Top 5 Reasons Everyone should have an up-to-date professional headshot! 1. Everyone needs one. It used to be that only senior executives or people in creative fields (actors, models, performers, etc ..) needed an up-to-date headshot, but not anymore… Today, people of all occupations and levels should consider a professional headshot as the first step towards “personal branding”. And it doesn’t need to be “stiff-corporate-bank-executive-photo” either, I do a lot of “casual” headshots for people who need a professional image that expresses their individuality. 2. How do you want to be seen by the world? Did you know that more and more people will now “google” you before considering getting into a business or personal relationship with you? Your headshot is often the first impression you make, and as we all know – first impressions are very long-lasting. Most people want to be seen as friendly, confident, approachable and trustworthy. Does the cell phone snapshot you are currently using convey that? 3. You might need one tomorrow. You might be thinking that there is no reason you need a professional headshot – but you never know. A good percentage of people that call me for a session have a “headshot crisis” – a local newspaper is running an article on them, they were asked to submit one with the job application, they need to create a professional online profile, and they need it ASAP! Make sure you are ready when that request comes. 4. If you are a professional, you definitely need a polished professional looking image to convey your level of professionalism. If you are using a cropped picture from a New Year’s party as your professional headshot, you might be sending the wrong message about your business. 5. Social media profiles. If you are active on social media (and who isn’t anymore), it’s important to have a headshot that reflects well on you (and your business). It’s recommended that you use the same image across all social media platforms to create consistent look and start building “brand recognition”. In addition, people are less likely to click on a LinkedIn or Facebook profile if it is missing a photo, and less likely to believe a blog or a comment posted by an anonymous avatar.
