Four benefits of taking professional headshots

 

Author: Francis Thompson

Jumping into a new career can be exciting and challenging, whether you’re an entrepreneur or taking a job working for a company. As you set your own brand in motion, you’ll want to make that brand stand out. The best way to make that happen is by investing in high-quality, professional headshots. Headshots aren’t just for CEO’s anymore; they’re for every employee and every role.

Make You and Your Business Stand Out

The internet is filled with pages and pages of businesses, and with more domains opening, the market is saturated with content. Therefore, standing out among your competitors comes down to your headshot. Anyone and everyone can take a selfie, but a professional headshot says “I’m a professional in my field and you can trust me.” Anything less than professional indicates you’re playing small, and that your business is small too. Likewise, if you have a professional headshot that looks outdated, you’ll need to get a new one. A high-quality image will also attract you to other business professionals who matter in your industry.

Improve Your Social Media Profiles

You may find yourself in a situation where someone requests your headshot for a press release, a media story, or a conference you’re participating in. Having your headshot ready at your fingertips will be appreciated by the person requesting it.  It also saves you time as you don’t want to be scrambling at the last second for something the media can use.

A professional headshot on your personal page will remind business colleagues of who you are and make them more likely to accept your request to network. Having a profile picture on your page that is older than 2 years is inauthentic.  If you don’t have any profile picture on LinkedIn, you may be missing out on networking and business opportunities. People do business with people, not pages. Although a headshot may be pricey, it’s sure to attract business and provide a good return on your investment.

Since a picture is your digital identity, think about what kind of headshot will look good on your profile. Wear a solid color that compliments you, and trust the photographer when they tell you what background and position would be best. One great tip is to have your profile picture taken with your head angled a little bit to the left so that it appears like you’re looking at your own profile. Doing this will certainly make your profile stand out!

Update Business Cards and Resumes

Some people believe business cards are obsolete.  But most people who still use them have their headshot on their business cards. Many job applicants also put their photo on their resume. It’s important for potential clients to put a face with a name.

Potential clients, employers, and business partners can tell so much about a person from a headshot. Smiling conveys that you’re approachable. A more serious look gives the impression of determination.  Finding the best look for you will depend on what you want to convey. A real estate professional may want to smile because they work with the general public. An investment banker or judicial official may want a more serious and confident look for brochures or campaign materials. Either way, your headshot should reinforce the personal or company brand you want to project.

Professional Photographers Can Capture You

Professional photographers have amazing equipment, like digital SLR cameras, high quality lighting, and indoor backgrounds. They also know the right spots outdoors if you need an outdoor background. They know how to light the background and you as the subject in just the right way. Professional photographers usually have state-of-the-art editing software and access to tools that most amateur photographers do not have. They know how to create the perfect digital identity.

Best of all, and better than your friend with a digital SLR, the photographer can see the picture he or she wants to take before they take it. They know what they want to capture before they capture it. In addition, the professional photographer is usually skilled in the art of conversation, they can bring out your personality as they begin to shoot. Their skills will bring out the very best of who you are.

Conclusion

Investing in a great, high-quality headshot is an investment in yourself and your brand. It displays confidence and trustworthiness. Your best headshot is one you can feel good about and utilize across all your social media and business channels. While a high-quality image is an investment, it will help you attract the right people and grow your business.

Author: Francis Thompson is a successful blogger with more than ten years of writing experience. Francis regularly publishes content about the developments of the industry and trends of web development on his blog. He also collaborates with other websites and bloggers to expand his reach online.