Why Do I Need a Business Headshot?

Why Are Business Headshots Important?

Those in business careers would agree that time is of the essence. For entrepreneurs, small business owners, and CEOs alike, the days are full of meetings, messages, appointments, and emails. Therefore, time management is essential, and we haven’t mentioned ambition, intelligence, style, and creativity. Plus, networking is a vital skill for everyone aspiring to a career in business.

An individual’s image is at the heart of networking, and there are two sides to image: mental and physical. Mentally, entrepreneurs want to be strong and decisive yet approachable. But what about in terms of physical appearance? How do successful business professionals present themselves physically, and how should they?

All business leaders have at least one excellent business headshot, and many entrepreneurs have more than one. These small business owners, managers, and CEOs know how valuable a simple picture can be. Why are business headshots so essential for business people?

Excellent first impressions are crucial in business meetings and interactions; one never has a second chance to redo a first impression, according to Jason Wallis, a photographer who specializes in business women headshots. Corporate headshots are useful for those in the business field, too. Professionals from all fields, including artists, writers, professors, engineers, and more, realize how important a professional appearance is. The power of business headshots, however, goes beyond establishing physical appearances.

Today more than ever, displaying a professional appearance and demeanor helps individuals succeed. Most of our lives take place on the internet, and the first thing many of us do when we “meet” a new person is searching them. From Twitter to LinkedIn, social media sites help us to connect, but they also help professionals build trust and establish professional reputations.

For example, an individual interested in interviewing with a company usually conducts research. The research typically involves searching for the company’s various pages and viewing the people who run the company and work there. The pictures on these pages are important, which is one reason a professional business headshot is an excellent investment.

Many busy businesspeople will ask why I need a business headshot. It is true that, at first glance, there appear to be many more pressing issues than a mere picture. However, there is a reason why people say “image is everything.” Whether the new pictures find a home on social media sites or the company’s homepage, a professional corporate headshot might be the key to a brighter business future for many of us.

For those who are still not convinced, here are twelve vital reasons to click the shutter and get a business headshot. Time to smile and say, “business!”

• Personal Exposure

Business and career growth are all about making connections; one cannot make connections online without a strong visual presence. So whether we are “liking” each other’s pictures on Facebook or Instagram or discovering our new co-workers, the business world is partly built on professional images.

When new workers enter the office for the first time, they usually ensure their clothing, hair, and overall appearance are right. This is because they want to make an excellent first impression, which makes perfect sense. However, in today’s business world, that first impression probably occurred days or weeks before online.

Human resource employees and recruiters search out job candidates on social media and through their websites, and one of the most fundamental aspects of these sights is a top-notch picture. So think about it the next time you visit LinkedIn: do you spend time on the pages without profile photos? Humans are a visual species; we communicate through pictures just as much as words.

For example, Evan and Louis each apply for the same position at LLC Law Firm on the same day. As the applications for the new paralegal position pour in, the office recruiter gets to work. When she gets to Evan’s application, she is impressed by his education and experience, but none of Evan’s pages feature a headshot.

The recruiter then scrolls through Louis’ pages, noting similar work experiences and education. However, Louis has a professional photo on each page and looks happy and confident. Sensing that Louis is a bit more determined and put-together, the recruiter puts Louis’ application in the final pool, and Evan doesn’t make the grade.

• Professional Networking

Everyone knows the importance of networking, from the most successful CEOs to the greenest interns. Being able to successfully network can set the stage for career advancement at any stage, but networking takes certain skills and is constantly evolving.

An excellent headshot can boost an individual’s application materials and put a “face to a name” for those who are examining your materials and profiles.

Networking mainly consists of quick conversations and introductions, but while it used to end with exchanging business cards, it now culminates in swapping web addresses. In addition, individuals can ensure their networking efforts are rewarded by featuring a professional headshot on all of their websites and including one with their resume.

Remember, new connections come when people least expect them, and many connections become the key to new positions and careers. So, why not add a headshot for individuals who still use business cards? Your confident, expressive image could be the key to a new position, speaking engagement, or even a consulting position.

For example, Brandon is fastidious about his headshots, and his co-workers at Fitzy Investments poke fun at him for his attention to detail. Nevertheless, Brandon’s online and physical materials include a well-produced headshot that he is proud of.

One day, a famous CEO at another company stumbles across Brandon’s LinkedIn profile. The picture of Brandon brings him in, and then Brandon’s impressive credentials make him stay and read about Brandon’s impressive career so far. A week later, Brandon gets a call that changes his life: the famous CEO wants to offer Brandon double what he is making at Fitzy Investments to work for him.

A memorable headshot may change one’s life, but it will make networking easier and more productive.

• Increased Confidence

It is no secret that a portion of our confidence stems from how we feel about our appearance. When individuals are tired, dehydrated, overworked, and worn out, they do not present themselves well. However, when entrepreneurs are well-rested and well-dressed, they inspire faith in their abilities.

A professional headshot is a useful tool to have on hand. It can help boost an individual’s confidence and also improve others’ confidence in them. When professionals take themselves seriously, it shows others that they should, too, and looking at the part plays a significant role.

For those just starting out in business, a professional corporate headshot can help improve their reputations and how their managers and supervisors perceive them. But, even more importantly, knowing that the public sees an ideal portrait of them helps boost self-confidence, too.

• An Individual Brand

Entrepreneurs, young and old, must realize that today more than ever, company success is based on brand marketing. Individuals can also foster their own “brands” based on their behavior and the values they represent.

Pictures tell a story, so when considering a business headshot, individuals should consider what story they want to tell their peers, their clients, and the world. Clothing, facial expressions, accessories, and even gestures can establish personalities—and personalities are a large part of individual brands. Consider celebrities or professionals that you look up to: what do you think about when considering them?

A professional headshot is a trusted step to creating a brand. However, establishing an individual brand cannot be done early enough for those interested in starting their own company someday.

• A Sense of True Professionalism

Taking the time and spending the money to get a quality corporate headshop taken accomplishes many things all at once.

On the surface, the individual will have several professional pictures to use in various applications. However, the number of photos usually depends on the photographer’s arrangement and whether the individual paid or their company did.

In any case, beneath the surface, an excellent photo can convey professionalism and authority. For example, Philip is a junior executive anxious to move to a higher position. Philip, however, does not believe in the value of headshots, and his company web pages and social media accounts all feature the same picture: a younger Philip, looking slightly disinterested and not even staring at the camera or smiling.

While Philip’s picture is not the main reason he has not achieved his goals yet, his outdated, blurry headshot is not helping his cause. However, if Philip updates his photo, he might be able to increase his chances of a promotion by inspiring more confidence and appearing more like the professional he truly is.

It is a fact that potential employers, clients, and colleagues are going to look at your headshot. So doesn’t it make sense to make it the best picture possible?

• Approachability Among Clients

We’ve established that quality headshots are worth the time and money for the confidence and professionalism they bring to the table, but what about prospective customers and clients?

It is essential for small business owners that their clients have a sense of who they are. Research tells us that customers are more likely to buy from trustworthy small business owners. Trust is derived, in part, from appearance, so, therefore, small business owners must establish a strong first impression. Nowadays, first impressions often come from business headshots.

It is not only small business owners who can benefit from the idea of customers “feeling as though they know” the person behind the business. Clients of investment firms, law firms, and more want to get the sense that they know the individual helping them—and whom they are paying.

An excellent headshot can also give clients and customers a sense of the person’s personality, so do not be afraid to smile, try different poses, and even laugh a little. Depending on one’s profession, a little creativity and personality might be just what the doctor ordered. However, if the individual is a funeral director, a more serious tone might be more appropriate.

• Establishing and Reinforcing Values

All business owners possess core values reflected in their company’s pursuits. This also goes for entrepreneurs, employees, supervisors, and managers. Our core values are often visible in the images we put into the world.

We have all heard the stories of job applicants becoming haunted by embarrassing pictures they never took down from social media. Today, our businesses and careers are more visual than ever, meaning that every professional must be careful about what they post online.

For example, Brad is a high-powered executive who recently left his company. Brad is a sought-after candidate who has been asked to interview at several top technology companies, from Amazon to Google. However, Brad is just as interested in a small, up-and-coming business called “Delta.”

Brad researches the companies wanting to interview him and checks their websites. On Delta’s website, their “About Us” page is full of selfies and blurry photos. Based on this initial visual impression, Brad decides not to pursue working with the business. Brad is looking for a professional, classy, modern company to help him pursue his latest goals, and he feels that the pictures on Delta’s website appear cheap and uninspired. It may seem like a small detail, but it also makes Brad feel that Delta does not care what the public thinks of them. Further research shows him that Delta is not environmentally conscious, either.

Customers, clients, and promising job applicants want websites and social media profiles that illustrate their professionalism and values. A company whose website is too informal or unprofessional might give off the impression that they care too little about work and too much about partying. On the other hand, an overly slick website full of fast cars, special effects, and cheesy slogans may come off as irresponsible and not family oriented. Pictures are worth a thousand words and are also vehicles through which to display a company’s values.

Contact Nakase Wade for Professional Legal Counsel

Investing in a quality business headshot is one of the best ways to boost the public’s perception of your business and of yourself as an individual. Professional headshots can also prove inviting for clients and customers while helping the subject’s confidence.

Professional headshots should be kept up to date so that when you meet with a client, they are not surprised or thrown off. Business dealings are all about quality negotiation, and trust and authenticity are just as important as the terms of the deal.

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.

For trusted legal help, contact our California business lawyers today. We offer free consultations, and no question is too large or small. We will even weigh in on your headshot, though we will probably encourage you to smile.