Adrienne’s old headshot vs. an updated headshot in my studio.

Okay, Boss, I get it… you’re busy. You’re busy doing, creating, managing clients, marketing, and about a million other things; but are you attracting the clients you really want to work with?

There’s a LOT that goes into branding yourself, from design, to copy on your site, choosing a logo, the list is long. Your pictures speak louder than words and it is often the very first impression people have of you and your business, so it’s important to make it a good first impression.

If you’re reading this, you’re likely in a place where you’re thinking of rebranding, looking for the best way to update your website, or maybe you’re just curious how you can make your business stand out. So, do you really need to update your headshots and branding photos?

Don’t worry, we’re gonna tackle a couple questions at a time and we’ll figure this thing out together!

Lisa’s old headshot vs. an updated one in my studio

1. Do your current photos look outdated?

The rule of thumb is, if you haven’t had updated headshots in at least 2 years chances are, they are outdated. A lot happens in two years, we are living beings that change with time, unfortunately, it is inevitable.

When we spoke, it was apparent how important it was to Adrienne that her photos look kind, as to attract the clients she really wants to work with as a realtor, while also showing her boss qualities.

2. Have you had a significant change in your appearance? i.e. significant weight change, gotten eye surgery so you ditched the glasses, etc…

Since having a significant weight change will obviously change your look, it’s important to show the person you look like now so there is no confusion when meeting your clients. After eye surgery people generally throw away those glasses forever, people are then often unrecognizable. Think about it, the eyes are what people mostly focused on when seeing you and you’ve been hiding behind panes of glass and rims.  Show those beautiful peepers off now!

3. Do you want to freshen up your brand?

Okay, this one is worth repeating! With businesses being online, your headshot is literally the first thing people will see of you – sort of like an online “handshake” – so it’s  important to make sure it looks fresh, modern, but still like you; this will make people want to be a part of your fresh and modern business! This can also be accomplished by scheduling a Personal Branding shoot with your photographer, which show more of your personality that will be even more effective than just some simple headshots. More on the differences between Headshots vs. Personal Branding photos here

Hilary’s old headshot vs an updated one in my studio.

Hilary also needed to update her headshot because she worked her butt off and lost weight. She also wanted to freshen her look to be a more youthful, yet age appropriate that has “Boss” written all over it.  As a realtor,

As a realtor, Hilary had some great feedback on her new look from clients, adding,

“I have gotten more ‘agent select’ clients, which is a referral that is chosen based solely off of my photo and profile”

Okay, so at least one of the above questions applies to me, but at what point do I need to actually schedule this session?

A common myth is that a personal branding photographer is for those who have already made it.

Raye’s before and after makeover experience with one of my trusted hair and makeup artists.

 

Raye is a newer business owner who wanted to start her business off on the right foot by highlighting herself and her products in a young, hip and stylish way that really is the language of her brand.

First impressions count. Get it right and your potential clients will read what you have to say, want to get to know you and buy into your brand right away. If you get it right the first time, you will save the hassle of rebranding later!

And don’t think you can wait any longer to invest in personal branding pictures until after you’ve achieved a certain income! Those who have already achieved success know they did so because they visualized the ending. They brought the clients that helped them build to that level by showing a strong brand.

Make sure when looking for a photographer you’re having conversations with them about the type of look they want and it’s important to use a photographer who specializes in this type of photography to ensure you will be attracting the clients you deserve!

If you’re ready to get your headshots updated and located in or around the San Antonio area, my Headshot Mini Session Special is running for two days only May 17 & 18.