Why do people look so blank, so vacant, so unnatural in portraits? Peter Hurley, a leading head-shot artist for actors, celebrities and executives, said people look like badly embalmed cadavers because they try to pose, but lack the skill to look natural doing it. Even professional models, experts at a certain haughty look, seldom know how to look natural. “I have to deprogram them into something that is more real,” said Mr. Hurley.

How does Mr. Hurley get the personality to shine through in a flattering way? Here are some of his top tips from those offered in his instructional video, “The Art Behind the Headshot.”

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