You know you need a great head shot if you are in business. Whether you run your own business —where a headshot at minimum is a critical component of your website—or are working for someone else. It is especially crucial if you are looking for a new job. A selfie is just not going to cut it—neither is that shot you use on social media of you on your latest vacation. But you’d be surprised at the number of folks who actually use those types of shots when soliciting business or a new job.

Image matters. In a recent survey of job recruiters (Jobvite Recruiter Nation Report 2016) 41% said seeing the image of the candidate before they meet influences their first impression. And this plays directly into hiring decisions.So do you want the job recruiter to see an unprofessional photo on LinkedIn or other sites or would you prefer a polished professional look?

Sure a professional head shot can cost you a bit. But really when you think about it it’s a minuscule cost in the overall scheme of things. And it really isn't that hard to get done. Most photographers that specialize in this type of photography can get you in and out quickly. So there really is no excuse for you not to put your best image forward this year and get a professional head shot for your marketing or new job search.

And if you already have a head shot make sure it’s up to date. You should probably get a new one every 5 years or so—or if you have undergone any significant changes in appearance—grew a beard or shaved one, lost weights, cut or dramatically changed your hair length or style etc. 

How will you present yourself this year?