A short time ago I had the please of shooting some Headshots for the guys at Mortgage Choice in Labrador. They really like what i did with their boss so i was asked to return to shoot the rest of their staff. It was a fun shoot held at their office. I love photographing people that are fun and full of life. These guys were no exception. As a Headshot / profile Image photographer on the Gold Coast i get to meet all sorts of people from all walks of life.
This is Tony P. He was a Rugby Player back in the day, St George I think from memory. Unfortunately, for Tony he was a member of 2 losing Grand Finals teams. That must have been really difficult. I am glad he liked his headshots because he is a big guy. We had lots of fun and Tony is a great guy. He has been on the Gold Coast for a while now and caught one of my Headshot presentations in Broadbeach a few months back. His wife is an animal whisperer and Tony does some personal training along with some mind mapping.
This is Bianca. She is a marketing guru and business woman, She approached me about her personal branding and decided she needed some Stylish Headshots for her various online profiles. We set up a day & time and got her in the studio. I have known Bianca since she was a baby and she has matured into a beautiful young woman. She is smart and savvy and has alot of style. Bianca was a delight to shoot and i think she managed to pull off a look that says confident, approachable, cool & stylish. I love her shots !
This is Chloe. She is a Social Media expert. She was leaving to go on an 8 month working holiday around the States with her family and needed some headshots before she left. We managed to fit her in before she flew out and we captured some great shots. Personal Branding is so important nowadays never more so than online. There is more & more to see and take in online these days so people are spending less & less time on anyone item. Your image needs to be able to capture someones eye in an instant and hold it.
Headshots & Profile Images have long been the domain of actors & actresses as they used them to glean work in the television & movie industry. As social media has exploded across the world the importance of having a good headshot or profile image for others has exploded along with it. I will discuss why it has become important & then I will discuss who needs one.
Why are headshots/profile images so important ? There are few people nowadays in the civilized world that don’t have some type of online presence, Facebook, Linked In, Twitter just to name a few. More & more people are also beginning to have their own websites for business purposes. As our need for speed increases so does that time we spend searching on the internet for items. As much as the large retail outlets complain, I think the flood gates are opening and more & more people are realizing the ease and effectiveness of online shopping. My family has been using Coles online for nearly 4 years. Why, because its easy, the items are delivered right to your door, my wife doesn’t need to tromps around a supermarket dragging 2 kids with her & its actually cheaper. Yes, cheaper, why because you don’t do the impulse buying that supermarkets love so much. On average i think i save $50.00 per week in impulse buying.
I digress ! Online shopping is big and getting bigger. As people get used to doing more and more online it transposes that they will order other things online as well. Trades, solicitors, accountants, professional services etc I can’t remember the last time I actually picked up a Yellow pages and looked for a business service or telephone number. I am showing my age, I am sure there are many that have never done it.
Relationship marketing & personal branding ? What are they ? Relationship marketing is the type of thing you see businesses doing online with their Facebook pages, Twitter & Linked In accounts. They are engaging online with an audience and forming a relationship, asking questions, giving opinions, providing information etc They do this to put their business or service uppermost in a persons minds eye when they are looking to utilize that type of service. The reasoning behind this is that you are more likely to purchase from someone that you know than to turn to someone else. Personal Branding is about You & the message you are sending to your audience, whether it be you family, friends, associates, businesses etc.
Who needs a Headshot & profile Image ? I would say anyone that has any type of online profile. School leavers, job hunters professionals, trades people and the list goes on. There is no secret that potential employers are looking at peoples Facebook profiles as part of the selection process. Highly unlikely that someone would engage your services without checking you out online.
Its time to think, what does your headshot say about you and /or your business ?
Unfortunately, great photos of people don’t happen by accident there is always a good deal of preparation that goes into producing a great shot. I know that everyone carries a camera in their pocket and that you look fantastic in that snap that your best friend took at your other friends hens night last year but will it fly on a resume, or on your linked In profile where you are trying to attract corporate clients ? As relationship marketing and personal branding begin to take a foothold and become more important in our online space, people will be demanding that your profile Image or Headshot looks professional and often it could be the only thing that makes you stand out from the crowd.
As a professional Headshot Photographer i am sometimes surprised at the way clients will arrive at my studio for a shoot. Unshaven, un-ironed, one shirt or top. They will often have no real idea as to what type of look they want.
The following is a bit of do & don’t list to be used as a guide.
Check out the photographers style or portfolio before you book him/her
Men – shave (unless you are an actor then, bring a shaver and you can shave half way through the shoot)
– Understand why you are having headshots – corporate profile, acting portfolio etc
– Bring some changes of tops, ties, business shirts, t-shirts, jackets etc
– be on time
– sleep the night before
– try & book your shoot in the morning, you will almost always feel brighter and more awake in the morning
– women – get professional hair & make up
– Be late
– Drink alcohol before your shoot
– Expect that Photoshop can fix everything
Having a Headshot or Profile Images done can be daunting for those that don’t like having their photograph taken ( about 98% of the population) a good headshot photographer will make you feel at ease and as comfortable as possible. Preparation is the key ! Be prepared to make some great Images and they will happen.