You know what it takes to succeed in business, such as research, analysis and preparation. You know when to be decisive and when to be deliberative. Your headshot is from 20 years ago… WAIT, what?
All too often, even in the digital age, professionals let slide an important part of their personal brand: their business headshot. Surprisingly, a lot of professionals in many industries omit this part of their marketing repetoire. Would you show up at a conference without a business card? Would you go on a sales call without marketing materials, such as brochures? Would you go to a job interview without a resume? Then why be on LinkedIn without a headshot taken by a professional photographer for your profile picture?
In other cases, a businessman or woman has a great headshot, but it is from their time with a former employer and the backdrop, a logo or clothing might indicate that. Remember, each employee, professional, manager, entrepreneur, etc. is in sales and you are selling what some call "Me Inc." That brand requires a face and your headshot puts your best face forward.
By spending the money for a professional headshot, you are showing you invest in yourself, personally and professionally. A headshot conveys that you are thorough and detail-oriented. It shows you know what matters and make things happen.
A selfie on your business profile just looks haphazard or candid. Spontaneity is great in other aspects of social media, such as Snapchat, Instagram moments, Facebook Live and Periscope. You should be able to think on your feet and be nimble in business, and such social moments can reflect that. But the profile picture is not a snapshot, it is a reflection of who you are and who you want to be. Take the time to get it right.
If you are a business owner or marketing manager, consider having your staff or team get professional headshots at the same time by the same photography studio. This will bring consistency to the presentation of these profile pictures on your website, in speaker bios and marketing materials. Just as you invest in the other aspects of your marketing, such as logos, graphic design and professional writing, you should invest in how you present your company's greatest assets: its people.
Professional photography for headshots and portraits is the best way to show off your people. Here in the Houston job market, professionals in some industries can be selective about employers and clients, while in other sectors and cycles, individual professionals must be able to adapt and quickly market themselves in new dynamics with different employers or customer segments. A picture tells a thousands words and having a blank LinkedIn profile picture speaks volumes. You know how talented you are – show everyone else in an instant with a digital headshot image how prepared you are to take on any business challenge.
To make an appointment for your business headshot session, contact the Kat Mack Photography studio at 832-692-2707.
In addition, we are hosting a Professional Headshot Day at the studio on October 12, 2016, with a special $99 digital image offer. Sign up here!
0 Comments