1. Do I really need a professional headshot for ERAS?
Yes. This isn’t the time to crop your cousin out of that one wedding photo where you looked decent. Residency programs are judging hundreds of applicants — your photo is your first (and possibly only) chance to look like someone they’d trust to hold a scalpel.
2. Can’t I just take a selfie with my iPhone?
Only if you want to look like you moonlight as a Twitch streamer. ERAS has strict guidelines — no filters, no bad lighting, and definitely no duck lips. A pro headshot = clean, confident, competent. Trust us, directors can spot a DIY photo from 10 feet away (and they will judge you for it).
3. What are the actual ERAS photo requirements?
Oh, you mean the thrilling bureaucratic specs? Here you go: 2.5 x 3.5 inches (vertical, not square) Less than 150KB (because it’s still 2005, apparently), JPG format. Plain light background (think passport photo, but less soul-crushing). Shoulders and head only, no full-body glamour shots
4. What should I wear?
Think “future doctor” not “LinkedIn influencer.” A suit jacket and solid colors are your friends. Avoid patterns that scream “I got dressed in the dark” and skip the scrubs — everyone knows you own them, but now’s not the time.
5. Can I wear a white coat or a stethoscope?
You could, but why? It’s not Halloween. Program directors know you’re in medicine. Save the props for graduation photos. Keep it clean and classic.
6. Should I smile?
Yes, please! Not like you’re about to burst into maniacal laughter — just enough to say, “I’m friendly and won’t yell at nurses during rounds.” You want to look like someone people can work 80 hours a week with.
7. How long does the shoot take?
Usually 15–30 minutes. Faster than your average OSCE. You’ll try a few looks, we’ll find your best angle (everyone has one — even you, Kevin), and we’ll edit out that rogue pimple without turning you into a wax figure.
8. When should I book my headshot?
Short answer: not the night before you submit your ERAS app. Give yourself a couple of weeks for scheduling, reviewing, and minor edits. Don’t let procrastination sabotage your future.
9. Do you Photoshop me into someone I’m not?
Nope — we aim for “you, on your best day,” not “you, unrecognizable.” We’ll fix flyaways, under-eye shadows, and that one forehead wrinkle, but you’ll still look like the real you — just well-rested and well-lit.
10. Where do I book this magical headshot session?
Right here, where dreams (and really solid ERAS headshots) come true. We shoot in our Raleigh NC studio covering also Durham & Chapel Hill areas, we know the ERAS specs inside and out, and we promise not to make it awkward.