THIS HEADSHOT CAN DECIDE YOUR ENTIRE FUTURE.
Your ERAS headshot is one of thousands program directors will see. It appears in interview packets, on faculty boards, and on residency websites. The right headshot doesn’t just meet requirements — it helps you stand out as polished, professional, and residency-ready.
MAKE YOUR MEDICAL RESIDENCY HEADSHOT STAND OUT!
The Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), run by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), is how every U.S. medical student applies for residency. Alongside your CV, personal statement, and recommendation letters, your headshot is one of the very first impressions reviewers will have of you.
A strong ERAS photo communicates confidence, professionalism, and attention to detail. Programs expect a clean background, natural lighting, professional attire, and a neutral expression. A poor-quality or incorrectly sized image can distract from your qualifications — or even cause delays in processing your application.
Unfortunately, many students rely on selfies, passport booths, or quick snapshots, only to realize later that their image doesn’t meet ERAS technical requirements (2.5 × 3.5 in, 150 dpi, ≤150 KB, JPG). Others use filters or heavy editing, which can raise red flags for selection committees.
At Photo Fusion Studio, we’ve photographed hundreds of medical students and residents. We know exactly how to balance compliance with a polished, professional look that represents the real you. Our team handles the technical details — sizing, cropping, formatting, and retouching — so you leave with a file that is guaranteed ERAS-ready. The result: a confident, professional image that supports your application instead of holding it back.
MEDICAL HEADSHOTS FOR AAMC, ERAS, VSAS, VSLO
What is included with a medical resident ERAS headshot session?
What’s Included in an ERAS Headshot Session
- 20-minute session at our downtown Phoenix studio
- (conveniently located near ASU Health North and UArizona COM-Phoenix)
- At least 10 images to choose from
- Professional retouching included
- Final image guaranteed ERAS-ready:
- 2.5 × 3.5 in, 150 dpi
- JPG/JPEG format
- File size ≤ 150 KB (≤ 100 KB available for fellowship/EFDO)
- Cropped head & shoulders, face centered, direct eye contact
- Standard white or light background (ERAS-compliant). Neutral gray also available.
- Attire guidance: professional business look — navy/charcoal jacket, no lab coat, simple accessories
- Bonus: high-resolution copy for LinkedIn and professional profiles
Walk away confident your photo is formatted, checked, and upload-ready — and that you’ll stand out for the right reasons. Our team has photographed hundreds of medical students and residents.
We offer sessions weekly to accommodate busy medical school schedules.
FAQ for ERAS, Fellowship, and Medical School Headshots
When should I take my headshot?
Residency programs begin reviewing applications in mid-October, so we recommend scheduling well in advance. View the ERAS timeline ›
Does the background have to be white?
White or light gray is the standard and appears clean and professional on ERAS thumbnails. We can also shoot neutral gray or blue if you’d like a slightly different look.
What should I wear?
- Navy or charcoal suit jacket (recommended for both men and women)
- Tie for men (solid, dark, no patterns)
- Avoid white coats in your ERAS photo (feel free to take an extra version with a white coat for LinkedIn)
- Keep your look professional, simple, and conservative
Will my photo be retouched?
Yes. We include natural retouching like smoothing flyaway hair, blemishes, and minor adjustments. So you look polished but authentic.
Does size really matter?
Absolutely. The wrong size can delay your application. We guarantee your final image is formatted to ERAS specs (2.5 × 3.5 in, 150 dpi, ≤150 KB, JPG) and upload-ready.s formatted to ERAS specs, ready to upload on the first try.