The power of a professional Headshot
The power of a professional Headshot
When was the last time you updated your Headshot? Perhaps you have never got a professional Headshot done?
Are you still using the blurry selfie from last year’s thanksgiving dinner? Or maybe a caricature? Or the LinkedIn generic gray guy? It’s time to update your Headshot.
More people hire you based on your online profile than ever before. Your Headshot is the first impression of you. It impresses upon the audience your competency, trustworthiness and likeability. Times have changed. Your brand images should include something more than your traditional thumbnail Headshot.
A study published in the journal Psychological Science by Princeton professor, Alexander Todorov, author of the book, Face Value: The Irresistible Influence of First Impressions suggests we judge new faces online after only 100 milliseconds, literally shorter than a blink of an eye. We form impressions very quickly, effortlessly and immediately. Looking at the image longer actually increases the confidence in the perceptions we form.
Your Headshot should depend on the specific context and it should fit in with your objective. For example, smiling conveys trustworthiness. But your smile should be genuine and authentic otherwise we can look like botoxed caricatures. If you are on a speaker circuit, it is important to have a few images in your folio that show more than your head and shoulders. Your body language also speaks about your competence and expertise.
Have I have convinced you to update your Headshot? Here are a few tips for you.
Before you arrive for the click appointment, get thinking about what to wear. For e.g; Men may be thinking a jacket or tie? It depends. Are you in or seeking a job in management? You should consider opting for a jacket in your photo. If you are a litigation attorney and present in a court with tie, then chose a tie for your Headshot. For women, do the same things apply? Is it a suit with a jacket or a sheath dress? Keep your outfits and jewelry simple and classic.
On the day of the photo shoot, arrive relaxed. You have hired a professional. So let go of the control. It is their job to keep you at ease. Do not set up your branding photo appointment the same day as multiple high demand meetings on your calendar. Your body language and facial expressions will reflect that.
Selection: Are your images put up in the internet black-hole for you to select them in a vacuum? A professional photographer will walk you through a guided selection. My session fee includes a consult to get to know you, your business and your client profile. We discuss your branding strategy, your current client base, your expansion plans and plan the visuals accordingly. I recently advised a client to choose an alternate image because they looked too young in one of their selection (yes, there is such a thing :0), especially since their profession values years of experience in the field.
Most importantly, you invest in professional visuals so your clients can invest in you. If you are interested in updating your Headshot, give me a call at 609-933-8361. We are offering an exclusive on Friday / Jan 24th in my studio. It is for one day, with five slots only! Details below:
DM us to plan and schedule your best powershot ever!
