Benefits of professional headshots
Why get professional photos - Do I need a Professional Headshot?
So you’re in two minds about getting a professional headshot. You’re probably thinking:
- Are professional headshots worth the cost?
- How will they help my business?
- Why are pro headshots better than a selfie?
- Will headshots truly reflect my brand?
And it’s good to ask questions. Professional Headshots are an investment in your business, and all business ventures need a great strategy.
I believe in the power of an excellent professional headshot. True, I may be slightly biased, but there’s a reason why I love photographing business owners. Your headshot becomes a strong, reliable business tool.
Ultimately, people choose your business over others because of YOU.
Here’s a little test
Google your name (we’ve all done it, so there’s no need to get embarrassed now) and view your images that appear in the search.
- Are you 100% happy with what you see?
- Any older photos still lurking?
- Are the images consistent or mismatched?
- How does this make you feel?
If the search results were a surprise – and not a nice one – you’ll be relieved to know that professional headshots can change the narrative.
14 reasons to benefit from Professional Headshots
Here are the top ways headshots improve your business image and help you achieve your goals.
1. Create a glowing first impression
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression!
Whether it’s morally right or not, human beings quickly make assumptions about others. 40 milliseconds1 is all it takes to draw conclusions about a person based on their photo.
It sounds harsh, but that’s not going to change, so the question is – how will you use that to the advantage of your business?
Professional headshots will show your face in the best light to new potential customers.
2. Show you care
You take your business seriously. You’ve put hours into building it, and every part of you is invested in its success. So, show it!
Your ideal clients appreciate the effort that goes into the small details of your business. It really does shine through. Then, you’ll be at the top of their list over others who chucked a cropped photo from their last birthday party onto their profile.
I was at a networking meeting recently with around 40 people present. I reviewed the networking group members’ directory and looked at everyone’s uploaded profile image.
- Less than 25% had professional headshots
- Only 15% had updated their image within the last 18 months.
- Some were not even in focus. 🤷🏽♂️
- One was wearing a football top. (It’s not a problem if you’re a football coach or the manager of a team, I guess 🤷🏽♂️ – Clue – They weren’t!)
- Essentially, 75% of the photos did not represent who I saw in the room.
Does that represent how you want your brand to be identified?
3. Make yourself credible
Or should that say ‘in’credible? Both!
Imagine you own a hair salon and share weekly style ideas with your clients, but your profile photo needs to be more grainy, and your hairstyle details are lost in the pixels.
It doesn’t set you up well as a voice of authority.
Now, instead, picture an artist with a quirky, professional headshot as their profile image. You’ll listen more when they advise you on ideal spaces for specific art pieces because their photograph matches your expectations.
4. Get noticed more
We’re bombarded with images every day. It’s easy to get lost among the before and after Facebook posts and witty anecdotes on LinkedIn.
But business headshots help you stand out. They can separate the established businesses from the side hustles and get you noticed by the right clients.
Did you know that your profile is 7-14 times more likely to be viewed on LinkedIn with a professional profile picture?
5. Keep branding consistent
People trust consistent messaging. You probably use your business colour scheme across different platforms, right? But have you also thought about how your photo speaks for your brand?
Professional headshots are a great way to maintain a consistent brand image across multiple platforms. Whether you choose a colour, pose, or lighting to showcase your unique brand, your headshot will help your dream clients recognise you, making it easier to start those all-important first conversations.
On location Personal Brand Photography headshots in Kent
6. Remind your connections
Conversations are great for business, but 90%2 of the information transmitted to the brain is visual.
Your new connection from a networking event likely remembers an image of your face when they leave. If you give them a business card or leaflet that includes your professional headshot photograph, they’ll remember the value you can offer them in the future.
7. Reinforce your marketing
Content is king!
It can be busy working in the background, boosting your marketing efforts while you run your business.
Professional photographs are an essential part of your content strategy.
A faceless business is easy to ignore and easy to mistrust. Make your business welcoming and open at all times (even when you’re tucked up in bed) by using a professional photograph for your profile picture that will work for you 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
8. Show who you are
The best professional headshots are a form of subtle storytelling. A look, a certain light, a pose, an angle… all variations photographers use to capture your business personality.
Customers are looking for qualities in you (and professional commitment to your brand) that they can connect with, and high-quality photos give you the best possible chance of making those connections.
9. Be authentic
It’s time to confess… are you using a wonderfully young, bright-eyed photo that is now almost totally unrecognisable?
An old photo can put clients off as they experience a sudden disconnect when they see you in real life for the first time.
Using an up-to-date pro headshot shows authenticity. You’ll be much more respected, and the human touch will earn you valuable clients.
10. Boost your confidence
Let’s flip that on its head. What if a professional photograph could give you confidence in yourself?
Having confidence in yourself and your business gives you the fuel to take measured risks, innovate and grow.
Professional business photographers have the expertise to produce headshots you’ll proudly display on your profile. Your professional image and confidence get a massive boost. Cue you walking into interviews, meetings and events with your head held high and a spring in your step.
I’ve written a detailed article about the fear of being photographed.
How I help you feel ready for your Headshot photography session
Why use a professional headshot photographer?
Now, you’ve been nodding your head to the above ten reasons. But, surely you can gain those benefits with your own camera and your own photos… So why use a professional photographer?
11. Photography expertise
Just like you’re an expert in your industry, professional photographers know their stuff. The most experienced photographers have tips and techniques from many years of photography. They know what works and what doesn’t, which saves you time planning, photographing and editing yourself.
Photographers also celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and will naturally tailor approaches to suit you and your business and brand values.
12. High-quality headshots
Poorly lit and grainy selfies, photos from the distant past, cropped images from weddings… the stuff of photographers’ nightmares. 🤦🏽♂️
Is this how you want to represent your brand?
I’m not talking about quick day-to-day social media posts. I encourage a DIY photography approach when it suits the purpose, especially with the fast turnover of social media posts.
I’m talking about an evergreen professional asset representing your values and brand.
Photographers use the best technical equipment, including studio lighting, backdrops, camera lenses, tripods, and reflectors, to create the perfect conditions for your photo, whether in the studio or on location, indoors or outdoors.
Georgia
"I appreciated his attention to detail in making sure I had as much information in advance to ensure I was prepared such as providing a guide on what colours/patterns to avoid for the best shots."
Beth
"He was highly professional, reassuring and knowledgeable from start-to-finish and put me at ease throughout the process."
Steven
"I'm very happy I chose Graham. He provided excellent service at a very competitive price. Would highly recommend him"
Abbie
" I think my profile looks much more professional now. Graham clearly takes great pride in his work and puts in a lot of time and effort to ensure a great result."
13. Long-term investment
If the cost of professional headshots seems steep, consider the long-term benefits to your business growth and the hours you’ll save. Think of it as an evergreen asset for the next 18 months.
Remember, your headshots will be relevant for some time (unless you get a drastic haircut a few months later).
Let’s say your branded headshot session costs £300, and you receive 15 photographs with various poses, styles, and crops to enhance your brand identity. For example:
- Head and shoulder shots
- 3/4 length shots
- Full length
- vertical or square cropped for your profile picture
- Horizontal cropped to fit your social media signature banners
You use those images across your website, business cards, printed pop-up banners and social media profile images for everyone to see for 18 months.
Headshots Vs Coffee!
Not counting the additional use and repurposing them for social media posts. You’re looking at approx 55p a day for consistent visual brand marketing 24 hours a day for a year and a half!
14. Future proofing
Are you fully prepared for where your business success could take you? For example, the local newspaper? You don’t want to scramble through photos when they need your image for an article.
Having professional headshots to hand saves a lot of time when you’re making promotional material or involved in local events. If your image is going out more widely, you want to make sure it showcases your business and your professionalism.
Over to you
From a reliably positive first impression to long-term credibility in your business, you’ve now got a good idea of the importance of professional headshots.
Ready to create the best business headshots your brand deserves?
Click here to book your no-obligation phone consultation with me
Not ready for a call? Have more questions? Click here to get in touch via email
