"Why do I need a professional headshot?"

People often question the need for a professional headshot. After all, you can take a great selfie or have a friend snap pictures of you till you see one that you like, you can even do some touch-ups with photo editing software, right? Plus, aren’t headshots just for bigwig executives? 

All of those points are true to a degree but what they neglect to consider is that there is a psychological aspect to getting professional headshots. Potential employers or visitors to your business’s site will always have reservations about dealing with someone new, it is just human nature. A professional headshot goes a long way in satisfying and easing some of the concerns these people may not even be aware they have. Everyone is skeptical, but ask yourself, who would you trust more: a friendly face of a professional or words from a faceless entity? 

Here are 5 reasons you need a professional headshot!

With all the differences among humans, we share a lot of things in common, one of which is that our minds trust our eyes more than words on a page. Having said that, let’s take a look at some reasons you need a professional headshot to help your business or aspiring career.

• Professionalism. In the workforce, whether for your business or for landing a job, being good at what you do is a big part of the formula of success, but doing so without being considered a professional is largely demeaning to your skills. Perception is reality and a professional headshot helps you look the part of a professional. Being one implies that you take what you do seriously and yourself seriously, which is arguably the strongest point of consideration to clients or potential employers.
• First Impressions. Think about the people you meet in your life for a moment. If you have recently met someone with an appealing sense of humor, personality and a generally admirable aura about them, chances are that they made a great first impression. If or when you were to reconnect with this person again, your first impressions will be the guide to how easily you approach any further interaction. For clients, employers or investors, seeing your face is how they get their first impression. When you meet in person, you have already made the first impression, likely a good one, whether you or the other party realizes that or not on a conscious level. Check out our article on "Making a Great First Impression with Your Headshot!"
• Friendly Faces. A professional photographer understands the psychology behind doing headshots. He or she will be able to photograph you in such a manner as to come off as friendly as possible. Remember, your headshots will be how anyone looking into you or your business will associate a face with a name. If your friendly face is associated with your business, profile, or resume it will resonate positively as people are more apt to deal with someone they perceive as a nice, friendly and approachable person.
• Distinguishing Yourself. People looking for businesses online or potential future employees on sites like LinkedIn are going want to draw some association between a business or profile, and the person it belongs to. Without a photo, you are likely to get less attention, and without a professionally done one, you may be just another “face in the crowd”. A professional headshot helps you distinguish yourself from the others, giving you your own “brand”.
• Memorable. The whole premise of a professional headshot is to help attract attention and a level of trust for yourself. A great, professional headshot can leave a lasting impression, and being memorable in such a way will help anyone considering your business or profile to return for a second look if they have not decided yet. Staying memorable means staying relevant, and in a business setting, relevance is the difference between success and failure.