Why You Need a Professional Headshot
I have a question for you, and I want you to think honestly about your answer.
Do you think it's possible for a hiring admin or recruiter to reject a job application based on a LinkedIn profile picture alone?
The reason I ask this is to illustrate the importance of having a headshot that immediately reflects well on you. What you put out into the world matters, especially in your professional community. In a recently published study conducted on facial features, it was concluded that someone chooses whether to trust you or not within 100 milliseconds of looking at your face. Yes. 100 MILLISECONDS.
3 Reasons Your Professional Headshots Matter
Headshots are the first opportunity to build trust
Headshots are key to building your brand
Headshots build your confidence
#1: Headshots are the first opportunity to build trust
In the age of social media and online business platforms like LinkedIn, it's rare to meet someone face-to-face for the first time without doing a little friendly "digging" online first. When it comes to job applications, client research before a sales meeting, potential clients looking for a professional to complete a job, and more - your headshot is often the VERY FIRST IMPRESSION you are making. And remember, the viewer has already made the decision to trust you or not in less than a second of viewing it. A profile picture that portrays authenticity, reliability, and trust is essential to creating the first positive step in almost every business relationship.
#2: Headshots are key to building your brand
The word "brand" seems to be a hot word these days. Everyone is talking about "building your brand." But why does it matter to you? I'm buying into it because I do feel every professional creates their own "brand." We have passions, hobbies, interests, strengths, weaknesses, backstories, goals and aspirations and curiosities. This is what makes our personal brand. It's where we can be authentic and allow people to accept us as we are or to move on. The way we display ourselves out in the world can often determine how people interact with us in return.
When your headshot is a poorly lit selfie, what are you saying to the world?
When your headshot is a cropped-in, blurry image, what are you putting out there to the viewer?
When your headshot is staged in front of a white backdrop, you're not smiling, and you're wearing a suit you haven't worn since you took those pictures - what is that saying about you?
How about when your headshot is clothing you feel rocking in? You took time to get a fresh trim and apply a little extra makeup. You are relaxed, confident, SMILING, and genuine. What does THAT say about you?
Which of these scenarios is going to make others really see YOU?
#3 Headshots build your confidence
This is my personal passion when I get someone in front of my camera, and probably not a usual argument to get someone invested in getting headshots. But it matters to me, so I'm sharing it with you!
I LIVE for making people feel comfortable and handsome/beautiful in their own skin. Most people in front of my camera come with a whole bundle of reservations. I can't say I blame anyone either because I have my own personal bundle when it's my turn in front of the lens. It can be nerve-wracking to have pictures taken. But it can also be healing, uplifting, and encouraging.
Taking pictures for a living has given me an amazing front-row seat to seeing the transformation when my clients start to feel comfortable during a session. Once the initial nerves get worked out, most people can begin to relax. Turns out, your photographer will lead you through the entire process! You don't actually need to be a model to have stunning headshots. The confidence begins to show in the middle of the session and just increases towards the end. With confidence comes a natural ease that allows me to really begin capturing your authentic self. It's amazing.
Getting messages back from clients after delivering their gallery is one of my favorite parts of my work. Hearing the shock and excitement in the notes of how much clients love their images is so rewarding. Knowing that those images have helped build my clients' confidence --- that's just a huge honor.
What's It to You?
Let's put you in the shoes of someone who just received their headshot gallery. Before the session, you knew you need new headshots. You also knew you didn't want to get in front of the camera. You may have stressed about what to wear, how to pose, and how to style your outfits. Maybe you were nervous about how to smile or you were worried about feeling awkward.
But now you have your gallery. You have multiple images you are stoked about. You actually like the way you look. Scratch that. You LOVE IT! You photographed better than you thought. You look more relaxed than you've ever looked in photos. You feel authentic, engaged, and happy.
If that's how you feel, imagine how the person looking at it feels.
I'm here when you're ready, and I've got you covered! Let's make this happen for you!
Still have questions? Let’s chat!