– By Photos by Mesh
A professional headshot has one-tenth of a second to make a great first impression.
Yeah, you read that right.
It takes someone — like a hiring manager or prospective client — one-tenth of a second to make a judgment call about you. Research suggests that a first impression is all it takes for
people to decide whether to trust you or not. (The same research found that people can guess a lot more than that based on a first impression.)
In theory, a hiring manager might consider your sepia-toned selfie or ten-year-old mall portrait as unprofessional in that amount of time. They may not see the years of expertise or the sacrifices you’ve made to advance your career. All they’re going to see is a LinkedIn profile with a picture better suited for your Instagram feed.
In fact, LinkedIn’s research found that profiles with professional headshots get 14 times more views than those without. If a single picture can make such a difference, then why haven’t you invested in a professional photographer yet?
Invest In Your Professional Headshot
Guess how many users are on LinkedIn right now. Did you guess 660 million? For a job-seeking platform, that’s a lot of competition. What’s going to set you apart?
It’s not enough to post a stellar resume and hope your cover letter is memorable. Not when you have one-tenth of a second to impress someone. Our brains are wired to process tons of information in a second, but it’s much better at recalling images than words.
Studies show that, after three days, people can recall 65% of the visual content that they see — compared to 10% of written content. That means a resume and cover letter only do half the job.
Imagine you’re a hiring manager or recruiter sifting through thirty or so resumes. You’re checking everyone’s LinkedIn profiles and trying to keep it all organized in your notes. Which profile picture are you more likely to recall later: a professional headshot or a filtered selfie?
Maybe you’re growing your own business online. The marketing materials, website, social media, and business cards that you distribute could very well feature a series of professional headshots. Great photography is like the gift that keeps on giving.
If you want to be taken seriously by hiring managers or clients, then it’s time to invest in your brand. Just as you would with a brand like Nike, it’s time to take your image seriously.
Get the Professional Touch
So, maybe you’re like: Okay, Mesh. I need a headshot, but I have an awesome iPhone for that.
And that’s true. You have a mighty piece of technology, but you lack something far more valuable: experience. And cooler equipment.
On my person, while on the road between sessions, I’m usually travelling with over $12,000 worth of equipment. That’s not including things like my computers, lighting equipment, and editing software. For all you number nerds, here’s the basic breakdown:
Canon 1DX Mark II – $6500
Canon EF 24-70mm lens- $1600
Canon EF 85mm lens – $1400
Profoto B1 Flash – $2500
This is not intended to be a flex. It’s important that you understand what sets an expert photographer apart from you and your friends. And in this case, it’s more than $12,000 and 30 years of experience.
But Mesh, my friend is willing to do it for free.
Here’s the rub: your friend can’t deliver the best results.
Unless your friend is a professional photographer, they lack the technical or creative expertise to produce a professional headshot. They won’t know how to actually capture your best side, or how to use editing software to imagine the best version of yourself. Just take these six photographers who worked with Canon to reimagine one subject’s image:
See what I mean?
People with real expertise can produce incredibly unique results — even if documenting the same client. I can tell you that after 30 years in the business, I’ve come out the other end feeling like a pro. They say it takes 10,000 hours of practice until you’ve mastered something. I think it’s safe to say I’ve put in my time.
Overall, if you work with a seasoned photographer, you’ll walk away with professional headshots that you love. If you opt to work with someone inexperienced, then you should expect to compromise on a few things.
For one, a professional photographer has a lot of experience with helping their clients find the right pose and angles. They have an eye for what will suit you in the moment — considering your aesthetic, form, colors, and expression.
Also, an expert photographer will understand how to leverage editing software to capture the very best in you. You won’t have to worry about blemishes, wrinkles, or other marks that might cause some insecurity. A professional photographer like myself understands that a high quality headshot needs to look like the best version of yourself. (The less tired one.)
And on top of that, professional photographers can meet you wherever you are. Will you have to pay for that convenience? Sure. But also consider that a pro brings along all of their professional gear. So you can expect the same quality in and out of the studio. (Oh, and pros usually have studio space!)
Well, why does it have to cost so much?
Let me level with you: a professional headshot should cost that much, considering what you’re getting.
Which is more than a photo, by the way. You’re getting something that will elevate your brand. Something that will help you stand out in the crowd of eager job seekers or passionate business owners. Remember, you have one-tenth of a second to make a good first impression.
How much is that one-tenth of a second worth to you?
If it means the difference between your business growing or dying?
If it means the difference between settling for a job or achieving your dream?
You need to take your image seriously. I’ve said it before, but I think it bears repeating. As a business, whether people are engaging with you on social media or on your website, the professional photography that you use matters. It’s the face of your business — of your brand. And considering how many times you can repurpose one image, the return is much greater than the investment. I’d say that’s worth the upfront cost.
Planning for a Professional Headshot
I can’t deny that cost is an issue for many people, and it’s okay if you fall into that bucket, too.
My advice? Save and plan.
I seriously believe that creating a plan and budgeting for some professional headshots can make all the difference in your job search or business growth.
Save at least $100 and you can work with me to capture your best professional headshots.
You can expect utmost quality and professionalism — but you can also expect a friend. Someone who wants to talk about your day and help you feel more at ease in front of the camera. I can’t tell you how many times a client has come into session looking and feeling tense, until we talk about their kid’s tee ball game. Then, all of a sudden, their shoulders melt like butter and their expression settles into a calmer, more natural state. That’s when the magic happens.
Having been in the industry for so long, I’ve picked up on a few tricks that I like to share with my clients. Planning for a headshot is just as much about the day-of as it is about the night before. Here are a few tips for anyone planning to take a professional headshot:
- Don’t be hungover. Trust me, the camera will read the tiredness and sluggishness without hesitation. Sounds like a lot of editing work to me, and that’s not guaranteeing anything. So, keep it clean, drink plenty of (other) fluids, and come into the session feeling energized, not tired.
- Get enough sleep. I cannot stress this one enough. There’s not enough makeup, lighting, or post-editing that can erase or downplay puffy eyes. Just try to get enough sleep so that you feel and look ready to have your photo taken the next day.
- Avoid patterns. Avoid busy patterns like stripes because they don’t always read well on screens (thanks to the moire effect). Also, avoid graphic tees as the logo or design could be cropped and the reference could turn people off. Just wear something plain that you know can read well on multiple screen sizes. I suggest a brightly colored blouse, a plain pant, and a bright shoe, if you want to stand out.
- Bring toiletries. Always bring a hairbrush and hairspray. You’ll want your hair to be neat, polished, and voluminous. Pack a bag of essential products, like makeup, that you know could be useful during the session.
- Be strategic with your makeup. Think about your audience here. If you want to stand out but still remain professional, then opt for a more natural look. Maybe skip on the bold, blue eyeshadow and big, false eyelashes.
- If you wear glasses, keep them clean. My camera will pick up on smudges, fingerprints, and dust on your lenses. If you don’t plan on wearing your glasses, then remove them a few hours before the shoot. That should help with the red indentations left on your nose from wearing them consistently.
7. Be ready for shine control. The thing about professional lighting is that sometimes it can lend a shiny or greasy texture to your skin. (Especially in this Texas heat!) I advise that you bring concealer and foundation to offset that shine. If you’re not wearing makeup, then it’s enough to bring makeup wipes or wash your face right before the session.
Let’s Work Together
If you’re ready to take your business or brand to the next level, then book your professional headshots with me. I’m offering a $100 headshots mini-session.
When you contact me, we start with a conversation wherein we discuss your audience, your goals, and the emotions you want to convey. We also get into the color scheme and whether this will be a studio or location shoot. I want this session to be flexible and tailored to your needs.
We will get as many shots as it takes until we find the two winning pictures. The end product will be two edited headshots in the dimensions that you need (e.g. LinkedIn, website, ID badge, resume, etc.). You’ll also get the original file should you want to manipulate that in the future.
You can book with me online or reach out via Instagram or Facebook.
Follow me on:
Instagram @mesh_bhakta
Facebook @photobymesh