asked the guy to put the picture directly on the CD instead of printing it on paper. No problem, since he used a digital camera for the photo.

He then pulled down a white roller shade behind me (to serve as a background) and snapped my picture right in the middle of the store. It looked awful at first (glare, shadows), but he put it through Photoshop, clicked a couple of buttons and the picture was automatically corrected. It came out looking very nice, and cost me a grand total of $12.

I'd strongly advise getting a digital photo as I did, because many schools ask you to upload a photo file to their website. For those that required hard copies, I printed them out myself at home, which was much cheaper than getting them professionally printed.

 

[clifftacopter]

How formal should we be dressed in the headshot? I just took a picture off of facebook and it has me in a semi-casual button-up long-sleeved shirt with a t-shirt underneath.

 

[student1799]

How formal should we be dressed in the headshot? I just took a picture off of facebook and it has me in a semi-casual button-up long-sleeved shirt with a t-shirt underneath.

With your stats, I think you could wear a clown suit in the photo and no one would care.

P.S. Pepe's or Sally's?