When someone decides to use a poorly framed, edited, and lit smartphone photo, instead of having a professional headshot taken, it is often because they see the cost of that photoshoot and decide that it is not worth the money.
Just like any other part of your branding, however, paying for a headshot is all about investing in something now, in order to get much higher returns later on.
Just what returns do you see when you invest in a great headshot?
- Trust – People are more likely to trust you if they see your face. They are more likely to trust that that actually is a picture of you if you have a professional picture done, rather than just stealing your favorite profile picture from your Facebook account. Why do professional headshots instill trust? Because you look more legitimate when you are willing to pay out a little bit of money for professional photography. No illegitimate brand or business does that, but all legit businesses to. If you’re trying to generate legitimacy, having a professional headshot is one of the best ways to invest in your own legitimacy, and you’ll see instant returns.
- Personality – A headshot is much more than you sitting and smiling blandly into the camera. You have the opportunity to inject your headshot with plenty of personality, reflecting your industry and the image you want to portray. If you are trying to build a personal connection, a headshot is the very best way. Great pictures are a long-term investment in your personality and the image you want to create for yourself. You will start seeing those returns almost immediately, too.
- Monetary – All of the benefits of having a great headshot boil down to this: they make you more attractive, and therefore help you make more money. While you are investing in more abstract concepts like your legitimacy and your personality, you are also directly investing in something that will make you more money down the line. Putting your best face forward (literally, your best face) is the best way to encourage people to take a chance on you. And the more people that take a chance on you, the more money you’ll make. Yes, professional headshots cost more than just taking your own picture with your camera, but they will also make your more money in the future.
Jack Saady is a photographer specializing in headshot photography. He realizes that when it comes to a headshot it is like putting yourself out there for everybody to see. Your career depends on it. Getting your personality to come through is probably one of the most important things to do, also one of the hardest. As a photographer he feels it is his responsibility to capture the essence of a person allowing potential casting directors to see what it is that makes you unique. We all know that the competition is fierce. His photographs are not about him or his style, but about his subjects and the unique qualities and conditions that define their lives at the time they are photographed. http://www.jacksaadyheadshots.com/
Great post. I might add that if you get a great headshot you can also use it for other stuff such as your social media, LinkedIn, etc. Sometimes you may find yourself getting some random gig or project outside of the film world that needs a headshot. Some of my clients have used the headshots we did for things like freelance writing gigs or for business brochures, etc.