You may think your profile photo isn’t high up on your priority list when it comes to new business generation but I would say it’s one of the most crucial aspects of your marketing strategy.
First impressions count and as more of us use social media and technology to form business relationships and build a wider sphere of influence than ever before, many people you don’t even know will be meeting and connecting with you through your online profiles. And, like it or not, one of the first things that will influence their decision to connect is whether they like the look of you from your headshot or profile photo.
So it should make sense therefore that you do everything in your power to give potential clients no excuses for not stopping and taking a longer look at your profile to find out more about you and your area of expertise.
So how do so many people get it wrong when it comes to their profile photo?
One of the problems is that a lot of people hate having their photo taken because they think they’re not photogenic so they end up using an old snapshot of themselves which makes them look unprofessional.
One of the biggest barriers people have about getting their photo taken is that they don’t think they photogenic, probably because they have never had a good photo taken of them that they really like
Having no photo at all also brings its own problems. It has been proved that people who use the anonymous grey silhouette are less likely to get connection requests and are perceived as untrustworthy, not credible or have something to hide. Theres no excuse, none of us go out with a paper bag over our heads so why should we be hiding our faces online...
Using an old photo doesn’t help recognition either - how many time have you met someone in the flesh and thought you look nothing like your photo. Again this does our reputation and brand no favours.
It’s also no good if on one hand your saying that you bill yourself out thousands a day when your profile photo is just a poor snapshot showing you propped up against the bar at a party. This will just trigger a huge disconnect in your clients mind and cause doubt and suspicion which could end a potentially highly profitable relationship before it’s even began.
What's holding people back from getting a professional photo?
I find that one of the biggest barriers people have about getting their photo taken is that they don’t think they photogenic, probably because they have never had a good photo taken of them that they really like.
Also when they look at their reflection in the mirror they often only look at their so-called faults such as crooked teeth, double chin or big nose. People looking at the photo on the other hand don’t see that.
They see great features such as a nice smile, the sparkle in their eyes and their warm engaging expression. Also people forget that they are seeing a mirror image of themselves which not the same as when you or I see them and as totally symmetrical faces are rare they will never look the same as their reflection.
Whats the solution?
There’s a lot more to having your professional headshot taken than just sitting down in front of the camera and smiling. A specialist headshot photographer will spend time with you finding out why you need a photo in the first place.
And I don’t just mean “I need a photo for my LinkedIn profile” I mean finding out why do you need one for your LinkedIn profile? What do you hope to achieve by having a professional photo on your LinkedIn profile?
What brand messages you want your headshot to convey - trust, confidence, professional, credible, approachable, success, caring... Your headshot also need to look authentic and capture something of your true essence. They will also consult with you about the best colours and styles you should be wearing to bring out your best features.
To me people photography is more about psychology. A lot of my clients come into the studio feeling a bit anxious and nervous about having their photos but I have developed a proven process which quickly gets them into what I call “the zone” where they are so comfortable and relaxed they forget the camera is even there and this is where I am able to capture their true essence.
Getting a variety of images to suit an increasingly variable number of requirements is vital. You want to have a selection which can be used in different circumstances, some perhaps more formally dressed such as a jacket and tie but also a selection of business casual and relaxed.
Having a selection of shots, which can be used at different times is important; as it’s unlikely one shot will be suitable for everything.
Keeping your photograph up to date is also very important as your style and looks will change over time. Changing your photo also often generates a conversation in itself from dormant clients and contacts and we all know conversations create transactions
What makes a really great headshot
I say your photo has to be professional, personable and engaging. It has to show you as the professional in your industry, it has to capture something of your personality, and it has to be engaging so it draws people in when they look at it.
It also has to be authentic and represent both you as an individual and the core brand messages you want to your clients to see when they look at your photo so it puts a tick in the right box.
Your photograph needs to look authentic and real. Not only will it capture your true essence and personality but show your core brand messages such as trust, confidence, professional, credible, successful.
And why is a smile so important?
Smiles are infectious, you only have to walk down the street and smile at someone and they will smile back at you. A smile really “lights people up”.
Theres also research from Reading University which proves that people look longer at a photo of a smiling face than one that isn’t. This can give you a huge advantage by having your image imprinted in mind for a longer period which will make you more easily recognised and remembered.
Where’s the value in a great headshot...
Having a great photo you are proud to show off to the world gives your confidence a huge boost. I have my photo on my business card and get so many great comments when I hand it over to a new prospect that it puts you on a completely different level. Oh and by the way my photo was taken by my five-year-old daughter Ruby who lights me up every single day.
You may never know the true value of having a professional headshot. No it won’t win you business on its own, but it does help you to get the ticks in all the right boxes and that could be absolutely priceless.
