5 Business Headshot Mistakes to Avoid Today
Becky promotes clean beauty products. She wanted a more casual and engaging headshot.
Visuals are an integral part of making a lasting first impression online. When potential clients, business partners, or employers want to put a face to your resume, what would they see?
A professional headshot session is a sound business investment for a number of reasons, but only if you use it to your advantage.
Here are the mistakes you should avoid.
#1 - Taking the Photo Yourself
You could try and place your phone on a stand and take a few headshots yourself, but chances are, they won’t look as professional as you’re hoping. Investing in a professional headshot session is convenient and well worth the cost if you’re serious about building your brand.
#2 - Selecting the Wrong Outfit
What you wear to your session can have an impact on the end result. It’s important to choose an outfit that matches your personality and that you would wear on a day-to-day basis. This is not the time to try a completely new look unless you’re rebranding. It’s also better to choose more than one outfit just in case.
This is why I have a wardrobe stylist on the set to make sure your outfit compliments and photographs well. I encourage my clients to bring at least 3 outfits that they feel confident in.
Shannon is a lawyer and she dressed powerfully and conservatively.
#3 - Not Practicing Your Facial Expressions
The last thing you want is to receive your headshot photos only to realize you have a forced smile that makes you look fake. It helps to practice your smile and facial expressions prior to your session to ensure the best results.
Don’t worry, I have your back. I make sure I keep working with you until I receive a natural smile.
#4 - Using the Wrong Background
The background of your headshots can be anything you want, but it’s better to not choose something outdated or distracting – all the focus should be on you. The background can be interesting and help tell your story but should never detract from the main subject of the photo.
Anne Simmons is a resume writer. Showing her in an environmental space was appropriate as she meets clients in spaces like this. She also uses her typewriter as part of her brand. ResumesbyAnne
#5 - Following Trends
Ideally, your headshots should last at least 2 years, meaning, they will be relevant for at least 2 years. This won’t be the case if you jump on board with a trend that will be irrelevant and unrelatable in 6 months.
Now that you know what to avoid, you can start your search for a headshot photographer who knows how to showcase you professionally online.
Cherie Blazer is the CEO at Boomer Connections. She is an important community leader. I set her up in a pose that was very conversational and engaging. Here again, the environment supports the headshot.
All of these headshots were captured in Richmond, VA at Gather.