A head shot or headshot is a specific type of portrait where the focus is on person's face. The term is usually applied for photographs that realistically demonstrate a person's appearance for branding or casting. This includes promotional pictures of actors, models, and authors, but other uses are also common, such as identification and corporate portraits.
Head shot (headshot) portraits are most commonly used in "about us" pages, professional profile image and/or for casting. Other usage include online dating pictures and now gmail will include g+ profile image with email correspondence. Actors often have a printed head shot ( also called 8 by 10 ) for auditions or an online presence in a castingworkbook. Head shots can be close-up or full body(MCU)photographs with the emphasis being the person. This slang terminology was adapted from the movie industry as a modification of the word mugs
Reference :
Locke, David. "What Is A Corporate Headshot". 06 November 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
