ohhhhh the headshot....
Can I even try to begin to tell you the opinions I get about these? I've heard "I can just get AI to do one..." and I've heard "Meh, this amazing selfie from 1963 does the trick!" and I've heard "but my brother's nephew's sister's cousin's ex-boyfriend's mother took this one in the back yard and nobody has said anything about it so it's good!"
and on. and on. and on. You get the gist.
So here's the thing. I'm going to point out some INCREDIBLY valid reasons that you need to get the real headshot. The professional one. From a professional photographer.
Because I've also had people come into the studio to get an updated headshot because they were asked if their profile picture was their son. (nope. the photo was just that old) but until it was said to them in all innocence, they thought their headshot was the perfect representation of them. It wasn't.
BUT.... in the world of personal branding and headshots....and that's the world we live in now, as you know...Because if you're reading a blog but haven't clued on the world of online, well...let me tell you...we're HERE! (said in my best poltergeist voice). And if you are looking for a job, a career, have a job or career, or own something where you have so many people who's jobs and careers point to you....you need the professional headshot. Not the one from the first paragraph of this blog.
What? You said that nobody has said anything about your less than stellar one? Well, in the world of headshots and personal branding, no news is bad news. Truly.
Because who amongst us will say "oh....I didn't recognize you from your photo! I thought you were younger, prettier, thinner, fitter, blonder, brunetter, less bald, less wrinkly, etc....."
NONE OF US. Not on purpose at least. No way. it's the cousin to "are you pregnant" to a person who isn't... because potentially, you're just stuck looking rude.
The other thing is, in a career, it's quite like a dating photo. Your headshot is your first representation of you. It keeps you in front of people, it's what they're going to see first probably and if a client meets you and you are vastly different from your photo? Well, now you look misleading. Untrustworthy. Never the look you want as a professional. Honesty is KEY and you want people to feel that IMMEDIATELY!
A professional headshot shows you HONESTLY care, you have a portrait that shows the best version of you. The lighting and posing are just everything on this, not the filters and weirdness that make you look like a plastic 15 year old....no offense to all the plastic fifteen year olds out there... but this is why you go to a pro.
So right there, you don't want to think your photo is super spiffy because nobody said anything, because we have ALL seen the photos where we didn't say anything but we thought "hmmm...that doesn't look like them..."
Don't be talked about behind your back.
Look Trustworthy.
NOW. The third one is just the coolest reason ever. (Yes, I'm hitting the weird points of headshots because the "look professional" ones have already been written about.)
THE THIRD ONE.
Who out here has done networking? Exactly. The first rule of networking is to just get out there and meet people, right? Connect. Every person you meet is a connection that could launch you to your next level, right? Connect, do those face to face, one to one meetings....
SO WHY IN THE NAME OF KODAK FILM would you use a selfie or a school photo from when you were in kindergarten?
GO MEET A PHOTOGRAPHER! you know why? Coz if I'm doing your headshots and you are there because you're looking for a job doing XYZ.... but just the day before I did a headshot session or a family session for a bigwig who told me he was looking to hire a person for XYZ and...... well..... friend, I might be able to point you to your next job. But if you don't connect? I can't connect back with you!
Also for the record, unlike AI, I won't give you 13 fingers.
So see? Trustworthy, honest, and connected. BOOM!
OH YEAH!!!!!!! ALSO...
Did I mention that I have two headshot events coming up?
Wednesday May 8 in Plano and
Thursday May 9 in Celina!
YES THERE ARE TWO!!!! WHAAAAAT!?!?!?!?
YESSSSSS!!!! And it's not expensive. and it's fast and easy....see? I got you. We're connecting already.
So register. Either one. Hump-day headshots are in Plano and Hometown Headshots are in Celina. And I'd really really love to see you at one of them!
And bring a friend who needs a new headshot, too. Because...connection. And friends. And it's what good friends do. Plus,
Right, friends? Click on the link below to learn more about our headshot events coming up!
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