ERAS Headshots Atlanta
ERAS Headshots Done Right
ERAS-compliant photos that meet every AAMC specification. Professional, polished, and delivered fast so your residency application makes a strong first impression. Serving Emory, Morehouse, and all Atlanta-area medical schools.
Medical Professional Photography
Your First Impression Matters
Program directors use your ERAS photo to put a face to your application and to identify you when you arrive for interviews. It's often the first thing they see. A polished, professional headshot signals that you take the process seriously.
2026-2027 ERAS Photo Requirements
ERAS Compliance Guarantee
Every photo is personally reviewed against current AAMC specifications before delivery. If ERAS rejects your photo for any compliance reason, I'll reshoot and redeliver at no charge.
Official AAMC Technical Specs ↗
- • Format: JPG/JPEG or PNG
- • Dimensions: 2.5 in. x 3.5 in.
- • Resolution: 150 DPI
- • Maximum file size: 150KB
- • Face centered, looking directly at camera
- • Frontal head-and-shoulders view
I deliver your photo fully formatted and ERAS-compliant — ready to upload directly.
Best Practices (Beyond the Minimum)
- • White or light-gray background (recommended by AAMC)
- • Professional interview attire (no white coats)
- • Natural, confident expression
- • Clean, professional retouching
ERAS Package
20-minute professional session with expression coaching
- AAMC-compliant formatting guaranteed
- Professional retouching
- Expression & posture coaching
- 24-hour standard delivery
Examples
Wardrobe Guidance
What to Wear
Colors That Work
Solid, dark colors photograph best against a white or light-gray background. Navy, charcoal, black, and deep jewel tones create contrast that helps your face stand out.
Avoid bright white tops (they blend into the background), busy patterns (they distract from your face), and neon or overly trendy colors that may feel dated.
Attire Guidelines
- •Men: Suit and tie, or blazer with a collared dress shirt. Stick to a conservative color palette.
- •Women: Professional blazer, blouse, or structured top. Minimal jewelry. Natural makeup that looks like you on a good day.
- •Everyone: No white coats. Bring 2-3 options so we can see what looks best on camera. What looks great in the mirror doesn't always translate the same way on screen.
Expression Coaching
Should You Smile?
Short answer: yes. A natural, relaxed smile reads as confident and approachable. Program directors are looking at hundreds of applications. A genuine expression helps you stand out and creates a warmer first impression than a stiff, deer-in-headlights look.
The key word is natural. A forced grin looks just as awkward as no smile at all.
Most medical students haven't sat for a professional photo session before. I coach you through posture, expression, and subtle adjustments so you look confident and approachable — not stiff or over-posed. Most people relax within the first few minutes and we capture something they actually feel good about.
Technical Detail
Background Color
AAMC recommends a white or light-gray professional background. Both work well, but there's a practical consideration most photographers don't mention: your ERAS photo appears as a small thumbnail when programs first review applications.
A clean white background creates the most contrast at that small size, making your face more visible and recognizable in a grid of thumbnails. Light gray adds subtle depth without distraction. Either is appropriate.
I avoid light blue or colored backgrounds. While technically not prohibited, they can look inconsistent next to the majority of applicants on white, and some program directors have noted a preference for neutral backgrounds.
Your Session
What to Expect
Wardrobe Check
You arrive with your outfit options. We make a quick decision together before shooting — about 5 minutes that prevents the "I wish I’d worn something different" regret.
Lighting & Positioning
You step into position and I handle the rest. Lighting is adjusted to your skin tone and features so everything looks natural and flattering.
Expression Coaching
We work through subtle adjustments in expression, posture, and energy until you look like yourself on a very good day.
Review & Delivery
I retouch your selected image (clean and natural — no filters), format it to AAMC specifications, and deliver within 24 hours. Rush same-day delivery is available for $95.
Avoid These
ERAS Photo Mistakes
Using a selfie or phone photo
Lighting, resolution, and lens distortion will be noticeably worse than a professional image. Program directors see hundreds of photos and can spot the difference instantly.
Wearing a white coat
This is the most common ERAS photo mistake. You're not a doctor yet in the photo. Professional interview attire is the standard.
Wrong file size or format
MyERAS requires JPG/JPEG or PNG, 2.5 x 3.5 inches at 150 DPI, under 150KB. If your file doesn't match these specs, the system will reject it.
Cropping an existing photo
Cropping a full-body shot or group photo into a headshot destroys resolution and usually results in an awkward composition. Start with a photo taken specifically for this purpose.
Waiting until September
Applications open September 2. By then, photographer availability is limited and you're adding unnecessary stress. Book in May, June, or July while schedules are open.
Over-retouching
Program directors will meet you in person. Heavy filters, skin smoothing, or Facetune-style editing creates a disconnect between your photo and reality. Clean, professional retouching is all you need.
2027 ERAS Season
Key Dates
Dates per AAMC 2027 ERAS Residency Timeline.
Common Questions
What Clients Want to Know
According to AAMC's MyERAS guidelines (students-residents.aamc.org), your photo must be JPG/JPEG or PNG format, 2.5 x 3.5 inches at 150 DPI, under 150KB file size, with your face centered and looking directly at the lens in a frontal head-and-shoulders view. AAMC recommends a white or light-gray professional background. I deliver your photo fully formatted and ERAS-compliant so you can upload it directly without any guesswork.
Standard delivery is within 24 hours. Rush same-day delivery is available for an additional $95 if you need your photos urgently. Most students book 4-6 weeks before their submission date, but I accommodate last-minute sessions too.
Professional interview attire: suit and tie for men, professional blouse or blazer for women. Stick to solid colors in navy, charcoal, or black. Avoid white coats, busy patterns, and bright white tops (they can wash out against the background). Bring 2-3 outfit options so we can find what photographs best on camera.
A 20-minute professional session with expression coaching, one fully edited ERAS-compliant photo, professional retouching, and 24-hour delivery. Additional images are available for $195 each.
My studio is in Decatur at 3469 Peachcrest Trace, GA 30032. It's easily accessible from Emory University School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia State University, and Mercer University School of Medicine. Free parking is available.
The 2027 ERAS season opens June 4, 2026, and applications can be submitted starting September 2, 2026. I recommend booking your session in May or June so you're not rushing when deadlines approach. Availability gets tight from July through September.
Yes, and you should. A natural, relaxed smile reads as confident and approachable. Program directors use your photo to put a face to your application and to identify you at interviews. A genuine smile creates a warmer first impression than a stiff, overly serious expression. I'll coach you through finding the right expression during your session.
It depends. If your LinkedIn photo meets AAMC's specifications (correct format, under 150KB, face centered, professional background), it could technically work. But most LinkedIn headshots aren't cropped or formatted correctly for ERAS, and the stakes are too high to guess. A dedicated ERAS session ensures your photo is compliant and optimized for how it actually appears in the application.
Both require a professional headshot, but SF Match (used for ophthalmology and some other specialties) has its own portal and may have slightly different formatting preferences. I deliver files that work for both systems, so you're covered whether you're applying through MyERAS, SF Match, ResidencyCAS, or CentralApp.
Visit the Studio
Convenient Decatur Location
3469 Peachcrest Trace
Decatur, GA 30032
Free parking available
Easy Access From:
- • Emory University School of Medicine
- • Morehouse School of Medicine
- • Georgia State University
- • Mercer University School of Medicine (Atlanta campus)
Ready for Your ERAS Headshot?
Book early, skip the deadline stress, and walk into your interviews knowing your application looks as strong as your credentials.
ERAS compliance guaranteed • 24-hour delivery • Free consultations
"Got accepted to my top choice program!" — Dr. Jennifer L.
"Made the whole process so easy. Wish I'd done this sooner." — Dr. Marcus T., Emory