What are professional headshots used for?

10 Times your professional headshot will come in useful

You’ve heard me bang on time & time again about the importance of headshot photos for business & equally the importance of having a professionally taken photograph. Not just a quick snap on your phone. 

Professional photography is an investment in your business & whilst headshot costs may sometime seem high, have you ever thought about how much use you can get out of that one photo? You haven’t...? So then, let’s talk about what are professional headshots used for?

What is a Business Headshot?

A business headshot is a photograph of an individual, usually taken by a professional headshot photographer, with the simple purpose of showing what they look like.

Professional headshots aren’t just for high-flying executives anymore. Everybody needs one. They have a multitude of uses & have become an essential part of business.

The importance of a great headshot photo

AKA “Why do I need professional headshot photography?"

• Often a prospective client’s first introduction to you is through the photo on your website or social media profile. Your online image is a powerful part of your personal brand & using professional photography is a great tool to building a solid reputation online.
• A professional headshot conveys your professionalism. If you want to be perceived professionally, you should look polished & professional. Your headshot photo shows that you take your career & business seriously.
• A good headshot photo shows the viewer who you are & offers a hint of your personality through your expression & your smile.
• It helps potential clients identify you at first meetings. It’s important that your headshot photo is current & looks like you now. I get it, aging is hard, but a 10-year-old photo, whilst it might feel flattering, is inauthentic & doesn’t encourage trust.
• A professionally taken photograph helps you feel good. A professional headshot photographer is an expert in what they do. They know how to work with light & how to pose people so that they look their best. Knowing that you look good increases your confidence which can only be good for business!

What are professional headshots used for?

So that’s what is & the why. Now for the where. You’ve got these lovely photos but what are professional headshots used for?

1. Company Website

Professional headshot photography on the company website enables customers & clients to put a face to the name. Matching headshots for everybody in your team creates a consistent visual identity. They unify your brand & make your company appear professional.

Having no photos on your website will make it look bland & lack identity. What’s worse is a site with poor photos of your team. Blurry, badly lit & out of focus photos snapped on someones phone give the impression that you don’t care about your own business. If you don’t appear to care about the perception of your business why would a potential client hire you to look after theirs? 

Top fact: 60% of consumers who use online search say they prefer to contact a business whose listing includes an image.

2. LinkedIn Profile

Adding a professional headshot photo to your LinkedIn profile helps create a great first impression & starts to build trust between you & the people (read potential clients) looking at your profile.

LinkedIn is a business network & it’s important that your photo reflects this. An out of focus selfie taken in the badly lit office just doesn’t cut it & won’t present you in the best light.

3. Online Profiles; Facebook, Instagram & Twitter

Using your headshot photo on your social media profiles will remind people you met at networking or business events of who you are. Being able to put a face to the name that pops up in their notifications, they are more likely to accept your friend, follow, or connection request.

4. Business cards, brochures & marketing collateral

When we attend a business networking event we all come away with handfuls of business cards. Nine times out of ten we can’t remember which card belongs to which person & who does what. Using a professional headshot on your business card helps people you meet to remember who you are & what you do.

Using the same photo on your business card & marketing materials as you do on your social media profile will help your face become recognisable to potential clients & customers.

5. Magazine articles & newspapers

A headshot is often printed alongside written articles in magazines & newspapers. Using a professionally taken one that matches your brand helps keep that recognisable visual identity across all of your work.

6. Press Release

A major company announcement, a promotion, a new job. Profile photos are often required for press releases. If you are wanting you & your brand to be presented in a positive light in the press, a professional headshot photo is a must.

7. CV’s & Resumes

Your headshot is on your LinkedIn profile. Including a headshot on your CV allows you to introduce yourself directly to recruiters in the same way that you do on your online profile. This can make you more memorable than simply a name & a list of qualifications & experiences.

8. Personal Branding

Investing in a high-quality, professionally taken headshot is an investment in your personal brand. It shows you at your best, the way you want prospective clients to see you. It in the simplest form, it’s marketing YOU.

9. Actor Headshots

A headshot is an actors' business card & is integral to getting noticed in a highly competitive industry. A high-quality professional headshot with genuine facial expressions showing the actor to a true likeness is the first thing a casting director will look at when scouting for talent.

10. Author Pages

Including a profile image on your book cover helps to introduce you to & connect with your readers.

___

Where else have you used your professional headshot? Drop me a line, I’d love to know if there are any places I’ve not thought of.

Interested in updating your own headshot? Drop me a DM.