Why You Need a Professional Headshot

I didn’t realize the importance of a professional headshot until 5 years into my professional career.  When I first got out of school, I didn’t think it was necessary.  As I started to get more involved in my business, I found the need to have a good headshot at almost every corner.  Here's the deal plain and simple; a professional headshot is a necessity, especially for social profiles and communication with your customers.  Unfortunately, not every headshot is created equal.  How do you get the best headshot possible?  As a professional photographer, here are a few of my stock and standard approaches for business clients.

1. Always go pro.  Yes, I may be a professional photographer but I say this with all honesty. A professional headshot is worth your time and money.  A cell phone selfie is not an acceptable option for a headshot nor is a cropped vacation photo.  Always use a professional photographer who can help you with posing and lighting. Let the professionals take care of the details.

2. Let the picture reflect your personality.  While a good photo looks professional, it can also exhibit your personality and business. Be creative and let the photo reflect who you are and what you do with your pose, smile, and background.

3. Stay Natural.  An overly posed picture looks uncomfortable.  Try to look as natural as possible so you look like a real person worth building a relationship.

4. Keep it Simple.  The best pictures have a simple approach with background and clothing choice.  Don’t go crazy or overboard.

5. Look at the Camera.  There has always been much debate about whether or not to look straight at the camera.  In my opinion, for a headshot, you should always look directly at the camera as it will allow the viewer to connect with you.  Headshots are always about the eyes, so it is important to make sure they are the focal point.

6. Size Appropriately.  A great headshot will look good as a thumbnail or large photo.  Make sure the structure of the photo is such that it looks good at any size so you have more flexibility in daily use.