Real talk, Sparkles… when was the last time you updated your professional headshots? I see you out there on Facebook; on Instagram; and even on Twitter with your well-groomed, perfectly-posed, senior portrait-esque shots. However, my loves, have you considered how valuable this type of pic is {or isn’t} to your clients and prospects? You have two or three different fancy portraits, but are they telling your story? Connecting with clients? Making you money?
Didn’t know your professional headshots could do all those things? Allow me to enlighten you, Sparkle. They can. They. so. can.
Personal brand photography is the art of using photographic imagery to tell your story online! Social media influencers, online educators, small business owners {and even you} can set themselves apart with a personal brand photoshoot!
But how do you make it happen? How do you tell your client’s story {or create your own} with photos? Allow me to share what I’ve learned from six years of photographing entrepreneurs and telling their stories online! And you can also learn what NOT to do…. because I’ve certainly made my fair share of mistakes!
Professional Headshots = Your Online Resume
These pics are the world’s first impression of you, before they know anything else about you. If your pic is a turn-off {read: heavy on the cheese-wiz; outdated; not genuine or relatable, or flat-out doesn’t look like 2o19 you} you aren’t going to be doing the Cupid Shuffle with your ideal client any time soon.
And that would be a darn shame.
So, let’s chat about how we can make your headshots work for you and carry soooo much more value than something that looks like a senior pic or corporate obligation.
Let Professional “Headshots” Work for You
Always remember, your own professional headshots aren’t a senior portrait session. Let me say that again…
Your professional headshots are NOT a senior portrait or glamor session!!!!
In fact, I want you to ditch the word “headshots” altogether and replace it with personal brand photography. These photos aren’t as much about beauty, perfection and perfect posing as they are about who you are and what you do.
If you’re taking time and money to invest in a professional headshots session, make sure these pics reflect WHO you are and let them work for you. Because you are smart little Sparkles, you will be using these pics all across social media to not only show the world WHO you are but also to tell YOUR story. Let them show your brand, your wonder and your awesomeness!
To pull this all off, you’ll need to plan ahead. Know why you need your professional headshots, and how you’re going to use them. Then, from there, build a strategy for success during your session! One of my little sneaky tricks is to start a running note in my phone of all the silly/random/important photos I need! That way, when photoshoot day arrives, I know exactly where to focus my attention.
Here’s what I’ve learned from six years of photographing entrepreneurs…
Hear me out. Before we get into this, I must assure you that I know what I’m talking about. I’ve flown all over the country doing branding sessions for Lululemon, social media experts, luxury real estate agents, business coaches, yoga studios, podcasters, and fitness professionals. I’ve even written course material on this topic for a CreativeLive class {you’ll find it in the bonus section}. In other words, it’s worth your time to pay attention here and implement these strategies into your own business because I practice what I preach and have worked with some big names. Now, let’s #glitterdone.
Personal Brand Photography: Photos that should be at the TOP of your list!
1. What do your clients want and need to show off their personality and build trust?
Time and time again, sales and buying decisions are influenced by the know-like-trust factor; which basically proves that, if someone has a relationship with you and trusts you, they’re FAR more likely to buy. So photos that showcase personality are a MUST with any professional headshots event!
A quick note about this? Your clients don’t just need someone who knows how to work her big-girl camera. They need you emotionally. Photo sessions are nerve-wracking for all but a select few. Clients want to know that you are the real deal and someone who will take care of them; tell them how to pose; what to do; tell them what to wear and make them laugh.
They want to know that you have the whole process covered and that investing in portraits with you will be an enjoyable experience and good use of time. So, instead of a glamour shot… make sure YOUR professional headshot sesh includes smiling, laughing, relatable, shots that can be used in a variety of publications, applications, and across social media. Many different sizes and formats will be required. Get.them.all.
2. Lifestyle photos to help tell their story online!
Your clients want to see your brand behind the scenes. They want to know what you do during the day. What motivates you? What is the story of your brand? And more importantly… how can they connect with you? So when you’re designing a personal brand photography session, either for you or a client, be sure to incorporate these photos!
Take some pics of you, with your beloved coffee; your camera; your laptop. Show pics of your editing room or office. Take some lay-flats with your planner and pretty paperclips strewn about your workspace. Take pics working in the park; at the coffee shop; or looking at the back of your camera in awe of that last shot. This is NOT about perfection. Your clients don’t care how amazing your hair, teeth, or posing skills are. They care out how you will make them feel and if they know, like, and trust you {or not}.
3. Camera, computer, phone – REPEAT!
During a personal brand photography shoot, the goal is to create a wide variety of images in a short amount of time. To do this, you’ll want to have 5-10 outfits and as many props as you can pack! Put on an outfit, smile at the camera, pretend to work on your laptop, do a faux live-stream on your photo, grab a few detail shots with props, and change outfits!
The goal is {brace yourself} QUANTITY over quality!
Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying: these photos still need to be darn good. But we’re not looking for perfectly-posed airbrushed perfection here, we’re looking for a real story! So photographing a wide variety of clothing, scenes and props is an absolute MUST!
These are the perfect photos to beef up your social media grid, use in graphics for ads, and save you from a selfie when you’re not exactly feeling camera-ready! Can I get an amen?!
4. Graphics for Your Social Media Grid and Blog!
I can’t even tell you how important it is to have an arsenal of pics on-the-ready for your social accounts and blog {actually, I can}. But for real, the pics you have available to post on social media will either make you, or break you. Give the absolute best version of your bad-self away via social media and your blog/website. Let your clients see you working, living, working, making silly faces, and showing your true colors through creatively captioned pics.
This awesome promo video, from my client Jill Boudreau, is a great example of how your photos can be used “in action!” This video was shared on her Instagram account and was a fabulous way to get the attention of new clients! Check it out!
5. Horizontal photos for the Win!
This is probably the BEST tip I can give you! We don’t live in a straight up and down world, folks… in fact, if you’re online, your world is actually MUCH more horizontal than you realize. Don’t believe me? Look at your blog, Facebook account and website {just for starters}! Your blog headers? Horizontal. The timeline on your Facebook page and group? Horizontal. Your website sliders and banners? Horizontal? Noticing a trend here, sweet sparkle?! In fact, I would suggest that:
90% of your professional headshots should be horizontal!
I know it feels crazy, but I’ve done this a time or two and know what works! You will use these horizontal professional headshots in social posts, on your website, in your blog, and for situations where you add text overlays. These pics fall outside the traditional vertical portrait *shudder at the thought* but are so so so much more useful than traditional portrait sessions! You’re not only setting yourself up with a fab updated pic, you’re filling your toolkit with amazingly accurate representations of YOU… that you can whip out for use at a moment’s notice.
Now, of course, snag some vertical shots for your Insta Story and Pinterest, but don’t let them be the primary focus of your personal brand photoshoot!
Ready for your first Personal Brand Photography shoot? Grab this checklist first!
If you’re a pro photographer, these photoshoots can be a bit of a mental stretch at first! And, if you’re an entrepreneur looking to hire a photographer, it’s important that you communicate EXACTLY what you want…. otherwise you will, most likely, be quite disappointed!
Learn how to Book Personal Brand Photography Clients NOW!
Lucky for you, my friend Jamie Swanson has exactly what you need to know for the next time you update your professional headshots! Don’t try to do this alone! Let us share what we’ve learned from years of experience and ensure you have everything you need to succeed!
