Headshots have evolved quite a bit recently, Think about headshots and many think about those staged, no personality shots that we have come to hate. It doesn’t have to be this way, with the right amount of thought, you can still stand out from the crowd and show people a little of who you really are. So, what does your headshot say about YOU?

A headshot is all about interaction with others, people to people, should it be loud and shout out, or should it be more subtle?  It’s to do with what you want to communicate to the people who see it, and what people who view it expect to see, and what they get from it.  With all that to consider, how could it ever be easy?

It can be, it is all about communication with your photographer and the differences you can bring in that will make, or totally break, your headshot…

When people think of a shouty headshot, they are imagining that the headshot is shouting ‘PICK ME! PICK ME! HIRE ME! HIRE ME!’  Now, ultimately your headshot should be saying exactly that, but it’s the way it says it that’s important.

It’s unlikely someone will hire you based on a headshot alone, They need to look further, get to know you more, but your headshot will be the first impression and is therefore important. Unfortunately for many people, their headshot is indeed the end of the engagement – They eliminate themselves by shouting the wrong message.

So if we want to shout out to your ideal client, but not repel at the same time, how do you do it?

You do it by thinking about what your client is actually looking for. Potential clients are looking for someone who gives them confidence that they will be the right fit for them to do business with.  What you wear, how you pose, head only, half body, full body, All of this makes a difference.

Showing up as professional, trustworthy, presentable, authentic, will get you through to an in person meeting.  So, by taking that idea on, you can have a headshot that shows all those things. You are still shouting loud and clear, but you’re shouting what the potential client wants to hear, not simply what you want to shout.  It’s subtle shouting.

That’s a LOT to get in with a headshot!

You’ve got to shout certain things, not shout others, and shout by not shouting at all..?

Yes, that’s pretty much it, and to sum up whether our headshot needs to shout or not – yes it needs to shout, but shout only enough to get a client to look more, not to deafen them and send them running.  That’s how you shout with a headshot.

In the end, NO TRUMPETS NEEDED!