How To Know When To Update Your Business Head Shot
We talk a lot about business head shots here. That’s partially just because we do a lot of them, but mostly it’s because we see so many bad head shots out there and really want to help! 90% of our head shot clients start their sessions by telling us that they hate having their photo taken, but by the end of the session they let us know how much fun they had! And having shot hundreds of professional head shots over the years, we’re kind of experts on what does and does not work. So, how do you know if it’s time to update your business head shot? There are a lot of ways to tell, but today we’re sharing the top three that we see all the time.
1) If your shot looks like it could be from a different decade, it’s time for an update! We get that almost nobody is truly excited to have their professional head shot done, but if your photo is still showing off your hairstyle from the 90’s it’s probably a good idea to have a new photo done. A great business head shot showcases your professional persona and should be current to the fabulous person you are today. Sure, 2002 you was awesome, but don’t you think 2013 you is way better? Let everyone else see that too!
2) The expression in your current shot is forced and makes you look fake. You know who you are!! Yes, a lot of people find sitting in front of the camera to be incredibly awkward, so it’s easy to end up with a forced smile that makes you look fake – or worse yet, wearing that deer caught in the headlights look! The solution to this is using a photographer who understands that not everyone is supermodel comfortable in front of the camera, and will guide you step by step for a natural looking result. Let us know a little about you and the professional image you are trying to convey so we can guide you through a range of poses designed to loosen you up, find your best angles, and show off the real you!
3) You’re professionally active on social media and you’re worried your profile pics are getting stale. If you’re all over LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, but have been using the same profile pic forever it’s time for an update! If you’re bored of your current photo, chances are everyone else is too! But when you’re using social media for professional purposes the photos from parties or family portraits that many people put up just aren’t appropriate. A good solution for you is to develop a library of professional images that you can draw upon to swap out your profile pics with something new every so often. Work with your photographer on a longer session that would show off a wide range of outfits and locations so you have a lot to choose from, and can always keep it fresh. Or, make a commitment to yourself to go in for shorter sessions more frequently, and try something different at each session! Regardless of which option you prefer, the key is to get a bunch of great shots that show off the friendly, approachable and professional you!
We’ve posted some of our favorite business head shots below. As you can see, we’ve achieved natural smiles and expressions and are really showing off the unique personality of each individual.
