Professional Headshots: Need of the Hour

“How you choose to present yourself matters equally as how you choose to behave.”

During my conversation with a potential client, I was talking about the importance of a professional-looking headshot and how they add to a person’s credibility and personal branding. I explained how, in today’s hyper-digital world, even before someone gets to meet them in person, a photograph on any social media platform or company website is what they get to see first, and that is all they need to form an opinion, a first impression of a person. And if that photo happens to be a beach selfie, it can sometimes rob an otherwise skilled individual of a great opportunity. Seems unfair, he said. I agreed, but also told him that that’s how the uber-competitive professional world works now!

As a Commercial & Business Portrait photographer doing this for over two decades now, I can say with certainty that online appearances are important. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and that can greatly impact your career in the years to come. Professional Executive Headshots are often the first impression potential recruiters, colleagues, and clients / customers have of you, so you need to be very mindful and intentional of how you’re presenting yourself.

If you’re like me, you probably do a lot of research before spending money on ANYTHING, and making the decision to spend money on hiring a Commercial Headshot Photographer is no different. So, I figured I would help you, by outlining a few reasons as to why it might be a good idea to invest in getting professional headshots for yourself.

1. First Impressions Matter

A few days ago, I came across an article that said it takes as little as a tenth of a second or up to 30 seconds to make a first impression¹. In summary, a person can form an initial impression or judgment of you in less than 30 seconds, oftentimes just by looking at your photograph. Behavioral scientists call it the “first impression bias”, and honestly, it can be a bit hard to shake off an initial impression! Oftentimes, an initial perception of a person determines whether or not they’re even considered for an opportunity. 77% of potential recruiters/employers are likely to Google you online first², and the first thing that pops up will be your photograph on either your social media accounts (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) or your current company’s website. And if a potential employer isn’t impressed with what they see, you might lose out on a great opportunity!

This is where a professional-looking headshot of you will be worth its weight in gold. If you’re looking for a change in 2024, getting a professional headshot is your best bet to level up your career game. A polished headshot not only conveys your seriousness towards a role, but also makes you look more professional, confident, and approachable, setting the tone for a successful interview meeting.

2. Enhanced Professional Opportunities

Like I mentioned in the first point, a good headshot is the difference between you landing that coveted interview meeting, or missing the chance to even be considered for the role. A polished headshot, especially in areas where personal branding matters, indicates that you’re a professional who is invested in their presentation, and will give the same attention to your work.

A large majority of recruiters and hiring managers are looking up prospective candidates online, specially on LinkedIn, and a good headshot is a surefire way to get noticed and stand out from among the crowd. We often judge a book by its cover, and hiring managers are no different. I’ve had many clients who were able to be noticed and landed their dream interview, just because they cared enough to invest in a professional-looking headshot for their online presence.

3. Building Your Brand

Have you ever recognized a brand just by looking at their logo? If the answer is yes, then that company or business has done a great job at making their brand memorable, whenever or wherever they see that logo.

“Branding is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”

Why do I mention this? Well, according to a LinkedIn article³, a good headshot is just like a good logo for your personal brand. Top executives (in any company or industry) take a lot of pride of their image. To them, it’s something that needs to be in complete sync with their personal branding message—including their professional picture.

They’re not wrong—a good headshot makes you stand out from the rest, building you as a better, trustworthy, and credible professional. It shows that you care enough about your work and are willing to be more accountable towards it. A well-done corporate headshot establishes you as a reputable brand, both before someone meets you in person, and long after you’ve left the room.

4. Online Presence & Networking

In this day and age when more than half of the planet is connected online, it makes complete sense to have a polished and on-brand online presence. LinkedIn alone has 930 million people as of 2023, with nearly 31% or 202 million+ of its users coming from the US⁴. Safe to say that at some point, as a professional, you will either be noticed by a potential client or a recruiter, and they like to connect with people who look like they are serious about their work. Your online presence is like an extension of your personal brand, and it requires professional representation. Whether your company wants your photo for their website, or you want to update it on your social media, you’re always representing a business. And LinkedIn, in this instance, is the perfect place to connect with like-minded people and potential employers, and create more networking opportunities. All of this can be achieved with a business headshot and a relevant, updated profile. Not just this, but if you’re a business owner or a freelance contractor, having an on-brand headshot helps you look more approachable, confident, and recognizable as a face of the brand, which in turn attracts more clients or customers.

5. Personal Confidence & Self-Image

In my 20+ years as a photographer, I’ve come across many clients who have told me that they don’t “look good”, or don’t like how they are photographed by others. I assure them that it’s my job as a professional to make them look top-notch before I start taking their pictures. When I’m done, they love the results!

Part of this is because I like to provide my clients with a luxury photoshoot experience. As their shoot day approaches, I coach and guide them on self care, personal branding, and their overall appearance in preparation for the shoot day. On D-Day, with the help of my team of professional stylists, and hair & makeup, I make sure my clients look and feel their best.

Once they see their photos, they love how they look in them, and that acts as a major confidence boost! This confidence then multiplies in their personal and professional life. And when you feel your best, you give your best in everything—and it shows!

So, I’ve learnt not to underestimate the impact a good headshot can have on a person’s professional life. It’s no longer exclusive to high-profile entrepreneurs or executives, but is a NEED for any professional in any industry looking to take their career game to the next level. With the help of a Commercial Headshot Photographer such as myself, you can take control of the first impression that you want to give out to potential recruiters, clients, or customers, with a polished headshot.

When you choose to work with me, you get a high-quality, luxurious, and professional-looking headshot that you can use almost anywhere. Every headshot session I do is unique to each client, and I love that I am able to contribute towards their success. Going for a professional photographer for your headshot is an investment in yourself and your career that your future self will definitely be thankful for.

Ready to elevate your career in the upcoming year? Book your headshot session with Vikrant Photography today. My studio is located in Philadelphia, and my team and I are experts in doing corporate headshots, personal branding shoots, and editorial photography (check out our Google ratings—we’re at 5 stars!). Experience the “Vikrant” difference for yourself!

Still have queries? Here’s some frequently asked questions about professional headshots:

1. How much should I pay for professional headshots?

Opting to spend money on a professional headshot is a major decision, but one I can assure is a worthy investment for your future self. Generally, my sessions start at $350, however I also offer headshot packages that are tailored to your unique needs.

2. Where can I use a professional headshot?

Headshots are perfect to represent your personal brand, and as such, here are a few examples on where you can use them:

Your own or company’s website
Professional social media profiles, including job networking sites
Business cards
Email accounts and signatures
Résumés

3. Is a professional headshot worth it?

Unless you’re someone who’s a professional photographer yourself, I’d suggest investing in getting your professional headshots taken. They come fully edited and professionally retouched, and in multiple formats and sizes so you simply have to forward or upload it directly, wherever needed.

4. How often should I update my headshot?

I’d recommend updating your headshot at least once a year. This is because as time goes by, situations change and how we look tends to change. Since your headshot is the first impression of you to a potential recruiter or hiring manager, the worst you can do is to send them an older photo of you, where you look different than you do today. When they meet you, they’re going to be put off, and you might have just sabotaged your dream opportunity.

5. What if I’m not photogenic / I want to wait till I shed a few pounds?

We all get nervous about our appearance—it’s completely fine! I have been in your shoes, so I know how it feels. However, I assure all my clients that they have nothing to worry about—my headshot sessions are fully guided—which means that I will personally coach you about the poses that will create an awesome photo that you will LOVE. Besides the poses, I am an expert with modern lighting techniques, camera angles, and employ the best hair, makeup, and wardrobe team to make sure you look fab on shoot day. And when you look fab, you feel fab, and you get fab photos!