There are so many articles and books about how to make a great first impression when you meet someone for the first time. We all know how to do it in real life – dress appropriately, smile, shake hands, maintain eye contact, be confident, and show respect. But what does it do online? Making the first impression with your photo is somewhat similar to impressing people in real life, and I’d like to give you some tips that might help you:
Make your message as clear as possible.
How do you want the people to see you? What does your photo say? “I’m friendly and inviting”, “I’m confident”, I’m professional”, or does it say “I’m better than you”, or “I’m cold?” All of those might be appropriate depending on the situation and also the values you want to bring into this world with your profession. Please think about the message you want to convey to people who you come in contact with, and to your potential clients. Then discuss it with your photographer. Following this way, you will get the best results.
Be sincere.
Don’t try too hard to look different – your business photo should reflect who you are in your profession, and be more like you look at your workplace. That’s why the background of your business portrait is usually simple, and the outfit and jewelry should not be distracting, to let your face and pose speak for themselves. Your facial expression and body language are one of the first things that people notice about you. So, try to be sincere and we will help with the rest, getting into the right mood and feeling more relaxed.
Show respect and care to others.
This includes several aspects. First, dress appropriately for the occasion, meaning the photoshoot (I have made some guidelines to help you select the outfit that best suits you). If you will use your photo to apply for a vacancy in a large company, carefully study their style of photos and make your photos styled the same way. This shows your potential viewer the same level of respect that you would show in real-life meetings.
The second aspect is to use a high-quality photo and to keep it updated. A professional photo will help you show your potential clients or employers that you really care about their opinions. And updating your photo regularly will show that you are active and not “standing in one place”.
Too much information? Nothing to worry about. Book a headshot session with us today and we’ll gladly assist you in making the first impression with your photo!