Professional Headshot Touchups: What’s Acceptable for Real Estate Agents?
What Are Acceptable Touchups for a Professional Headshot?
Your headshot is often your first introduction to potential clients. For real estate agents, a good headshot helps set the stage, showing who you are and making a lasting impression. But what makes a headshot truly great? And, more importantly, how much editing is okay before you lose that all-important authenticity?
A straightforward rule to remember for touchups is this: if it won’t be noticeable in two weeks, it’s fair game. Think of those little things that come and go, like a pimple, a bit of redness from sun exposure, or a stray hair. These are small, temporary details that editing can clean up to give a polished finish, but without changing who you are. Below, let’s break down the touchups that keep your headshot looking like you — just your best, well-rested version!
Why the ‘Two-Week Rule’ Matters for Your Headshot
The “two-week rule” is about presenting an accurate and approachable version of yourself. In real estate, clients need to trust you, and they’re more likely to connect if your headshot feels genuine. Imagine meeting a client for coffee, and they’re surprised because you look nothing like your headshot — that kind of surprise can make people second-guess who they’re dealing with.
So, this two-week rule is simple: go for touchups that reflect how you naturally look on a good day, not an idealised version of yourself. After all, a headshot is about helping clients recognise you, not creating a different person.
Acceptable Touchups to Keep Things Polished and Natural
With the two-week rule in mind, here’s a look at what types of touchups work well for headshots and keep things authentic:
Handling Those Little Skin Blemishes
Skin blemishes happen to everyone — pimples, minor blemishes, maybe a small dry patch. These aren’t things that last long, so it’s perfectly fine to touch them up in your headshot.
Why it’s okay: Removing temporary blemishes can help create a fresh, healthy look without looking overdone.
Taming Stray Hairs
Stray hairs love to make an appearance right when you don’t want them. If a few flyaways are distracting in your photo, a little touchup to smooth them out is absolutely fine.
Why it’s okay: This just helps give a neat, well-groomed look, like you’d have on any normal workday.
Balancing Out Sunburn or Redness
Maybe you spent the weekend outdoors, and you’re looking a bit pink. Slight adjustments to even out sunburn or redness are reasonable and keep your photo looking true-to-life.
Why it’s okay: A balanced skin tone helps you look well-rested and healthy, which is always a plus.
Brightening Eyes and Teeth Gently
It’s normal for photographers to add a bit of brightness to your eyes and teeth, giving you a refreshed look. Just a small adjustment here keeps things natural, as long as it’s not too intense.
Why it’s okay: Bright eyes and a warm smile can make your headshot look friendly and inviting — perfect for someone in a client-facing role.
What to Avoid: Touchups That Can Go Too Far
While a few edits can make a big difference, it’s easy to cross the line into over-editing. Here are a few things to skip:
Over-Smoothing Skin
Skin is supposed to have texture, so removing too much can end up looking like a plastic, “airbrushed” effect. When skin looks too smooth, it becomes obvious that heavy editing was done.
Tip: Keep any skin edits light, just enough to reduce distractions, not eliminate texture.
Whitening Teeth and Eyes Too Much
It can be tempting to make teeth and eyes sparkle like a toothpaste ad, but going too far here can look artificial.
Tip: A slight lift in brightness is enough. Think about how you’d look in natural lighting on a good day.
Altering Your Facial Structure
Editing your face shape to make it slimmer, changing your nose, or tweaking your jawline goes beyond the two-week rule. Major structural edits create a look that doesn’t feel authentic to who you are.
Tip: Embrace your natural features. These are the things that make you recognisable and memorable to clients.
How to Get the Best, Most Natural Headshot
To make sure you get a polished yet natural headshot, start with a few basics that don’t even require editing.
Communicate with Your Photographer: A professional photographer knows how to capture your best angles with flattering lighting. Let them know that you’re aiming for a natural, professional look — not overly retouched.
Review and Give Feedback: When you get the initial edits, take the time to review and check if they feel right. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes to bring back a natural feel if needed.
Focus on Lighting and Angles: Great lighting and angles make a world of difference. A well-lit shot reduces the need for heavy editing later.
Embrace Your Unique Features: Clients are looking to connect with someone real. A bit of personality in your photo — that slight smile or those unique features — creates a stronger connection than any edit ever could.
Your headshot is one of the most powerful ways to introduce yourself to clients. By sticking to touchups that follow the two-week rule, you’re choosing authenticity over perfection. This approach means you’ll look your best, but still recognisably you — and that builds trust right from the first impression.
The takeaway? Use touchups as a light polish, not a mask. Clients will appreciate seeing the real you, and you’ll be confident that the headshot on your business cards, social media, and website truly reflects who you are.
