You don't need just a headshot...

Two seconds. That’s how long a typical user will spend on your website or social media platform — unless something captures their interest. You have two seconds to make a connection. You have two seconds to tell a compelling story. What’s one thing that will hold their interest and cause them to stay for more than two seconds? Captivating visuals.

So, if visuals are so important, why don’t I need just a headshot? With only two seconds to make an impression, in most situations just a headshot doesn’t cut it. A headshot doesn’t clue the viewer in on your personality. A headshot doesn’t help to visually tell a story about you or your brand.

What you do need are BRANDING PORTRAITS. This is a collection of images that tell your story and tell the story of your brand, showcasing the real, authentic you. As business owners and service providers, our own thoughts, beliefs and stories about life and business form our PERSONAL BRAND. Your unique qualities as a human are what differentiate you from others. When a viewer or potential client finds something about you that they can relate to, that is when a connection is formed. That is what causes them to feel like they know you and to decide that they want to work with you before they even pick up the phone to call you.

We’ve been conditioned to think that we just need one image, one headshot, that we can use over and over. Using one image doesn’t tell the full story of who you are, though. You are a complex human with many sides, and a full collection of branding portraits is needed to tell your stories. By using multiple, cohesive images throughout your various mediums, you are better able to connect with a wider range of potential clients. Because when it comes down to it, people do business with people first; the product or service is secondary.

Let's look at the example of the amazing business owner in the cover image, Kelsa Dickey , CEO and Expert Financial Coach at Fiscal Fitness Phoenix, Inc. . Kelsa first came in for headshots and the image on the left was captured. It's a great headshot! AND when you look deeper, what do you really know about Kelsa from that headshot, other than she has a great smile and loves a good print? Do you have any idea what profession she is in? Do you know anything else about her than would connect you to her? No. Now let's take a look at the branding portraits on the right that Kelsa and I have created together. Statements or questions you might have are: "Wow, she looks like a fierce woman! Oh, she has a team of coaches, they look so inviting. Wow, look at her muscles, she must work out. Oh and there she is with a weight belt, she must weight lift, but she's also super girly, I love that! Oh and she must have a podcast." The BRANDING PORTRAITS help the viewer to think more about the subject and cause the viewer to have feelings about the subject. And the more we can get people to think and feel, the stronger the connection will be.

As a C-Suite Executive or Business Owner, you owe it to your viewers and potential clients to give them more than a typical headshot that shows little about you other than what you look like. Emotions and feelings are what drive purchasing behaviors and decision making, so make your views FEEL something. Through branding portraits, you are able to show them the real, authentic you, and to create a solid connection that will make them want more of you!

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**You've likely seen me promoting headshot sessions on my LI feed lately. If you are a business owner in your first year, or you are an employee at a company, a simple headshot is great! Message me to learn more about the Headshot Sessions we offer each month (the next one is Friday, Sept. 22).

However, if you are a C-Suite Executive or a Business Owner, a brand session is a must. I invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation to talk more about this. https://kariannemunstedt.com/contact/

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This article has been adapted from the original article published in InBusinessPHX Magazine, June 2019. https://inbusinessphx.com/partner-section/you-dont-need-a-headshot#.XxxudJ5Kh3g