Something that is an important part of the ERAS application but I find many people forget about is the application headshot. Many choose to use their hospital badge picture and crop it to size requirement, but I opted to ask a friend who runs his own photography business to take my photo. Even though it is just a picture, I do think it is important to select a high quality, polished photo that represents you professionally as an applicant for residency. I researched tips on how to take a good application photo prior to attending my photoshoot and found many similar pearls of advice: do NOT wear a white coat, suit up if you can, brush, or gel your hair so there are no loose strays. For girls, it was advised to wear a bit of makeup to conceal any blemishes that may stick out in a photo. For men, a tie was advised. It is also wise to take the picture against a solid gray or white background to maximize formality. Secret: my photo was actually taken against an apartment building wall, but my photographer was skilled enough to edit out the lines and make it appear as if I was posing in a studio. If you can, asking the photographer to retouch the photo for flaws or messy hairs is also not a bad idea. Considering this is the only exposure programs will receive in regards to your physical appearance, you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to portray yourself as a great candidate who takes the application process seriously.
