Phones take great photos now, so it’s reasonable to wonder whether you need a photographer at all. Sometimes you don’t. But when your photo is doing a job, like getting you hired, booked or chosen, a professional headshot usually pays for itself.
Where your headshot shows up
Think about every place your face appears: LinkedIn, your company website, email signature, conference programs, proposals, business cards, realtor signs, legal directories, casting sites. For many people it’s the first impression, and it happens before you ever say a word.
What a professional headshot gives you that a selfie can’t
- Direction. Most of us don’t know what our face is doing. A good photographer coaches your expression, posture and angle until it looks natural.
- Light. Proper lighting flatters every skin tone and keeps you looking like yourself, only sharper.
- Consistency. For teams, everyone gets the same background and style, so your website looks put together.
- Files that work everywhere. Web ready and high resolution versions in different crops, ready for screens and print.
When it’s absolutely worth it
- You’re job hunting or have just started a new role
- You run a business and your face is part of the brand
- You’re an actor submitting to agents or casting
- Your team page has ten different photo styles on it
- You’re a realtor, lawyer or healthcare provider and clients pick you based on trust
The cost in perspective
A studio session with me is $199, including a retouched headshot. A good headshot lasts years. Spread across every profile view, introduction and proposal over that time, it’s one of the cheapest pieces of marketing you’ll ever buy.
If you’re camera shy, even better. Most of my clients are, and they’re the ones who end up most surprised by their photos. See how a session works or check the prices.
