Your Headshot as a First Impression
Your headshot speaks volumes before you even step foot in an interview. Reports suggest that a whopping 90% of HR folks peek at your social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook, before they call you in.
Think you don’t fancy getting your photo taken? Sometimes you've got to do stuff you don't like. It's like getting your kids to eat veggies: "You don’t have to like it, you just have to do it."
A great headshot can open doors, while a bad one... let’s just say you might never know the opportunities you missed out on. Finding the right photographer can be tricky, especially when anyone with a camera can claim they’re a pro.
What To Look For In A Photographer
1. Authenticity: Ever look at a photo and feel something's off? Trust that gut feeling. It’s just our brain reacting to tiny facial cues. Authentic expressions are consistent across both the eyes and mouth.
2. Know Your Goal: A photographer should ask about your objective. Are you aiming for a professional look for LinkedIn or something more relaxed for an acting portfolio?
3. Consistency is Key: Check out their portfolio. Do you see consistently good shots or just a few hits amidst the misses?
4. Value Over Price: Think of what you stand to gain with a killer headshot. Sometimes saving a few bucks can cost you a lot more in missed opportunities.
5. What’s Included: Be clear about what you’re getting. Is retouching included? What about digital files?
6. Hire a Professional: 30+ years ago, I was that “kid with a nice camera” that would be asked to shoot gigs that were WAY beyond my competency. People saw a nice camera and assumed that this device had fairy dust in it.
THIS IS NOT ME - AND NOT MY PHOTO - I purchased it as a great, bad example, from a stock house… Personally, my amygdala says RUN!
When you hire a headshot photographer, odds are you’re goal is to appeal to your specific audience. YOU, as a subject, cannot see what that photographer will be seeing—meaning, your photographer has to see you as that ideal audience will see you. Achieving that goal took me several years to master. To work with people who were JUST AS AWKWARD AS I WAS in front of the camera. (click that link to view the video at top)
In short, do your homework and don't just settle for someone because they're cheap. Your headshot is an investment, so make sure you’re getting your money's worth!
“Anybody can create an accurate exposure, but the camera does not create the expression.”
No matter who you choose, I hope that this info helps you to increase your success so that we can bounce back from this year of unique experiences.
