Why Exactly Are Professional Headshots for LinkedIn Important?
The style of business portrait photograph known as a LinkedIn headshot is frequently utilised for corporate websites, business cards, news releases, and LinkedIn accounts. Although the title “LinkedIn” can give the impression that they are solely utilised on that particular platform, these photographs are frequently used on several professional networks.
The objective of your LinkedIn headshot should be to portray you in a professional, approachable, and knowledgeable manner. Building an outstanding personal brand that helps you get hired more quickly, enhance your sales figures, or attract investors to your company is a wonderful first step; a great headshot is a terrific first step.
The saying “Never judge a book by its cover” isn’t plausible in the real world. The unfortunate truth is that we are all appraised or regarded differently based on our appearance. In addition, we have a limited amount of time to make a positive first impression, particularly in professional settings such as job interviews, establishing relationships, and networking.
Because of this, it is of the utmost importance to always present a professional appearance, both in-person and online. Because of social media platforms such as Instagram and even Snapchat, there are now countless aspiring photographers worldwide. Because of this, an entire generation can view the world through the prism of many artistic practices. However, many people do not see photography for what it truly is: an art form.
People may believe that all that is required is a camera and a filter because of photographs of white sandy beaches and selfies, but the reality is that much, much more is required. Have you ever seen a shot taken by a trained professional photographer who has perfected their art to the point that they can add dog ears and a tongue to one of their subjects? In particular, people appear to engage professional photographers for specific personal events and occasions, such as weddings and other special occasions. However, they do not use them for business-related needs such as taking headshots.
It is common knowledge that nearly anyone can take a photograph with a smartphone. Since the introduction of the very first digital camera in 1975, technology has made significant strides forward. To develop an image worthy of being used in marketing, however, you need to invest more time and effort than just taking a simple snapshot. You are looking for a picture that captures the viewer’s attention and evokes some sort of feeling in them, as this increases the likelihood that they will become a customer. Employing the services of a professional photographer might assist you in captivating your audience to elicit a response from them.
In today’s world, it is really necessary to have professional headshots. If you don’t want to be forgotten in the sea of applicants, you need to have them for your resume and LinkedIn profile picture. As a natural extension of this recommendation, you should also use professional headshots for your other social media sites. After all, prospective customers, as well as employers, are looking at those as well! Invest in a headshot taken by a professional. It’s not that pricey, especially when you consider that LinkedIn’s user base is getting close to a billion people. Keep in mind that your headshot plays a role in forming first impressions.
Forgo the Selfie
Nothing is more embarrassing than including an unprofessional photo of yourself, such as a selfie, on your LinkedIn page. Even while some people equate “casual” with “excellent,” it is extremely probable that the decision-makers involved in hiring, promoting, and purchasing will not see your profile in that light. You not only look more competent, influential, and reliable in a professional photo, but the fact that you took the time to get your headshot taken speaks volumes about your professionalism and work ethic.
Professional Headshots Will Hold You Accountable
Have you followed the game of your favorite team on any social media platforms? Someone will say something horrible about them, and you will tweet an angry response to that person. You will be less likely to act aggressively toward strangers online if you have a professional headshot. Choosing a headshot as your profile picture serves as a continual reminder to the individuals who view your profile that they can see the real you.
It’s Worth the Investment
You can improve your chances of getting the perfect shot by consulting with a professional photographer who specialises in taking corporate headshots. They might offer advice regarding what to wear and how to style your hair, for example.
They will guide you through the session, instructing you on what positions to employ and how to tilt your head in the appropriate direction. Because they are pros, they know the angles that will make you seem your best. In addition to this, they will make use of either their lighting kits or natural light. They will take their time and work to ensure that they provide you with a wide variety of photographs from which to select. If you’re having trouble deciding between two options, they can even assist you in choosing between them. Consider whether you want the picture to be in landscape or portrait orientation. The latter is useful for digital purposes, whereas the former is the standard format that most people employ.
Are You Convinced That You Need Headshots Taken by a Professional?
The bottom line is that if you want people to take you seriously as a candidate, you need to make a fantastic first impression. This is the only way to ensure this happens. Getting headshots done by a professional photographer is the first step in this process.
But you can’t put your faith in someone who has both a camera and a business card in their possession. You need to choose a photographer who has previous expertise in taking images for corporations as well.