In today’s world of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, people sure do love taking pictures. According to data from Benedict Evans, people share 730 billion photos per year on Facebook and around 22 billion per year on Instagram. In fact, the number of photographs captured every two minutes today is the same as the number of photographs taken by all of mankind in the 1800s.
But aside from all the selfies, cat photos and food pictures posted online every day, pictures have a different purpose. In the corporate world, a picture, especially a headshot can tell a customer everything they need to know about a person or a business.
Data shows that it takes just one-tenth of a second for someone to form a first impression of a stranger from their face alone. What’s more, 80 to 90 percent of that first impression is based on two things: trustworthiness and competence. To be effective, a headshot photo needs to instantly relay these two qualities.
If you’re in need of new corporate headshots or professional portraits, here are four benefits you can gain from having a new headshot taken:
Introduction
It’s already been established that when it comes to headshots, first impressions are everything. In a study of LinkedIn photos, researchers found five factors had a positive impact on first impressions:
- Those who smiled with teeth
- Those who had slight eye squints
- Those who had accentuated jaw lines
- Those who dressed formally
- Those who made eye contact with the camera
Additionally, LinkedIn profiles that have photos receive 11 times more views and 40 percent more inMail responses than profiles without photos. Ultimately, having a professional corporate headshot is a good way to get discovered. Presenting yourself with a polished, professional corporate headshot makes you look good if someone is doing research on you or your company before an important meeting.
Telling A Story
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words and your headshot is a chance to tell your story. Having a bright smile in your headshot could reflect your friendly personality. Taking a headshot with a background that reflects your work gives a person searching for you a good feeling about before you before you meet in person.
Branding
Whether it’s for your personal brand or your company’s brand, good corporate headshots can go a long away in reflecting your own persona or your company’s ideals. For example, if you or your company wants to project a professional, corporate look then your headshot should reflect just that. Keep in mind when you’re having headshots taken that its important to keep the background in mind. Try and avoid colors too similar to what you might be wearing or anything flesh colored. Ultimately you want the focus of the photo to be you.
It pays off
According to Psychology Today, a study published in June 2014 found that even small changes made to the same individual’s profile picture could result in a dramatically different first impression. Having an updated headshot is important, but it’s also important to update any professional online profiles with that headshot. If you’re a recent college grad looking for a job and the job you’re after comes down to two people, a great-looking professional headshot could make the difference before a potential employer gets to meet you in person. Again, first impressions are everything and taking the initiative to get new corporate headshots can go a long way.
No matter what line of work you’re in, having a professional headshot makes you look good and gives people who look for you online a good feeling about you. A good headshot makes you more trustworthy and puts you in a good light when it comes to representing your company. If a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, than polished corporate headshots can certainly go a long way.
Do you have a great smile? Do you have facial features that give you a distinguished look? Do people tell you that you have the face for a certain line of work? Let headshot photographers show off those features in professional photos to make you stand out from the crowd.