You’ve heard it before – you never get a second chance to make a great first impression – and it’s true. In today’s digital world, the first impression people usually have of you is not in person, it’s online. Whether they’ve come to your website, or happened upon your LinkedIn profile, their first impression of you is going to be through some sort of imagery. If the only visual representation you currently have online is a dated iPhone selfie, this blog post is just for you.
How long has it been since you’ve had a professional headshot made? Maybe you had your first headshot when you started working in your business or current line of work. Or maybe you got your first job out of college without ever having your headshots taken. It’s important to regularly update your headshots every year or two. In this blog post, we’re going to go over the 3 things you gain by having current headshots, along with how to know if you need to get your headshots updated.
What are headshots, and why are they important?
A headshot is a photo people use for their business website, cards, or professional social media accounts, such as LinkedIn. Professional headshots are essential because they are typically the first introduction consumers or potential employers have to you or your brand. So what do you gain by having a professional headshot on your social media or website, instead of perhaps a photo taken on your iPhone? Professional headshots provide you with an elevated level of professionalism, consistency and confidence. Let’s dig into these further…
Headshots are important because they show professionalism and they show that you care about quality. When someone scrolls through your website or LinkedIn, your polished headshot is going to catch their eye. Consumers tend to associate the quality of a brand based on its visual representation online and similarly, the quality of your headshot represents the value of work people can expect to receive from you. Think about it – if you were looking for a local service provider, would you feel more comfortable going with someone who had a random selfie on their site, or someone who had clearly invested in professional photography to represent their image? Likely the latter.
The second thing headshots provide you is consistency. You want customers to recognize you across various social platforms. When you work with me to update your headshots, I’ll make sure they match the look and feel of your brand or personality. Creating and emphasizing a personal brand makes it easier for consumers to trust you and allows you to stay top of mind. Your branding and headshots should draw people in and make them want to work with you. They should make them want to read more about who you are and what you can do for them.
Having a professional headshot also builds confidence. I mentioned it at the beginning of this post, but there are a lot of different places you can show up on the internet. You likely have a bio on your business’ website, in addition to various social media accounts and maybe even a blog. Your headshots should be the same professional level, consistent imagery across each of these spaces. When you invest in a headshot session with me, I will ensure that you have a variety of cohesive, polished images to choose from to post to each digital platform.
Is it time to update your headshots?
Think about the various places clients or potential employers can find you on the internet. Do the photos they see represent the level of quality you want to be known for in your industry? Has an employer ever asked you to provide an image for your bio or company profile? Maybe you had to dig through your iPhone gallery for the best selfie you’ve taken recently. If this situation sounds familiar, you might be in need of a headshot session with a professional.
Maybe you’ve had a headshot session, but it’s been years since it took place and your style or appearance have changed. Don’t let people pass you by because your information and portrait headshots aren’t up to date! You will remain more relevant to your ideal clients and audience with a fresh portrait and consistent imagery. Bottom line – if you cannot remember the last time you had a professional headshot taken, this is your sign to book an appointment for one!
The Headshot Experience
My goal as a photographer is to make the headshot session experience fun and easy. Past clients of mine have walked into their session feeling nervous or anxious, but I can promise they left feeling relieved and confident. From the planning process to the actual time during the shoot, I promise it will be a fantastic experience.
One of the first steps we go through is discussing the unique style of your headshots, including different outfit and location options. You want to choose two to three outfits and lay them out, so they are ready to go. Choose outfits that show off your best features and that make you feel really confident. We’ll make sure the location makes sense for the style of your personal brand. You can let me know if you have a location in mind or I can always make suggestions of local areas that are great for headshots.
What about posing during the session? This is where having a specialized branding photographer makes all the difference. I will be there to guide you through various poses that are both flattering and professional. If you are uncomfortable in front of the camera, we will discuss some posing prompts to try beforehand. Trust me – I do this all the time. We will have fun!
Lastly, the most important thing you can wear during your professional headshot session is your confidence! You are the expert in your field! Show it. Be loud and proud of who you are and your accomplishments! These photos about celebrating you and showing your ideal audience who you are!
For some of my best advice on preparing for your headshot session, you can download this FREE resource, my Headshot Session Tips Guide (click here)!
Are you looking to update your headshots? Fill out my contact form HERE and let’s get your headshot session planning started today!
