Professional Corporate Headshots – Are They Worthwhile?
How Important Are Professional Corporate Headshots?
That may seem like a silly question, but getting a professional corporate headshot done is one that many business owners, professionals, executives, graduating cohorts, human resources, and marketing professionals are asking themselves to do everyday.
The truth is, professional corporate headshots are more important than ever in this day and age. The first touchpoint with clients, bosses, prospects, recruiters are online these days.
People are naturally curious human beings. Being able to put a face to a name generally leads to having more relatable and personable conversations. It’s the first touchpoint, the first impression that your clients see well before you meet face to face.
As the saying goes, first impression during these connections matters!
Let’s discuss the importance of professional corporate headshots as well as offering some tips on how to choose the right photographer to get the appropriate style/look to fit your usage purpose.
How important Is It?
A professional headshot is an essential part of your professional brand. It’s the first thing people see when they land on your LinkedIn profile, or any other professional online profiles.
It is important because it is the first impression someone has of you. It’s not just about looking good in a photo, but portraying the right image for your professional brand, your business, your personality.
The professional corporate headshot that is chosen for your professional profile, company website, or marketing collateral helps to set the bar on how they see you and what they think of you before having even spoken with them. A good professional headshot will also help bring you more business or get you hired/shortlisted for a job interview.
LinkedIn Profile Photo
Your LinkedIn profile photo, for example, is one of the most important elements on your entire profile. According to studies, people are able to form their first impression of you within the first 50 milliseconds.
Your professional image should reflect who you are now and where you are going in your professional career. Headhunters and prospective employers uses LinkedIn Profiles as one of the ways to check out, search and select potential candidates. Its the perfect platform to create opportunities to further your career.
Whilst white, grey and black are most commonly used as background for your portraits. We are seeing more and more loud solid colours such as yellow, red that helps make your headshot be distinctive and stand out against the rest on LinkedIn.
It is important to have a professional headshot taken by a photographer who understands the importance of capturing the right look and feel for you for who you are at the particular time of your career. Read about a fellow photographer’s guide to getting the right LinkedIn profile photo.
Websites & Marketing Collaterals
A professional headshot is also an important part of your website and marketing collateral. It helps to humanize your business, making it more relatable to clients. It also helps to build trust and create brand awareness.
Mind you, corporate headshots are not just for the business owners and professionals. Having a consistent look and feel of your staff’s headshots on your website is just as important too. They are also the face of the company where clients, suppliers, vendors who build professional relationships with your team can put a face to a name. White, grey and black are most commonly used as background for your portraits.
White background being the most versatile, allows graphic designers to work their magic to easily place them in collaterals, posters etc.
A good professional photographer knows how to capture the essence of who you are and can translate it into a great photograph. They would be able to guide you on the right pose, attire, and expression that would be appropriate for your professional headshot so that it allows you to stand out from the crowd.
Resumes/CV
Though it is not compulsory to include a photo in your resume, if you choose to include one, make sure it is a professionally taken photo that makes you look professional, clean and approachable. Using a headshot that is done professionally ensure that your photos give off just the right impression to recruiters or potential employers. In fact, professional headshots may be an essential tool for getting your foot in the door.
If you want to get a job in today’s competitive market, you can’t afford to ignore the value of headshots. Even if you’re not actively looking for work, keeping up to date with professional headshots is a good idea since they help you stay current and can come in handy when networking or applying for internal positions.
Tips To Choosing The Style Of Your Corporate Headshot Photo
A professional headshot is an essential part of your professional brand. It’s the first thing people see when they land on your LinkedIn profile, or any other professional online profiles as well as offline collaterals. Choosing the right professional photographer can be a challenge, especially if you have not had an opportunity to meet and work with one before.
Here are some tips on what you should consider when selecting the right professional corporate headshot photographer for you:
– Do your research and ask for referrals from friends or colleagues
– View the photographer’s portfolio and make sure that their style matches with what you are looking for.
– Meet with the photographer in person to get a feel of their personality and whether you would be comfortable working with them.
-Are the photos mechanical or they do rrrreally bring out the expressions and personality of the subject.
Your professional corporate headshot should look like you and professional. It is essential to have a professional photographer who knows how to set up the right lighting, angles, background colour so that it looks professional yet natural.
Professional corporate headshots are an important investment for your professional career. If you think this is what you need to give yourself a push in your career and personal brand, just drop us an email for more information at info@tomato.sg or WhatsApp us at +65 88580088 and we’ll get back to you the soonest.
We’ve been using Hart’s services for close to a decade now. Every major occasion in the family has been covered by Hart over the years. His smiling demeanor means he connects very well with kids, making the photos that much more endearing. And his editing work is fantastic as well. Thank you Hart!!
