We’ve all done it! We’ve scanned through our phones to find the profile picture that just absolutely says “this is me, this is what I’m about”. While images of you on the beach or eating your favorite dinner with your special may speak to family and friends, how does it really speak to those you don’t know or those who could potentially hire you for a role in their business?
This is where having a professional profile headshot can help you rise above and set yourself apart from the “competition”. Did you know that most employers will scan an applicant’s personal social media to get an idea of who they are and if they would make a good fit for the business? So having a great headshot is essentially making a great first impression.
With that said, I know not everyone feels comfortable in front of a camera, especially in a studio setting; it can feel intimidating and a little awkward. So what do you do if that’s you? Here are a few tips to get you through it and to come away with a few images that you’ll like.
!. Practice: I know it sounds crazy but looking in a mirror and actually practicing your smile will help. It gives you the opportunity to notice things and then correct them. If you’ve never been a fan of big smiling with teeth, then practice what a soft smile is or even just smiling with your eyes. Simply, it makes you aware and allows you to accommodate.
2. Small Talk Before the Session: One of the things I do even if it’s for a brief few minutes is try to make who I’m photographing feel as much at ease as possible with a bit of small talk. It can be as simple as “tell me about what you’ve been up to today” or me just asking questions about what you do or your background. My goal is to get you talking and comfortable so that you really don’t even realize we are easing into the session. You might want to initiate this if your photographer doesn’t.
3. Laughing: As silly as it sounds laughing is a natural expression that can be contagious and leaves the viewer with a sense of warmth or happiness. Remember the “first impression” mention? So don’t be afraid to add in a few laughing looks…even if it’s a fake laugh…which usually turns into a real laugh.
and I’ll give you a bonus tip….
4. Go In With A Game Plan: Give a little thought to what you might need these images for. If you are a realtor, you might need a good smile or soft smile for any speaking/conference you attend. But you may also need a good warm smile or laughing photo for marketing material that will connect with potential clients.
I hope these tips help you get some images you’ll love and be able to use. If you are a realtor, entrepreneur or small business owner in the Columbus GA, Phenix City AL, Opelika AL or Auburn AL area and I can help you with some headshots or need marketing material, please reach out to me, and let’s chat to see what I can help with.
Wes