DISTORTED PERSPECTIVE

Most anyone could probably tell you what's wrong with this picture: our model suddenly looks like a bobble-head doll. But do you know why? There are two possible answers here. One is that the photographer stood too close to his subject. The other is that the photographer may have used the wrong lens. Or, some combination of the two.  While we did exaggerate this slightly to make our point, this is something that we see in our travels around the internet. What it looks like is that it was done with a cheap camera. And if your headshot looks like it was done with a cheap camera, it makes you look cheap.

It may seem tempting to have your headshot taken by a friend with a nice camera or by an amateur photographer with a “studio” in the corner of their basement. On the surface, it looks like the simplest possible shot to take: head and shoulders only, plain background. What could possibly go wrong? You’ve already seen our Blunders page, so you know that the answer is: plenty. It takes more than a nice camera and a blank wall to craft an effective headshot. And, we’ll say it again: your headshot is likely to be your first point of contact with a potential client. It is important. It is not the place to cut corners. In some things the generic option is just as good as the more expensive name brand. In those cases, it makes sense to save your pennies. But we aren’t talking about potato chips or paper napkins. We are talking about the sales document that introduces you to your ideal client. You should always be aiming for that ideal client: the one whose business would mean that your business would be financially secure. That’s who you want to attract. Looking cheap to that potential client has a steep hidden cost.

Your headshot is worth investing in.