Professional Headshot Photography: you may think that updating your headshot every five years or more is fine—after all, don’t you look about the same? In truth, you need to get a fresh professional headshot done more often. Here are just some reasons why:
Professional Headshot Photography: First Impressions Matter
Your professional headshot is often your introduction to potential employers, clients, colleagues, and possibly even people in your personal life. Whether you will use the headshot for your LinkedIn profile, company website, conference bio, or a speaker profile, your headshot shows your personal brand before you even say a word. On the other hand an outdated photograph that doesn’t reflect your current appearance will send the wrong message about your professional identity.
Five years pass like a moment in your lifetime, but chances are you’ve changed a lot. For one, you are older (aren’t we all!), but that’s not all. Maybe you’ve changed your hairstyle, started wearing glasses, or contact lenses, grown or shaved a beard, in other words, you just look different.
Your personal brand should reflect your current role, industry trends, and professional goals.
Professional Headshot Photography: Keep Up With the Times
Let’s think about where we were as a society just fiver years ago. The pandemic lockdown kept us all inside — working from home or not at all. All that has changed! We are out of our pajamas and back at the office, at least part time. The pandemic caused us to change our professional lifestyle and our office culture. In many cases office culture hasbecome less formal.
Staying up-to-date with professional trends, also means keeping up with the latest photography trends and aesthetics.
Fifteen years ago, when I started doing professional headshots, most of my clients wanted the same type of photo: posed headshots against a spotted dark/gray background. Not anymore! Although once in a while, a client will want to have a “traditional” headshot, more and more clients are asking for something different:
- Photos set in their professional environment. Whether in an office, at a lab bench, or just out and about in a city. A headshot done in a professional setting provides context and gives a sneak peek into your professional life.
- More casual headshots. Every professional wants to come across as adaptable and authentic, so that they can connect with their audience on a more relatable level. That often means casual outfits and candid postures and outdoor shoots.
- Accurate editing. Professional headshots used to be heavily edited. High-quality headshot photography now focuses on subtle editing—polishing your image without making you look unnatural.
- Brand-consistent portraits – Your headshot should match your personal branding strategy. Whether you need a LinkedIn profile picture, a team page photo, or a professional portrait for speaking engagements, consistency is key.
Now that I have, hopefully, convinced you to update your professional headshot every couple of years, what’s next?
Define Your Goals
Different headshots serve different purposes. A LinkedIn profile photo is different from an executive branding portrait or a business website headshot. Before booking your corporate photography session, ask yourself what you need but keep in mind that brochures, book covers, and pictures that represent you across different platforms should not look like your LinkedIn profile.
Find a Photographer
Just like all good photography, professional headshot photography is form of art. A good headshot photographer doesn’t just snap a picture and move on. They use their knowledge in current photography trends in editing, lighting and styling. It helps if they have an appreciation and understanding of other forms of art! Artistic trends are always reflected in every professional photo, including, hopefully, your professional headshot portrait.
For many people having a professional headshot taken can be an uncomfortable and awkward experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Hire a professional photographer that makes you feel at ease in front of their camera. Do your research, check the portfolios of photographers you’re considering, and read reviews to find a professional photographer whose style aligns with your vision.
/If you have any questions, or you would like to contact us to schedule a shoot, please e-mail us at [email protected] or fill out the contact form on our website.
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