Corporate Headshot of Client, Gregorio. His company needed new headshot to appeal to high level investors. Nailed it!

In this highly visual age of internet and social media usage, it's more important that ever for professionals to hone their image. A great headshot does just that. Nearly all my corporate headshot clients have a LinkedIn profile. You'd be surprised at how many of them are getting professional headshots done for the very first time and in lieu of a professional photograph, they’re currently using a selfie or, worse, a picture from a party/event where they’ve cropped out the other guests. If you’re guilty of this, no need to blush. I won’t judge! But here’s my take on why you need to nix that crummy old selfie in favor of a professional headshot that takes your image to the next level!

1. Your headshot is your online calling card.

Headshot of corporate client, June, who's a luxury brand advisor.

While business cards are still useful, in the digital age, more and more people have professional websites, social media profiles, and other outlets where they interact with potential clients/employers. This is why it’s crucial to control your image so you’re putting the absolute best foot forward. If you have a drab, badly lit picture of yourself that you’re using on your social media, many interested parties will show a bit of apprehension when it comes to conducting business with you. “If he’s such a great <insert job title>, then why is he using such a crappy picture? Is this a scam?” is the line of thinking more or less. People are generally more comfortable when they see a professional image (preferably with a smile) and someone who looks like they’ve got their stuff together. Your headshot will help tremenduously in this regard.

2. A professional headshot reflects your personality and/or your brand.

Ah, branding. The word branding has become quite the popular term over the past decade. With more and more individuals empowering themselves, becoming entrepreneurs, branding has become a huge focus for professionals. Whether you’re an employee for a company or the CEO of said company, you want headshots that reflect your brand. Are you a young and fun tech company? Or are you a dedicated law firm that helps people with their legal matters? Whatever your or your company’s focus, you want a headshot that matches your image. Are you serious? Fun? Creative? Fashionable? When you have a truly professional headshot it will convey those things to viewers and help them make the connection about what you or your company stands for. If I were personally hiring a lawyer for say, a lawsuit, I would probably want to pick the man/woman with a more serious expression that looks like they’ll get the job done.

And to add to the above, if you want people to take your brand seriously, your image is important. Look at Apple. From top to bottom, they exude an image of quality, innovation, and creativity. It’s reflected in their products, but also in their marketing material which includes their headshots! Check them out!

3. It keeps you up to date.

Headshot of Corporate Client, Carmelyn. Her company hadn't updated their headshots in 6 years! She looks every bit the top level executive she is!

As people and businesses change, so will your image. Maybe you want a fresh look and want to avoid the old drab looking photos you’ve used in the past. Maybe you’ve lost weight or changed your hairstyle. Whatever new events happening in your life, it may be time for a new headshot that reflects the new you. I know when revamping a website, companies will often want to update their old headshots to match the fresh new look of the website. Often I’m told by such companies that the last time everyone got headshots was 5-10 years ago. Oh how much has changed in that amount of years! Getting your headshot updated will keep you or your company current and hopefully attract a whole new group of interested parties. You’ll look more modern and have an image that reflects where you currently are in your professional life.

And this is also important: don’t wait several years before updating your headshots! We’re in the digital age. People love seeing new content! Whether it’s a blog article, video, or new photos it’s prudent to update your image in some capacity. Getting updated headshots is a great way to keep people interested and see that you have something going on!

This is a simple three-point list, but I hope it clicks with you and you have that “Aha!” moment in your head. If you’re worried about your professional image and don’t have a great corporate headshot, it’s time to take action! Put your best foot forward and, if you’re online, that often starts with the competence and professionalism exuded in your headshot.

I hope you enjoyed this post! If so, give it a like or even leave a comment!

Corporate Headshot Tips: Why You Need A Professional Headshot