It used to be that headshots were for actors and corporate executives, speakers and authors, or anyone who was “in the spotlight.” Then along came the internet, and then social media, and now our first impressions are of people are by their profile photos! And trust me, even when you meet people networking on Zoom or IRL, they’re checking you out on your website and social platforms, so everyone needs at least a good picture on their profile.
Here are some things you can NOT do to insure you’re putting your best face forward:
- NOT TAKING ONE
Seriously, it may seem silly to call it out from the get go. Having a strong headshot means someone is 65% more likely to remember you 3 days later. Using photos on Facebook gets you 37% more engagement, and a good quality one makes you stand out from everyone else who does what you do!
- USING ANY OLD PHOTO
Any old photo may have worked for you way back when, but when you’re trying to present yourself as a professional, entrepreneur, or business owner, having the photo of you in your Halloween costume or “that one with the cute Snapchat filter” may not give the best first impression. You want to use a recent image that shows you looking your best.
- NOT HIRING A PROFESSIONAL
I’m just going to add that having a professional profile photo on LinkedIn will get you 14% more views than with that selfie. Professional photographers understand lighting, angles, poses, and will work with you to put your best face forward.
- NOT PLANNING AHEAD
When you work with a professional, they will help you plan for your session including what to wear, makeup, accessories…grabbing the first (wrinkled) thing out of your closet is not going to help you show off how awesome you are, it’s going to seem as though you didn’t really care about how you looked. Good prep work alongside your photographer will insure you truly look and feel your best on the day of your session.
- NOT BEING YOURSELF
It may seem like a good idea to use props or be super creative with your headshot, and believe me, there’s totally a place for that (check out my branding photo session tips here). I’m here to tell you your headshot is NOT the place to be your extra self, even if you wave your extra flag as high as I do. The key is to find the balance between the extra and the reserved (also another reason it helps to hire a professional).
