Why Are Professional Business Headshots Important?
When professionals of all different backgrounds neglect to update their headshots or do not have a headshot taken in the first place, they miss out on many important benefits. We live in a visual world, and more and more, our purchases, investments, and business ventures are motivated by images.
Excellent, professional headshots help business partners and entrepreneurs stand out in a busy field. On the other hand, it is easy for recruiters and prospective partners to ignore candidates when it is unclear exactly what they look like. An unprofessional headshot can sabotage promising opportunities and push prospective partners and investors away. Losing out on opportunities can impact one’s finances and career.
First impressions are vital in business, and entrepreneurs usually only have one shot at negotiating the deal, pitching, or delivering the presentation. Therefore, investing in an individual’s first corporate headshot, or getting a new headshot taken, is a smart move and can also transform one’s career.
For those still unsure if having a business headshot is worth it, here are six reasons professional business portraits are an intelligent investment.
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A Lasting Impression from Day One
Successful professionals in all industries know that all good business relies on building a strong, trusted network of colleagues. First impressions are vital when entrepreneurs pitch new ideas when businesses look to hire new candidates, and in myriad other ways. However, as important as first impressions are, it is also vital to maintain a strong, lasting impression. Excellent professionals make strong first impressions and then continue with lasting consistency.
Before meeting someone in person, headshots are usually all that people or businesses have to go on. Headshots establish a visual impression, which can be one of trust and confidence, or they can show a lack of attention to detail and even a lack of trust.
For example, Will graduates with an MBA and searches for his first business opportunity. The young graduate is ambitious, but he also knows he will have to make sacrifices before reaching the top of the business world.
Before applying to the positions Will has his eye on, he examines his current headshot. Will has had a variety of impressive internships over his college and graduate school careers. However, he has one headshot that he uses for everything: his resume, his social media accounts, and even his gym membership. The picture was taken by a noted professional, but it is very dated regarding the lighting and Will’s pose. Plus, Will is taller now, with shorter hair and a cropped beard—in the picture, he looks like a university student.
Will spend some time reimagining his headshot. For example, Will asks himself: what do I want the picture to communicate? What should my body language say? How do I want people to see me, and what signals do I want them to read?
For example, in Will’s old picture, his posture is poor. Will’s pose does not elicit confidence or perseverance. Instead, he looks bored, as though posing for the picture is not his cup of tea.
In his new headshot, Will wants to sit up tall and look straight at the camera with a confident, knowing smile. He contacts a professional headshot photographer, and the photographer agrees and takes it from there. Soon, Will has a new business headshot that he can be proud of. He updates all of his materials and lands the job he wants the following week.
Some individuals may contest that headshots are unimportant because it is the person themselves who matter. While it is true that one cannot judge a book by its cover alone, a headshot is a tool that successful professionals know how to use. Since people will form first impressions regardless, why not give them the best possible image to work with?
When entrepreneurs have control over the first impressions they create and set a high standard early in the game, they build better relationships, stimulate more engagement, and network more productively with individuals and companies.
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A Personality that Stands Out
Professional corporate headshots do not simply create a strong first impression; they also provide insight into the individual’s personality. Of course, experience and credentials are important, but many companies and prospective partners want to know how an individual’s personality will mesh with others.
People are always surprised by how much one or two pictures can show about a person. For example, a headshot can communicate trust and reliability, yet it can also show the opposite based on facial expressions, positioning, lighting, and background.
These days, many companies have a certain culture they are attempting to promote and preserve. It can be difficult to tell if an individual will fit in with a company’s culture based only on the professional information. However, a picture can translate many things, from talent to emotion to personality. When an entrepreneur invests in a professional corporate portrait taken by a talented photographer, the photographer knows how to show personality through imagery.
For example, there is usually no way to speak with an employer before an interview. However, they may have evaluated the candidate’s resume and supporting materials and perhaps even viewed their websites and social media sites. Sometimes, companies will also look at past employers’ websites to get a sense of the candidate’s experience.
For example, Zach has worked at a small law firm for five years but is seeking a new challenge. Zach knows that a larger firm is hiring, and he sets his sights on a new ten-year plan: get hired at the new firm, work hard, and become a partner in under ten years.
Zach tells his fiancé Christine about his plan, and she suggests that before he begins the application process, he update his business headshot and make sure that the new pictures are posted everywhere the new firm might look: Zach’s current firm’s website, Zach’s website, social media sites, even the couple’s engagement website.
Christine is a photographer herself, but she does not shoot business headshots. However, she does help Zach contact an experienced business photographer. As a result, Zach invests in his future by upgrading his corporate headshots, and soon all of his professional photos are updated. As a result, Zach begins the application process with optimism, and his new photos beautifully display his experience, maturity, and confidence.
Depending on the person and their goals, a professional headshot does not have to be boring. Some people want to appear relaxed and comfortable and dress more informally than others. In addition, some individuals decide to tailor their photos to a specific occupation. For example, a woman who seeks a position at a cosmetics company might focus on their makeup. In contrast, a different woman who wants to work at an outdoor clothing company might go for a more rural setting and outdoorsy look.
Look at a new headshot as a chance to get back in touch with your true personality, and then place it on display for the world. Have fun with the photo session and let the ideas flow, just do not be too relaxed or informal. Stay professional, but enjoy the process. Overall, the objective is to give people an impression of what it may be like to work alongside you.
Every business person has a unique personality formed by their experiences and nature. When headshots are taken correctly, they provide insight into a person’s personality, which is exactly what people want to see.
These days, images represent individuals from all different industry backgrounds. Most of us spend hours online daily scanning images and information and forming impressions based on what we see.
While some people still doubt the power of business headshots, an excellent corporate headshot is a key to one of the most integral personal characteristics in business: trust. When we decide whom to trust, we base much of the decision on the image, body language, and even facial expressions. Therefore, when individuals invest in a professional headshot to use for business purposes, one of the top goals of the photographer is to establish confidence and trust.
For example, Landon has found his ideal job. Landon wants to work at Facebook as a social media enthusiast and skilled programmer. Landon knows the importance of a strong resume and cover letter, and his materials are impeccable. However, Landon overlooks his headshot. An older picture is a little blurry. Even worse, Landon’s expression does not convey trust. If anything, he looks either anxious or helpless—or both!
Landon’s picture and facial expression may appear inconsequential to some, but job applicants must have all their bases covered these days. Landon could lose out on the chance to work at the social media giant Facebook because of his headshot. While Landon’s cover letter and resume help him to stand out, his picture conveys an impression of nervousness and even fear, as opposed to self-reliance and trust.
If Landon were to upgrade his business headshot, there would be no guarantee that he would get the job. However, Landon would put himself in the best possible position to be hired.
Potential employers want candidates who are motivated and excited yet calm and confident. The best photographers know how to capture your best qualities in a well-executed, clear photo, which is one reason a quality corporate headshot is worth the investment.
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Separate Oneself from the Competition
Whether an entrepreneur is seeking to form a new company, a new job applicant, or simply a professional hoping for a promotion, professional headshots can help one stand out from the rest of the pack. When individuals invest in a new headshot, they are investing in an opportunity to be noticed ahead of others.
In the business world, there will always be people who have your credentials and experience level matched. Sometimes, there are individuals who may exceed your education level or possess more professional experience. However, personality often proves to be the “x-factor” when individuals are vying for the same position. Headshots can provide the extra energy, personality, and uniqueness that prospective partners or companies look for.
Headshots that are well-executed and professionally done can provide insight into a person’s lifestyle, work ethic, and sense of responsibility. They can also make candidates stand out. For example, Bob’s headshot:
- Makes his face appear dark and blurry
- Has a bright background that makes it Bob hard to see
- Features confusing body language
Bob is trying to find a fellow entrepreneur to join him in a new business venture. A friend introduces Bob to John and John’s headshot:
- Effectively shows his face
- Focuses on his eyes, which are clear and assertive
- Uses a neutral background to make John stand out
- Uses excellent framing
Bob may not find a partner out of the deal, but he does learn that he needs to improve his professional business headshot.
A top-notch headshot helps individuals stand out in a vast sea of qualified personnel, and headshots can also conveniently be used for many different applications. Business owners, entrepreneurs, and striving candidates can differentiate themselves on everything from social media sites to job applications or even simply when networking with colleagues.
When Leeanne invested in a brand-new professional headshot, she wasn’t aware of all of the benefits the picture would offer. Leeanne, the sole proprietor of an athletic clothing company, has been trying to grow her brand. Unfortunately, growth has been slow, and many more established brands have to contend with it.
However, Leeanne’s new business portrait is bright and engaging, and she looks professional, put-together, and suitably sporty. Once she posts her new images everywhere, Leanne begins to see engagement increase. Leeanne knows how important brand image is in building interest from prospective customers and investors. As her brand awareness quickly grows, she realizes how important strong images are to the branding process.
It is no secret that strong corporate headshots help improve brand image, and brand recognition is vital to sales and profits. From Nike to Mercedes, specific brands stand out and enjoy success because they have a strong sense of identity. In addition, headshots can convey the personality of a brand. For example, Leeanne’s pictures show her athletic clothing is fun and sporty. Since Leeanne is in great shape, customers associate the brand with healthy living and a positive lifestyle.
When a person is associated with a strong brand, they have authority over their image and, therefore, their career. Excellent branding is associated with increased visibility and profits, and professional headshots are associated with powerful branding. Therefore, the investment into a new headshot makes perfect sense.
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Create a Professional Image
Do entrepreneurs and business owners sell products or services, or do they sell themselves? Many business experts assert that the most successful business people achieve great heights because they know how to sell their products and themselves to their clients and customers.
For example, Christian is a company’s CEO, preparing to interview three of the finalists for a new position. When Christian arrives at the office that afternoon, he sees one of the applicants, Nick, yelling and swearing at the company’s security guard Franco for no reason.
Christian will probably not hire Nick, despite his credentials and experience level, because he caught a glimpse of what might be Nick’s true self. Christian is old friends with Franco, and he knows that the guard is a respectable, responsible person. Even if Christian has seen Nick on a bad day or in a bad moment, he now associates Christian’s personality with his reprehensible actions.
When an applicant or prospective business partner has not taken the time to get professional headshots, they can be considered lazy or lacking attention to detail. On the other hand, when business people invest in quality headshots and other things that benefit their image, such as nice clothing, they usually have more success with their goals.
Successful business people have core principles they want their companies and lifestyles to embody. The values important to everyone, from entrepreneurs to employees, can be conveyed through professional headshots.
For example, Steve is a caring individual who donates a percentage of his company’s quarterly profits to the environment. Steve cares about the health of the planet his children will inherit, and he seeks to embody that sentiment in his personal and professional pursuits. Steve’s corporate headshot conveys these principles in the photographer’s use of lighting, appropriate background, and a confident yet comforting smile.
On the other hand, we have all heard the stories of prospective employees haunted by photos from their pasts that resurface online. Embarrassing or immature pictures posted on social media can derail even the most successful careers, especially in today’s image-conscious world.
For example, Danny is a successful entrepreneur who recently sold his first company for an exceptional profit. As a result, many companies want to hire Danny, and he is very interested in working for a new company called Golden Apps.
The CEO of Golden Apps personally reaches out to Danny to arrange an interview. However, when Danny visits Golden Apps’ website to prep for the interview, he sees that the company’s headshots are informal, silly, and unprofessional.
Danny is hesitant to invest his valuable time and energy into a company that doesn’t seem to take itself seriously. While Danny enjoys humor, he feels that the pictures of Golden Apps’ employees and managers show a lack of confidence, focus, and overall professionalism.
After all, Danny decides not to pursue working at Golden Apps, disappointing the CEO. Instead, Danny is looking for a professional, goal-oriented company that continually tries to improve. He does not feel Golden Apps’ business portraits—if you can call them that—represent his values or priorities.
A company whose website is too informal or unprofessional gives off the impression that they are not focused or forward-thinking enough. On the other hand, a sleek, overly glossy website full of beautiful people and cliche slogans appears to be trying too hard and is perhaps not family-friendly. Business headshots are vehicles through which to display a company’s values.
Popular Questions About Headshots:
Should I Hold on to My Photos?
Sometimes, one’s access to their photos depends on when and how the pictures were taken. For example, if an employer had the photos taken, they sometimes owned them. Most often, however, the subject of the photos can retain the pictures from the photo shoot.
Even if it costs extra, hold onto new professional headshots by saving them to a computer or other means. The new portraits can be used more than once and in various ways. For example, Sally pays to have a new corporate headshot taken, and she immediately uses the picture for her company photo and her website. However, Sally realizes she can use some other photos from the session for Facebook, LinkedIn, and even her bus pass and gym membership.
When businesses have their employees take new headshots, they should let them use the photos as they see fit. From profile pictures to business cards or even advertisements, there is a wide range of possibilities for using professional photos.
How Do I Find a Professional Headshot Photographer?
When it comes to getting one’s headshot taken, there are various choices.
Some individuals take their photos themselves or have a colleague or friend who can take them. While this might save money, we do not recommend cutting corners in this manner.
Instead, individuals interested in getting new business headshots should contact a professional. Searching through local results online, networking with colleagues, and reading reviews are three great ways to find the right photographer for the job.
Unlike a friend or family, professional photographers understand lighting and have modern equipment. Make sure to find a photographer who has taken corporate headshots before, and examine their portfolios before booking a session to make sure that they offer options you like and packages you can afford.
We are busy these days, so taking headshots is an investment of money and time. Luckily, the photo shoots normally do not take very long, and there is no need to worry about how to pose. The photographer will tell you what to do and even when to smile. Relax and enjoy it.
Ask around if you are having trouble finding a photographer whose work is appropriate. Chances are that most individuals know someone who has recently updated their corporate headshot, and perhaps they can even provide a referral.
Are Professional Headshots Essential for Job Applications?
An excellent corporate headshot can be the deciding factor for many job applicants and help employers decide between two similar candidates. Therefore, individuals should put their best foot forward and represent themselves with a dedicated business headshot. Think of the business portrait as a mandatory part of the package, along with a cover letter and resume.
Plus, entrepreneurs can use their headshots for business cards, social media profiles such as LinkedIn, and other exciting networking purposes.
Contact Nakase Wade for Professional Legal Counsel
At Nakase Wade, we can provide a legal boost for your business and yourself. Our trusted business attorneys place our client’s success and well-being first, and whatever questions or problems you have, we will be with you every step. Let us know if you have questions about getting a new business headshot taken.
Investing in a new, modern corporate headshot is one of the best ways to boost the public’s perception of not only one’s company but themselves. In addition, professional headshots can inspire confidence, a strong work ethic, and attention to detail when taken effectively. Always work with a photographer you trust, and look at their work ahead of time.
Professional headshots should also be kept up to date so that clients are familiar with your current appearance and how it aligns with your goals. When entrepreneurs take their careers in a new direction, they often invest in new headshots to signify a career change. For example, suppose an entrepreneur where to go from running a tech company to becoming a partner in a restaurant. They might change their picture to represent the new area of interest in that case.
Business dealings are all about quality negotiation, and trust and authenticity are just as important as the terms of the deal. So for trusted legal help, contact our California business lawyers today. We offer free consultations, but we do not take corporate headshots. You will have to hire a professional for that!
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