PATTERNS DATE AND DISTRACT

This boldly patterned blouse is very pretty. Very eye-catching. Hey, wait ... wasn't I supposed to notice something else first? Yes, you were. Again, the lighting, pose, and background are all just fine for an executive headshot. But the bright, bold blouse draws a viewer's eye away from Katherine's face. When you're talking about an executive headshot, the face has to be the focus. Remember, the ultimate goal of your headshot is to connect you to potential clients. Connection comes from eye contact and facial expression. And if noticing your face comes second for any reason, your executive headshot is not effective.

And there's another problem with patterns. We've all heard about timeless beauty and timeless fashion. Some things remain fresh and current as the decades go by. This blouse may not be one of those things. Heavily patterned, trendy pieces may work for a time. But when the fad fades, so does the effectiveness of your headshot, if you've chosen the wrong wardrobe.

The more streamlined your wardrobe choices, the better. A simple blazer and crisp collared shirt will wear well. We know that an executive headshot is an investment. And you want investments to last. No one wants a potential client to look at their headshot and think, "that is so last year.”

Simpler choices are called classic for a reason, and they tend to stand the test of time better. While you should update your headshot frequently enough to keep your online presence fresh, it is enough of an investment that you don’t want to have to do it too often. Better an older headshot that looks like it might have been taken last week than a new headshot that will look old and tired by the time the next season rolls around. We always recommend choosing your headshot wardrobe with this in mind.