First Impressions Matter: Why Your Headshots Need an Update
In today's digital world, your online presence is your calling card. Whether you're a seasoned professional, a budding or established entrepreneur, a real estate pro etc., your updated portrait or corporate headshot often serves as the crucial first impression. While a quick selfie might seem tempting, research underscores the significant advantages of investing in Professional Portraits.
Make it stand out
The way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Here are some recent stats:
36% of hiring managers indicate a good professional headshot swayed their decision (Career Builder 2020).
70% of potential customers form first impressions within 7 seconds of viewing a website or online profile (Stanford Business School 2017).
66% of people believe “authenticity” is the most important quality in a brand (Sprout Social 2023). And remember “authentic” is not “artificial” or using artificial intelligence (AI) to create images of yourself that don’t depict reality.
LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots receive 21 times more views and 9 times more connection requests (Linked-In 2019).
Beyond the numbers the benefits also include:
Confidence boost: Knowing you look your best translates to real-world confidence, encouraging and creating positive interactions with clients, employers and employees.
Showcase your brand: A well-crafted professional portrait aligns with your personal or professional brand, visually communicating your values, attitude, warmth, approachability, and expertise.
Versatility: A single high-quality image can be adapted for various uses, from your website and social media to marketing materials and professional profiles including LinkedIn.
Stay current: Our looks, hairstyles and hair color change. We age, we gain/lose weight. We get tired of the same things. Staying fresh and current shows you’re up-to-date and relevant. Have you ever been surprised that someone’s photo looks nothing like the real person? That’s not what you want. The goal should be to reflect our best self from the inside-out, not someone else.
Ok, so knowing the value of a professional headshot, what are the next steps? First - research photographers in your area, for example type “professional headshot photographers near me”. Beyond pretty images, do they use a variety of lighting techniques to make me look my best? (Short, Broad, Split, Rembrandt, and Loop lighting are different techniques they should have experience with. Provide a selfie and ask for their suggestions on which would look best on you? If they fumble, move on). How much experience do they have? Are they in a photo studio with a choice of backgrounds? Do they use professional equipment? Are they skilled at photoshop, blemish & shine removal, skin tones etc? Do they calibrate their monitors for accurate color? Are they friendly and easy to deal with so my images reflect my true personality? Can they bring out my best expressions? How many images do they provide and what is the price? Second - call or email the portrait photographer and discuss your preferences. If you’re a hair stylist, perhaps you want to make sure your highlights stands out. The photographer may also suggest complementary clothing, bright, dark and/or tinted backgrounds based on your eye or skin color. Plus if you call, you’ll get a sense of their personality and whether they make you comfortable. Make sure they send you a photo agreement so you know exactly what you’re getting, there should be no surprises. Lastly - don’t procrastinate. The beginning of a new year is a good time to schedule an appointment. Winter and Q1 is usually a slower time for many photographers and availability is better. Don’t worry about losing another 5lbs because it’s more about conveying a feeling or personality with the photograph. A skilled photographer can minimize things you don’t like through proper lighting and posing. Plus don’t hesitate to ask if they can tweak or sculpt the body in photoshop if that’s what you desire. And then have fun! The shoot should fun, positive and enjoyable with no stress. Your images will look amazing.