As a professional business headshot photographer as you may imagine, I get some interesting looks after I explain what I do for a living. At networking events, friend’s weddings or just about any other social gathering where I meet someone new I get the typical reaction of bewilderment along with the often-repeated questions of “that’s your whole job? You don’t do weddings or family photos?!”. This is usually followed by a lot of questions related to how I can have an entire photography studio dedicated to corporate portraits and why it’s so important to so many people.
Digital Era
We have now entered a time where you are most likely going to meet someone online before ever seeing them in person, if you meet them in person at all. You want their impression to reflect on you positively rather than neutral or negatively. Putting a face to a name also gives a more human connection between yourself and others alleviating some of the cold impersonality digital interactions lend themselves to. If your photo is going to play this role, you need it to be high quality and reflect on you positively.
Vanity
As much as we want to believe that people look for the good in others and what is on the inside counts most, we must be realistic. Those who look the most put together and attractive get the most attention. It is a sad reality but it’s been shown through scientific studies. A professional portrait will help you because a highly skilled photographer will work with you to get your best angles and poses so you can put your best face forward.
Stand Out in a Crowd
In a crowded market, you want to stand out. Where ever your photo is displayed, you will want to show a high-quality portrait; it will instantly put you at an advantage over those who used a cellphone snap or an outdated cheesy portrait.
You want to Look Professional
Your portrait should reflect your industry standard. If you are a lawyer in Toronto, a cellphone portrait certainly won’t cut it. Same goes with Professors, Realtors, Accountants, Executives, and Medical Professionals. Looking professional means hiring professionals. If you want to give others confidence in your business, it means showing you are professional in all aspects.
Customers and Employers Care About your Profile Photo.
When both job hunting and trying to close the deal with new clients, how well you present yourself matters, you want to give the impression that you take pride in yourself and that you know what quality means and that going the extra mile makes a difference. Presenting yourself half-heartedly or semi-professionally can impact how much trust a potential employer or a client has for you.
