An Epidemic.
After I was hacked almost a year ago now, I logged into LinkedIn for the first time about two months ago. I took my time getting reacquainted with the site which I only briefly used prior to my hack. Something struck me immediately however no matter how many profiles I scrolled by. Why do so many ‘professionals’ lack a professionally photographed headshot?
The Embarrassing Reality of the Headshot in 2017
It really struck me that maybe 1/2 the professionals I saw had an actual professionally captured headshot (and some of those were questionable) but the other 1/2 had poorly taken, unprofessional and in some cases extremely inappropriate images. Take a few seconds and head over to LinkedIn (or Facebook or Twitter…Instagram) and scroll through a few minutes of profiles. I have seen professionals with headshots of the following nature:
- Blurry
- Terribly overblown camera shot (the flash was on and that is basically all you can see)
- The person eating – usually noodles or pizza
- A professional family picture with just the person’s head showing
- Nightclub picture
- Intoxicated picture
- Pictures with their kids
- Wedding pictures
- Do I need to keep going on???
Do you look successful?
It took me a long time to figure out how to run a business. I am not a business minded person – that I leave up to my husband. What I have always been good at though is marketing and the art around display. Please don’t confuse that with the ability to interior design…lol. I am terrible at that. What I know though is that in order to be successful one must project an image of success. Yes – that line came from a movie, but that is the truth for sure. If you are looking to hire a professional for a job and you look online and have to choose between the person who looks like a professional or the person shovelling a pizza into their mouth while someone took a ‘selfie’ with them. Granted there is some humor in the latter, but if I need someone to trust it will likely be the person with a professional headshot leading the way.
Here is a real life example…are you more likely to hire this person as a photographer?
Or this person?
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Both images are the same person (OK – its me) but as a photographer are you more inclined to hire the top person or the bottom person? The top image actually displays my skill, vision and ability as a photographer. The second image is a great picture of me…at a concert I attended a few weekends ago with my husband at a nightclub. Sure you can kind of make out the fact that I am dressed…sober and alive? Is that a reason to hire someone?
No Excuses.
There is no excuse why someone – especially in the field of photography can’t have a professional image taken of them. Headshots are affordable and the calling card in the digital age we are currently in. If you as my customer are going to judge me immediately based on an image, I want it to be the best image I currently have of myself. I want my headshot to tell you that I am eager, competent and excited to work with you to make your photographic desires a reality. It should be welcoming, warm and friendly – as well as direct, confident and professional.
If you need a new headshot, please give me a call at 403-550-9965 if you are in the Red Deer, Calgary, Edmonton or Alberta area. Just because so many people have poor representations of themselves online does not mean that you also should. Set yourself apart and look like a professional online. That small investment will pay for itself in no time.
Warmly,
Suzie
XO
suzannetaylorphotography.com
hello@suzannetaylorphotography.com
Professional Headshots in Red Deer | Suzanne Taylor Photography - […] Did you enjoy this blog post? Why not check this post out about the Importance of a Professional Headshot. […]