Is your headshot holding you back?
Your immediate thought may be “No, not at all!”
But let’s think about this for a minute. Most people have one “official” or “professional” headshot. You know the one, the traditional head and shoulders on a white or gray background.
I’ve had my share. When I worked in corporate I only updated it when I had to, or when I was at a conference and there was a booth offering free headshots. So I stood in line with other attendees, sometimes chatting but mostly staring at my phone. I hadn’t necessarily planned to have a photo taken that day but I was happy enough with my hair and what I was wearing.
And while these are pictures of me and they are professional and better than a selfie, they don’t come close to showing even part of the whole picture. Meaning, they don’t speak to who I was as a person, where I was in my career, or where I wanted to be in five years. They didn’t help elevate me to a new position or show me as a successful version of myself. They were just check marks on a list of things to get done, not a measure of success OR a demonstration or declaration of intent.
Then the pandemic hit and, like so many others, I started to think about life beyond corporate America. I reignited my love of photography and discovered that I enjoyed studio photography more than I had before. I wanted to connect with other people and show them all the different ways that they could show up authentically in imagery.
That meant, of course, that I needed a new headshot. So I took my own by practicing all of the new things I was learning for studio portraiture and while it was great at the time, it wasn’t what I knew I needed to have in order to be taken seriously as a leader in my profession – especially not with the style of portraiture I wanted to offer my clients.
Enter my own personal branding session with another professional photographer (my mentor). We talked about my brand, my audience, and who I wanted to be for both. We talked wardrobe and how I would use all of the images I was going to love (which I totally do!).
Then it was time for the session. I relaxed while having my makeup and hair done by a professional hair and makeup artist and chatted about this and that. I hadn’t been pampered like this since my wedding and and I enjoyed every minute of it.
And then it was time to be in front of the camera, which isn’t something I love to do, but because I’ve been doing it more and more, it is something I’m starting to like. My photographer took charge, put me at ease, and took me through all of the posing and setups that reflected my goals for what I wanted my imagery to be.
Trying to limit my image selection was HARD. I went in thinking I was going to go with a handful of imagers and walked out with more. And you know why? Because I LOVE THEM. And because I can use them in so, so many different ways. To name just a few, I use my images on social media, in print marketing, in presentations, in design consultations with clients, in example tutorial videos with clients, and as print samples for the studio.
I even have them all loaded onto my Aura frame* so that whenever they pop up, I’m reminded of how I felt during the session and how I fell in love with those images when I saw them for the first time. That was an amazing day and I felt magnificent! These images remind me of that feeling every single time I see them.
*Note that this is an Amazon affiliate link and that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Another thing I love about these images? I went in to create branding for my business and came out with personal imagery on top of those brand images. I was five months pregnant with my second child at the time, and while they’re not the big pregnant belly photos you usually see, they do capture me during pregnancy when I was feeling beautiful and enjoying life. I also walked away with the image I’ve told my husband should be used for my obituary, should anything happen to me. It’s a bit morbid to think about, but it’s an image I love that really captures me in this period of my life. I would make it the cover of any album I created to celebrate my visual legacy.
That was an amazing day and I felt magnificent! These images remind me of that feeling every single time I see them.
The feelings I have about my imagery are exactly what I want to create for my clients and the experience I want to create for YOU. I believe that everyone should experience a luxury photography session that celebrates who they are today and who they want to become tomorrow.
And that all starts with the Design Consultation. We’ll take that time to talk through who you are, what your brand is, how you exist in that brand, and how you want to be perceived in the world. Don’t think you have a brand? You might not be an entrepreneur, but everyone has a brand, and if you’re planning to level up to management or the C-Suite, your imagery needs to reflect that ambition. Either way, you’re going to be talking to a variety of people everywhere you go, and no audience is ever exactly the same.
Think about your social media profiles. Are you using the same profile image on Instagram as you are on LinkedIn? Those are completely different audiences that interact with you in different ways so your imagery should reflect the type of relationship you have with your audience on each platform. This holds true for speaking engagements as well – a lunchtime event is going to have a different vibe than a $500-a-plate dinner, and your imagery should as well.
I take what I know about you, your brand, and your goals from the Design Consultation and, using your wardrobe and my studio background options, create a custom session just for you while you’re being pampered by my professional hair and makeup artist. We’ll flow through five to seven looks with a variety of standing, leaning, sitting, and floor poses that bring out all the different aspects of your personality and business that you want your imagery to support. I never leave you wondering how to stand, how to smile, or what to do with your hands. I pose you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes so you look and feel your absolute best in your imagery.
Today’s marketing landscape is all about the person IN the brand and, believe it or not, YOU are the face of YOUR brand. This means a single headshot just doesn’t cut it anymore; instead, a suite of imagery will cover all your online and print marketing needs. You’ll be able to use that suite of imagery to tell your story of success, all while existing in the best version of yourself, with literal visual reminders of how amazing you are.
You might not be an entrepreneur, but everyone has a brand, and if you’re planning to level up to the C-Suite, your imagery needs to reflect that ambition.
If you’re a member of the single headshot club, can your image do all that heavy lifting? Does it remind you of feeling amazing and cared for and confident in yourself? Does it allow you to market in a variety of ways and elevate you to the next level of success you see yourself achieving?
If not, we need to talk. It’s time to invest in your professional future with imagery that allows you to see and feel the successful side of yourself, today. Call or text me at 919.525.1528, fill out the form below, or go ahead and schedule your Discovery Call here. You won’t regret it.