What does your headshot say about you-can people looking at your headshot recognize you when they see you in person? Does it reflect your brand?

The Way Out of Date Headshot

You know these—you’ve seen them either on an online profile or worse on the person’s website. Let’s face it —from time to time we actually get a killer headshot that makes us look fantastic, even younger and better looking than we though possible. So we cling to that headshot and use it everywhere, and still use it many years latter. Right? I know I have even passport photos that I wish I could keep but thing do expire and actually headshots are one off these things. I had a friend who used an old drivers’ license, refusing to get the new one for the current state she lives in just because she loved the photo so much. If your headshot is more than about 3 years old it’s time for a new one. We all change so it’s best to reflect who you are. I get a lot of realtors in who love older headshots and have clung to one for maybe 10-15 years. That’s way too long. If you don’t look pretty much exactly the same as your headshot time to move on and get a new one.

Brand Reflection

Does your business headshot reflect your brand? Meaning when someone looks at your image can they either tell what it is you do or determine certain things about you based on your look, background etc? Take the images at top,, obviously the woman who is an artist is clearly reflected in her portrait. However in looking at the others can you make deductions about their jobs? Sure, the attorney at right is pretty easy as well since it was taken inside a courtroom. However the man at center is also an attorney, though an IP attorney with not a lot of time spent in courtrooms, more in boardrooms.The woman at center is outdoors-she is a realtor and they often like outdoor shots though I do a fair amount in studio for those wanting a nice relaxed headshot. So what does your headshot say about you? Does it accurately reflect your brand and if not maybe it's time for a new one.