{"id":9369,"date":"2023-03-23T16:29:01","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T20:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.elizabethfultonphotography.com\/blog\/?p=9369"},"modified":"2023-05-22T14:46:29","modified_gmt":"2023-05-22T18:46:29","slug":"the-advantage-of-professional-headshots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.elizabethfultonphotography.com\/blog\/the-advantage-of-professional-headshots\/","title":{"rendered":"The advantage of professional headshots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The advantage of professional headshots<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Since the onset of the pandemic, there\u2019s been a bigger appetite for headshots than ever before. Headshots are like a virtual calling card.  No longer are they something we keep on file \u201cjust in case.\u201d They punctuate the little circles when our cameras are off in Microsoft teams meetings, they announce our presence on LinkedIn, they add flare to a contributed article or publication. But, even more than this, they let us present our best self, even on those days we aren\u2019t feeling it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Good headshots have a lot in common. Flattering lighting. Thoughtful backdrops. Careful positioning. These things are all my job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And it\u2019s funny because headshots often cause my clients anxiety, when their only responsibility is to show up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It\u2019s true that hair, makeup (if applicable) and style choices can influence the quality of a picture, but most of the magic happens in studio, before my clients arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This should be a great relief to those who feel a bit hesitant or vulnerable when getting a headshot. There\u2019s no doubt that a headshot is deeply personal, so it\u2019s normal to feel a bit apprehensive. But that doesn\u2019t mean the experience needs to be uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And, while all good headshots share certain elements of composition, the bad ones can be wildly different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A friend of mine once likened a company headshot she\u2019d had done to a \u201cstartled rabbit poking out of a hole!\u201d The angles were wrong, the distance was too far, the expression was a little too surprised, and the total effect was unfortunate.  But nothing about those challenges aren\u2019t inherently solvable. These weren\u2019t her problems\u2026they were problems of lighting, angle, you name it. And they reflected on the photographer\u2019s rushed composition, not my friends\u2019 perceived resemblance to Flopsy, Mopsy or Cottontail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The point is a bad headshot can make us feel badly about ourselves\u2026when in reality, if we hire a writer to draft our bio and they butcher it, it doesn\u2019t diminish our accomplishments, but rather points to their lack of skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I say this because for many men and women, our appearance is our bugaboo. We can spend a lifetime finding fault, and headshots are a perfect invitation to do just that.  A good headshot doesn\u2019t change what you look like, just as a good bio doesn\u2019t remake history\u2026but both should showcase you in the best possible light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Here are a few quick tips when preparing for a headshot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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