Top 3 Reasons Why You Need an Updated Professional Headshot

Even though it might be easier to keep the same headshot for years on end, that’s not always the best option for your business and your brand. After all, a headshot is often the first impression that a potential customer will have of you, and you want that impression to be a good one. If that alone is not enough to convince you to update your headshot, take a look at these three reasons why you need to make an updated professional headshot your priority this summer.

1. Provide an accurate portrait of yourself

Your headshot needs to reflect your current age and abilities. If a potential customer reads that you have ten years of experience in the field but sees a picture of your 22-year-old self, you may lose credibility in their eyes. In this example, an old headshot can directly or indirectly contribute lost business opportunities. This particular scenario is especially important for entrepreneurs who began their work at a young age; without an updated professional headshot, it seems as though you–and consequently your business–have not aged a day. In real life, this might be a compliment, but in the business world, age is wisdom. So if you want customers to realize that you are an expert in your field, don’t be afraid to show those “smile lines”; updating your headshot is a key step towards success.

2. An updated professional headshot will look modern and professional

Nowadays, an outdated headshot is particularly noticeable because camera quality is increasing exponentially. Consider it this way–your profile picture taken in 2004 is most likely lower quality than what you could take on your iPhone today. When a user comes to your site, it is obvious by the quality of the photo whether or not your headshot is outdated. This leads customers to one of two thoughts. Either they think that your business lacks the resources to update your headshots and improve your brand, or they think that you are lazy and lack the foresight to consider the importance of your headshot. Either way, it’s a lose-lose situation. Avoid that negative reputation altogether by simply changing your headshot every once and while to reflect new camera quality.

3. Optimize your online presence

Every time you put a picture of yourself on the internet, it shows up when someone Googles you. Like it or not, this is a great way to build a professional brand and presence. Updating your headshot makes sure that you are regularly adding to that collection of public images of yourself, steadily increasing the positive effects of those Google searches. This is especially important for an entrepreneur! If you have started your own company, you are a key aspect of the brand. After all, your company is built around your personal goals and decisions. People need to see you when they see your brand, and getting more pictures of yourself out there is an essential part of that identification process.  

By now, you probably agree that updating your headshot is important. But where do you even start? Luckily, this essential process is pretty straightforward. Just take these simple steps to start to reap the benefits of an updated profile picture:

• Create a schedule of how often you are going to update your headshot, put it on your corporate calendar, and stick with it.
• Each time you go to update your picture, do some research about the current trends that will help your photo look professional and modern.
• Changing out your headshot is a low risk, high reward process, especially if you are an entrepreneur. If you start today with these three easy action steps, you will be well on your way to a more professional presence.

 

Contact us at Korey Howell Photography to schedule a time for an updated professional headshot. Our fantastic team will make sure that you have the best photo possible to promote your business and online presence.