Happn Professional Headshot Photos Photo Checklist

Open Happn in your city and note common photo backdrops, clothing styles, and lighting (outdoor cafes, office exteriors). Use those cues so your headshot feels like a believable local cross-path.

Decide whether the headshot should read strictly professional (LinkedIn-style) or warm-professional for dating; this determines expression, wardrobe, and background. Make the choice before you pick clothes or locations.

Choose a location you actually frequent (near home or workplace) within the typical Happn radius so the image aligns with where you might be 'crossing paths.' Test the background for distractions before shooting.

Book the shoot at golden hour or beside a north-facing window for soft, even light that reads well on phone thumbnails and avoids blown highlights common on mobile screens.

Bring a second shirt in a different solid color, a lint roller, travel comb, and small mirror to handle last-minute fixes on location.

Shoot with a 50–85mm equivalent (phone portrait mode or a 50mm lens on full-frame) to avoid facial distortion and keep a natural look on small screens.

Position the subject facing a large window or soft outdoor shade to get even catchlights in the eyes; avoid mixed color-temperature lighting that looks off on mobile devices.

If photographing indoors, diffuse overhead lights or move the subject to reduce forehead shadows and unflattering contrast that becomes more obvious in thumbnails.

Use an aperture around f/2.8–f/4 (or phone portrait) and ensure the autofocus point is on the nearest eye so the face is tack-sharp while the background softly falls away.

Shoot RAW or the camera's highest-quality JPEG so you have headroom for color correction and cropping without banding on mobile screens.

Wear a solid color that contrasts your background and complements your skin tone; avoid logos, loud patterns, and busy textures that distract at thumbnail size.

Select an outfit you’d realistically wear to your job or local café—smart casual or business casual works best for Happn headshots because it feels authentic and approachable.

Trim stray hairs, tame flyaways, and ensure facial hair is neat; small grooming fixes are highly visible on mobile crops and increase perceived reliability.

Ensure shirt collars sit flat, accessories aren’t reflective, and your shoulders are relaxed—these details affect how confident and accessible you appear in a thumbnail.

Pack a lint roller, blotting paper, a small comb, and travel sewing kit for quick fixes between shots.

Frame so the face occupies roughly 55–65% of the vertical frame with eyes one-third from the top; this keeps facial detail visible in Happn’s small previews.

Take a slightly wider shot (torso to head) that shows posture and a bit of environment—useful as a secondary image to signal lifestyle without losing headshot polish.

Aim for steady eye contact with a soft smile (teeth optional) to convey competence and approachability—avoid overly neutral or forced expressions that reduce matches.

Direct the subject to look away, laugh, or interact with the environment for a natural shot that complements the professional headshot and shows personality.

Take multiple versions from different distances and focal lengths so you can compare how each crops down into Happn’s thumbnail preview.

Remove temporary blemishes and stray hairs while preserving skin texture and natural features; over-retouching reduces authenticity on dating profiles.

Adjust white balance and exposure so skin tones look realistic on phone screens; avoid warm or cool tints that change perceived age or health.

Export images in sRGB at around 1080 pixels on the long edge and reasonable compression to avoid artifacts while keeping file sizes mobile-friendly for Happn uploads.

Preview the image at small circular/square thumbnail sizes and pick the crop where eyes and expression remain visible and centered in Happn’s preview.