Professional ERAS headshots for medical students and residency applicants
ERAS Headshots in New Jersey
Your ERAS photo is one of the first visual impressions attached to your residency application. It should look professional, confident, and unmistakably like you.
Too stiff feels fake. Too casual misses the moment. And nobody relaxes on command in front of a camera.
You've earned the right to look ready. Your photo shouldn't be one more thing to feel unsure about.
ERAS Headshots in New Jersey
Professional ERAS headshots for medical students and residency applicants
Your ERAS photo is one of the first visual impressions attached to your residency application. It should look professional, confident, and unmistakably like you.
Too stiff feels fake. Too casual misses the moment. And nobody relaxes on command in front of a camera.
You've earned the right to look ready. Your photo shouldn't be one more thing to feel unsure about.
I've photographed professionals across New Jersey and the greater NYC area for more than 30 years. I know both sides of the camera, including the discomfort of being on the wrong end of it.
Every ERAS Headshot session is guided. You won't have to figure out posing, expression, or what to do with your hands. I'll walk you through all of it, in real time.
30+ Years of Experience · 620+ Five-Star Google Reviews · Direction Built for ERAS
Guided by 30+ Years of Experience
What Makes an ERAS Headshot Different From a Standard Professional Headshot?
An ERAS headshot isn't the same brief as a corporate portrait or a LinkedIn photo. It's built specifically for the residency-application context: polished enough to look professional, while still natural and recognizably you.
That's a different goal than a standard headshot session, and I approach it differently. Less about looking corporate, and more about looking like the person a program is about to meet.
ERAS APPLICATION-READINESS
An ERAS Headshot Prepared for Your Residency Application
Every session is built around what your application actually needs:
Every session is built around what your application actually needs:
- Composition: framed correctly for how programs will see it
- Expression: a few natural variations, not one forced pose
- Wardrobe guidance: what reads as professional without competing with your face
- Glasses: lit correctly, glare-free, if you wear them day to day
- Image selection: you choose the final photo, with my input if you want it
- Natural retouching: polish, not reinvention; you should recognize yourself instantly
- Final delivery: sized and formatted for ERAS upload
A Simple, Guided Process
Get your ERAS Headshot in New Jersey in just 3 steps.
1. Book Your Session
Choose a time that fits your application timeline. Earlier is better, so you're not racing a deadline.
2. Get Guided Through Everything
Posing, expression, wardrobe, glasses: I'll walk you through each decision during the session.
3. Choose Your Favorite, Submit With Confidence
Compare your results and pick the image that looks the most like you at your best.
1. Book Your Session
Choose a time that fits your application timeline. Earlier is better, so you're not racing a deadline.
2. Get Guided Through Everything
Posing, expression, wardrobe, glasses: I'll walk you through each decision during the session.
3. Choose Your Favorite, Submit With Confidence
Compare your results and pick the image that looks the most like you at your best.
I work with medical students and residency applicants throughout Northern New Jersey and the greater NYC metro area, including Hackensack, Paramus, Ridgewood, Fort Lee, Englewood, Teaneck, Jersey City, Newark, and across Bergen, Hudson, and Essex Counties, as well as New York City.
ERAS Headshots for Medical Students
Across Northern New Jersey
"I had such a great experience working with Alex! I came in to get a professional headshot photo for my residency application and Alex did a great job not only taking the photos, but making me feel welcome in his studio. I really love the way the pictures came out, thank you Alex!"
Jill Lynn
(Verified Google Review)
Read more reviews on Google
A Photo Ready for the Match
This is what it looks like when it comes together. A photo that's professional enough for the application, natural enough to still be recognizably you, and ready to sit alongside years of work you're genuinely proud of.
★★★★★
ERAS HEADSHOT FAQs
When should I take my ERAS headshot?
Avoid leaving your photo until the final stages of your application prep. Scheduling earlier gives you time to complete your session, choose your favorite image, and receive the finished photo without last-minute pressure.
Should I smile in my ERAS headshot?
You can. A natural smile communicates confidence and approachability while still looking professional. I'll photograph a few expressions during your session so you can choose the one that represents you best.
What should I wear for an ERAS headshot?
Professional, simple clothing generally works best. Wear something you'd feel comfortable wearing to a residency interview. Avoid distracting patterns or oversized logos.
Can I wear glasses?
Yes. If glasses are part of your everyday look, they can be included. Proper lighting and positioning minimize distracting lens reflections.
What if I'm uncomfortable in front of the camera?
You're not alone. Most clients start there. I guide the entire session so you don't have to figure out posing or expressions on your own.
Do you retouch ERAS headshots?
Yes. Professional retouching polishes the finished portrait while keeping it natural and recognizably you.
What are the ERAS photo requirements?
ERAS requires your photo as a JPG or PNG file, kept small (well under the system's upload limit), with your face centered in the frame. Exact technical specs can shift slightly between application cycles, so I always confirm current AAMC requirements before your final image is delivered.
For the 2027 cycle, guides list the specs as 375 x 525 pixels, JPG/JPEG or PNG, under 150 KB. If the FAQ says anything different, such as “2.5 x 3.5 inches. The 2027 season began June 4, 2026, and applicants could start submitting on September 2, 2026
Can I use a regular professional headshot for ERAS?
You can technically upload any headshot that meets the file requirements, but a photo built for the ERAS context (natural, approachable, and framed the way programs expect to see it) tends to serve the application better than a repurposed corporate or LinkedIn photo.
Avoid leaving your photo until the final stages of your application prep. Scheduling earlier gives you time to complete your session, choose your favorite image, and receive the finished photo without last-minute pressure.
Should I smile in my ERAS headshot?
You can. A natural smile communicates confidence and approachability while still looking professional. I'll photograph a few expressions during your session so you can choose the one that represents you best.
What should I wear for an ERAS headshot?
Professional, simple clothing generally works best. Wear something you'd feel comfortable wearing to a residency interview. Avoid distracting patterns or oversized logos.
Can I wear glasses?
Yes. If glasses are part of your everyday look, they can be included. Proper lighting and positioning minimize distracting lens reflections.
What if I'm uncomfortable in front of the camera?
You're not alone. Most clients start there. I guide the entire session so you don't have to figure out posing or expressions on your own.
Do you retouch ERAS headshots?
Yes. Professional retouching polishes the finished portrait while keeping it natural and recognizably you.
What are the ERAS photo requirements?
ERAS requires your photo as a JPG or PNG file, kept small (well under the system's upload limit), with your face centered in the frame. Exact technical specs can shift slightly between application cycles, so I always confirm current AAMC requirements before your final image is delivered.
For the 2027 cycle, guides list the specs as 375 x 525 pixels, JPG/JPEG or PNG, under 150 KB. If the FAQ says anything different, such as “2.5 x 3.5 inches. The 2027 season began June 4, 2026, and applicants could start submitting on September 2, 2026
Can I use a regular professional headshot for ERAS?
You can technically upload any headshot that meets the file requirements, but a photo built for the ERAS context (natural, approachable, and framed the way programs expect to see it) tends to serve the application better than a repurposed corporate or LinkedIn photo.
