If you're a part of an organization, a corporation or a smaller business, a headshot is the representation of a first meeting with colleagues, business partners, patients, collaborators, investors or customers.
In majority, people are visual creatures and a visual presentation is worth a thousand words. That's why it is important to create a favorable first impression by showing a nice portrait of you as a professional to build a good rapport, trust, and confidence.
If you or your business is online, the professional headshots are essential to your reputation. People want to know who they are dealing with and judge about you and your business by the quality and professional look of your photographs.
The Professionally taken headshots look Professional! That's exactly what you and your company want.
Make sure when someone looks for you and your company on the internet, they find a professional image. You want to have an image that makes people, new customers or employers willing to engage with you.
Either you're looking for a job or are in the workforce, the presence on the online professional network, like LinkedIn or similar apps is important. Such applications are good for connecting with other businesses and professionals. The statatistics says that the profiles with the headshots get 28 times more views than the profiles without a photo. The professionally taken headshot doubles the possibilities of the account visits by hiring companies and business partners, because such accounts looks professional and serious, so mainly - all shows that you care!
Not only high executives use headshots. Professional web sites, business accounts on social media, email marketing campaigns - all look more profound and significant with a right kind of a headshot photo, aiming at making a bigger impact on a potential audience.
It's a matter of a common courtesy to display a current headshot, that gives people an idea of what you look like now, not years ago. The updated headshots show your confidence and authenticity. Make sure you update your headshots regularly.
The Headshots are Portraits!
The headshots do not have to be dull or boring. Headshots are the portrait photographs, just made to represent you as a business professional. They are also intended to show your personality. So your expression and posing should convey your insider story. A good headshot makes you stand out of the crowd. For that reason too, don't expect to spend just 5 minutes at the photographer studio, thinking you'd come in, stand in a "common" pose and be done. A photographer still wants to show your best qualities, choose the appropriate lighting, backgrounds, and posing. That takes an individual approach and a good chunk of time and efforts from the both sides.
Now, when a lot of businesses switched to a distant nature of every day operations, headshots are often used as first introduction and greetings amongst a company staff. Give a chance to others to see you as a both friendly and professional person, by getting your headshot taken by a photographer rather than sending a selfie. A professional photographer knows how to achieve the best results by positioning, guiding you, and shooting from the best angle.
Especially you want a very professional headshot when it's used in the magazine articles, ads, press releases, and any other promotional materials that represent the whole company.
Your personal headshot also gives a good amount of information about the company you're working for. Your posing, face expression and wardrobe pretty much will show how conservative the company is, what industry it belongs to, what dress code it implements.
A bit about the standards.
A headshot in its usual meaning is a portrait shot, on which a head and shoulders of a subject are visible. So usually, a headshot is closeup shot, that's where the name is coming from. With time, new frames got acceptable and often the photos are cut by the breast or the waist. Now, even the full body photographs are acceptable, they do look more casual but still very professional, if taken in a right pose and attire. A person can stand, sit, or stand. Usually, no props are used, but sometimes can be rather appropriate. A subject can hold for example a pen, stethoscope, a company attribute, etc.
The type of a headshot will depend on your company standards and your personality and wishes. I will offer a number of different poses, styles, and frames.
Creatives, such as artists, dancers, models, designers, actors, craftsmen, and such can order a bit more casual, not standard headshots and portraits where they'd show more emotions, demonstrate more vibrant poses and original attire. Models/Actors have their own industry standards. Read up on that in my next blog posts.
Questions I usually ask before taking headshots.
How formal is your organization? Are there any existing requirements or common standards for the headshots in your company?
What industry are you working in? What is your position?
How do you plan to use your photo?
What are you going to wear for the photo session?
Do you need any help or assistance with a makeup, hair or wardrobe.
How does it work?
- We have a short meeting where I get to know you and your goals.
- You come to the studio or to the place of the shoot (can be outside or your company).
- You make last preparations before the shoot.
- We are having a photography session.
- I show you all successful images right after the session (if time allows).
- You select a number of images for the final retouch.
- I lightly retouch and edit the pictures and send you within 1-5 days (depending on a number of selected images).
How much does it cost?
- 1 image/headshot - $160
- 3 images/headshots - $250
- 5 images/headshots - $340
You have an option to order additional digital images ($50 for 1 additional photo)
2 Comments
Feb 21, 2023, 10:55:40 PM
Kate Kohut - Hi Paula,
Yes, absolutely. I love working with aspiring and professional actors. I also know the industry's standards and requirements for the acting headshots.
Let me know how many headshots you need and your timeframe. Looking forward to hearing from you and working with you. - Kate.
Feb 21, 2023, 9:33:34 PM
Paula Aspesi - Hi do you do headshots for an acting resume? Thanks Paula