The Top Ten Ways To Use Your Professional Head Shot
Professional head shots distinguish professionals from amateurs. While that may sound a bit harsh, in Jobvite’s 2016 Recruiter Nation Survey, they report that 87% of recruiters find LinkedIn to be the best resource for vetting prospective candidates for new jobs. So, how does that relate to your headshot? It’s the first thing they see. If your headshot on LinkedIn is a blurry, cropped photo from college or a selfie, you will likely not be taken seriously. LinkedIn isn’t the only place that you need a professional head shot. For those just starting out in the professional world or a new industry, you will be asked for corporate head shots if you write guest blog posts, are speaking at an event, or for your company directory.
For companies, employees reflect your brand in everything they do. If your employees have the aforementioned low-quality business head shots on LinkedIn, your brand is directly next to their photo, connecting the two. With high-quality, professional head shots, you can create a seamless personal brand that is tied to your company, and use your head shots in a number of different places.
1. Company Bio Page: This is where people will go before you first meet with them if you are new at your company. Make sure to wear something simple and not distracting and smile.
2. Desk Tag: A desk tag helps at large companies (and small!) for people to identify where you sit. For this photo, feel free to be fun and show off some personality!
3. Business Card: Have you ever been to a trade show or industry event and distributed or collected business cards? Faces and names tend to blend together. Having your photo on your business card is a great way to remind someone who you are and help trigger the conversation you had.
4. Email Signature: Your email signature is a piece of real estate that is often overlooked. Here, you can include a business head shot, your social media profiles, and contact info. You can use this tool to add your headshot to your email signature.
5. LinkedIn Profile Picture: Your LinkedIn photo is extremely important since it can make or break a job search. Make sure that this photo is high-quality, professional, and up-to-date. Showing an old photo might make a recruiter think that you haven’t been employed in some time or haven’t updated your profile.
6. Guest Blog Post Bio: When asked to write a guest blog post, you will be asked for a photo and a bio. A professional photo will make you stand out and show off your own company on their site.
7. Event Pages/Speaking Opportunities: There is always one business portrait on a lineup of speakers for a panel or event that doesn’t look quite as nice as the others. A great headshot will help to get people excited for your session and show them that you know your stuff.
8. ID Badge: This is a photo that you will see a lot. You can often repeat your company bio photo here if you have options for multiple photos since this should be a professional and more formal shot.
9. Social Media Profiles: If you use social media for business, you need a professional head shot on Twitter, your Facebook page, LinkedIn, and any new networks that crop up (like Mastodon!)
10. Marketing Materials: Head shots can be used in Twitter and Facebook advertisements as well as in event photos, on flyers, brochures, and anything else you may need for your type of business.
Head shots don’t have to be intimidating. With the right lighting and outfit, and a professional camera, you will look sophisticated and polished for whatever you are trying to accomplish. Whether you’re seeking speaking opportunities, looking for a new job, or starting a business, professional head shots will come in handy more often than you think.
To learn how you can get professional head shots for your company, check out our head shots page.
