Whether you like it or not, we are all judged by the way we look. Your picture is the first thing that other people will notice and consider before even reading your bio or resume, they will already have preconceptions about you based purely off of your looks. Having a professional headshot is vital in ensuring that their perception of you is a positive one, particularly in professional situations, such as in job interviews and networking events where you only have a short amount of time to make a good first impression. In the online environment of 2020, having a professional headshot is even more critical, since your online profiles are where most of your professional contacts will first see you.
Here are 5 reasons detailing the importance of having a professional headshot in 2020.
- It makes a good first impression.
As said above, the first thing people will see is your picture. You want that picture to give the right impression of who you are, and to do that you need a headshot to project the best parts of yourself. Irrelevant candids and low-quality selfies are not the right choices for this purpose. The right photo has the power to connect you to the people who matter most in your industry and ensures that they take you seriously. Headshots can also be used to market your company during business proposals or other major corporate events – you can increase trust by displaying all the people in your team to showcase your cohesiveness and professionalism.
2. You stand out from the crowd.
Using a professional headshot across all your social media accounts, LinkedIn, and other important networking platforms such as your email, Skype, and even Zoom, will allow you to be easily recognizable. Potential contacts and industry connections will already be familiar with your face and will be assured that they are speaking to the right person. Additionally, the quality of a professional headshot will set you apart from your competition and allow you to stand out from the crowd, especially since other people may be using casual photos from personal events.
3. It is essential for your branding.
In the online world, people want to have an idea of who you are before they meet you. Sometimes you may not even meet in person or over video calls at all and only communicate through email or other messaging platforms. A professional headshot is a key element of your personal branding as professional images show that you care about your image an how you want to be perceived. If your branding online is authentic, then the people you connect with virtually will have the same impression of you as if they had met you in person. It showcases your personality. For companies, having a cohesive set of company photos and employee headshots will show consistency and help give clients an idea of your company’s brand.
4. It showcases your personality
This is similar to branding but not quite. Branding is how you want people to perceive you and how you add value to the industry, while personality is more of showcasing who you are as a person. An about-me section can only say so much, which is why it’s also important to have a good headshot to give other people an even clearer idea of who you are. You want a headshot that shows you as a confident, approachable individual. A professional headshot photographer can help with that.
5. It’s an investment towards your future.
Think about it – why would anyone speak to you if they even know who you are? The cost of having a headshot photography session is most definitely an investment towards your future. It has the ability to bring you more business by giving potential contacts something they can connect to. In today’s world where a profile picture is a must, taking the time to have a headshot taken shows that you are a professional who is serious about their job and can be taken seriously. Your skills and capabilities won’t be dismissed just because you failed to look the part. If you want to succeed in your industry, you need to be seen and be connected with the right people, and a headshot lets you do that.
If there’s anything that 2020 has taught us, it’s that the online world is simply an extension of the real world. A professional in the real world should still present as a professional in online spaces. If you are looking to boost your professionalism and credibility with a professional headshot, The Crop offers headshot services for individuals and companies.