Do You Need a Headshot?
Once upon a time, professional headshots were mostly for leaders, entrepreneurs, and public personalities. My dad spent most of his career without needing a headshot. In fact, the only corporate headshot we have of him doesn’t look like it was professionally taken.
Time have changed now. With business being done online, headshots are more common than ever. Some people get their first headshot before finishing university. How do you decide if you need a headshot for your work? And should your headshots be retouched? Here are some examples.
Headshots Are Your First Impression
Headshots are often the first thing that people see when they come across your online presence or professional materials, and as such, they can play a significant role in making a first impression.
You only get one chance to make a first impression – as my coach likes to say. A missing headshot is going to say a lot about your feelings towards your personal brand and reputation.
Who Needs Headshots?
Public Personalities or Public Figures
If you are a public figure or are often interviewed by the media, you may need a headshot to accompany any articles or interviews. A headshot can give people a sense of what you look like and help you connect with your viewers.
It can also help you connect with your viewers or readers, as it allows them to put a face to your name and can make you seem more approachable and relatable.
Business Owners
Having a professional headshot is an important aspect of branding for business owners. It helps convey a sense of professionalism and credibility to potential clients and customers, and can be used in marketing and advertising materials such as on the company website or in social media profiles.
This is especially important in the professional service industry, where your personality sets you apart from competitors.
Job Seekers
If you are looking for a new job or career opportunity, a headshot can be a useful tool to include in your resume or job application materials. Most employers will check out your LinkedIn profile to learn about your experience. While it’s not required, it’s generally expected that you have a profile. It can give potential employers a sense of what you look like and can be a good way to make a positive first impression.
People With Speaking Engagements
If you are a speaker or presenter, you may need a headshot for flyers or brochures for use in connection with speaking engagements. Conference organizers or event planners may ask for a headshot to include in promotional materials or on the event website. A headshot can help people get a sense of what you look like and can help them become more familiar with you before the event.
Personal Branding
A personal brand is a unique identity or image that is associated with an individual’s name, reputation, and professional activities. It is often used to differentiate oneself from others in the same field and to establish credibility and expertise.
It’s common for many service and creative professionals to have their own personal brand – even if they work for another company. In fact your personal brand may be a key factor in landing your next role.
Why Headshots?
Headshots Build Trust and Credibility
Your headshot conveys a level of professionalism and attention to detail that is important in your business. It shows that you take your image and reputation seriously. Being visible shows that you stand behind what you do. This in turn brings a level of trustworthiness to your profile.
This is especially important if you are working in a field where personal relationships are important, such as coaching, consulting, or therapy. A headshot can help people feel more comfortable working with you and can help build confidence in your services or products.
Show Authenticity
We’ve all heard promises from businesses about what they can achieve for you. Words can be written or copied by anyone. Putting your face behind the promise is a good way to give people a sense of who you are and what you stand for. We can help you with the right expression that shows how genuine you are.
Confidence
A confident and well-composed headshot can give people a positive impression of you. It can show that you are comfortable in your own skin and capable of presenting yourself in a professional manner.
Approachability
A friendly and welcoming expression in the headshot can help you appear approachable. It conveys a sense of openness and transparency, helping viewers relate to you.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether or not you need a headshot will depend on your personal and professional goals and the context in which you will be using the headshot. Most people do need a headshot of some sort, although the style may differ depending on whether you are a public figure or a job seeker.
A headshot can also be useful for building trust and credibility in your business and showing authenticity.
Ultimately, if you think a headshot would be useful or necessary for your needs, it may be worth considering having one taken. When you’re ready, Executive Images can make the process easy for you.
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