The Psychology Behind Professional Headshots
Why are headshots important? Why is it the one thing many small business owners and professionals put off doing or worse, never do at all? Two words: ignorance and fear.
We live in a digital world. Gone are the days of making connections in person. Your first impression is online. With that comes snap judgements. No time to impress someone in person, give your “pitch” or charm them with your sense of humor. Nowadays, you have a couple seconds or less to grab your next client, catch the eye of a job recruiter or keep your current followers engaged.
The old saying “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” is exactly what we all do on a daily basis. Does your headshot say you are professional, approachable or an expert in your field? Or does it scream “hot mess express” because your quickly slapped a random photo up on your website or linkedin profile picture? Seeing images of the latter, makes us all fear the camera. Thinking "it's just a profile picture, it doesn't matter" is ignorance.
Fearing how we look or how the camera might portray us makes many people put “headshot” at the bottom of their to-do list. A headshot is not a snapshot taken at a family function where someone catches you with your eyes half closed. A headshot is allowing a professional photographer to photograph you under the best set up while you are looking your best thus giving you an image you will be proud of. After all, this is your professional world, your business. It deserves the best representation, YOU.
A professional headshot is not just about looking your best, it’s about connecting with your audience. Do you want to be perceived as knowledgeable and approachable? Perhaps an expert in your field? A professional headshot can do this through proper lighting, genuine expressions and wearing the proper attire for your field.
The end result will not only be a fantastic image but also a confidence boost. Seeing yourself polished and professional does wonders for the self-esteem. This may be the extra boost you need to land your next interview or make another sale. Business is not easy, we could all use a little pep talk. A professional headshot screams success and is a great reminder to yourself that you are successful and you can do it.
Your image is your brand, not just a profile picture. Your brand needs to be consistent across all digital platforms. Not only will your community recognize you, they will start to feel like they know you thus increasing your chances of doing business with them. We all want to feel like we can relate to the person we are doing business with.
It’s never too late to update your headshot and it's the easiest thing to accomplish on the never ending to-do list. It may even land you your next client or job offer. If you are located in the Columbia, South Carolina area (aka “the midlands”), call us today to schedule your session. Let's put your best foot forward.