Let’s talk about Headshot Profile Photos – Plus enter my free prize draw
Whether it’s for LinkedIn; Insta; Facebook; TikTok; Pinterest or a book cover, here are four great tips on getting the best headshot photo for your profile picture
While I am doing my daily workout, I often listen to The Social Strategist by Michelle Gifford, a great podcast about social media strategy for business. Today’s listen was her 5-Minute Instagram Growth Strategies (see link at the bottom).
The general gist was that if you want to grow on Insta, then this should be your approach:
· Keep it simple
· Be clear about what you do and who you are – both in your bio and content
· Cut the waffle
But the point that caught my eye (or rather my ear) was her advice on Profile pictures.
‘Your profile picture should be something very clear. I like a clean, clear headshot where it is mostly face. Mine, right now, has the background cut out so that it is not distracting, and it’s one of my brand colours.’
Often I see profile pictures where the image is obviously a favourite pic, taken on a night out, or with a loved one, and cropped. You can practically see the other person in the image; or the party in the background. This is absolutely fine for your personal profile, but when you want to come across as an authority business figure, it’s a no-no.
Hiding behind a logo or abstract shot does not help reassure people that you are who you say you are either.
4 Top Tips for the Best Headshot Profile Photograph
1. Be identifiable. Make sure your headshot photo is clear and close-up, with either a blurred background or a plain backdrop to eliminate any distraction. You need to stand out so that you capture people’s attention.
If you hide behind abstract shots, you are not helping the ‘know like and trust’ element that is so key in converting scrollers to consumers.
Using your brand colours can be a sensible strategy, either with your background choice or with the choice of clothing. These are subtle ways to reinforce the link between your image and your brand.
2. Be consistent:
It’s easy not to have consistency across your platforms; to shake it up a bit on the profile image (I do – whoops!). But two different photos can make you look like a different person, which leads a consumer to hesitate before clicking through. You don’t want to put up any barriers between you and your potential client.
‘I have my profile picture across all of my social platforms so that if someone comes to find me and they know me from Instagram and they go to Pinterest, they automatically can connect with me very quickly because they recognise my profile picture,’ says Michelle.
3. Be visible. Feature in your content, doing what you say you are doing, or being who you say you are. Your content must reflect your bio – to add proof to your claim of business.
Michelle does a brand photo shoot once or twice a year. This helps provide content for reel covers, which she likes to add to all her reels to hook people in and clean up her feed.
Another great podcaster on social media strategy, Jenna Kutcher of the Goal Digger Podcast, recommends having lots of images of yourself in your feed. One look at her Instagram handle shows that she does just that – and some. She observes that content where you show up yourself invariably gets more likes and engagement than content where you don’t. Have you noticed this on your feed?
Mixing up home-shot phone images with professional branding images is fine, but it really depends on how you want to come across. Next time you scroll on someone’s feed, identify the selfies and compare them to the professional images. What do you feel or think when you see the two? Does one image evoke a different response than the other?
4. Update your headshot photo regularly. Although it is good to have consistency and not to update your profile photo too often, do update your profile image with a new headshot photo every year or two. When people use a profile picture for too long, it can look staid, out-of-date and boring. And your profile can seem unloved and uncared for. Plus, when you do update your profile photo, it gives you an extra reason to post!
For my clients, their brand photo shoot images give them confidence to post and appear in their feeds. As I provide hair and make-up; plus a professional camera and lens, where distortion is not a problem, they know they are safe from the variabilities of home-grown footage. Plus, all my images are edited, colour-toned, retouched and can be cropped to match my clients’ requirements.
If you really want to grow on Insta or any other social media platform, I’d recommend a brand photo shoot every year to provide you with a steady stream of images.
But if you do not post lots, then my headshot packages are quick; efficient and reasonable.
If you think it’s time you elevated your game and booked a branding photo shoot, check out my packages here: https://www.charlottewebbphotography.com/photography-services-copy
I’m also running a prize draw for a free Headshot Shoot worth £600. If you would like to enter, visit my website here: www.charlottewebbphotography.com
If you know anyone who you think would like to enter the prize draw, please pass it on.
To hear more from my favourite social media strategy podcasts:
The Social Strategist with Michelle Gifford
Jenna Kutcher’s The Goal Digger Podcast
( https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-goal-digger-podcast/id1178704872)
And their Instagram handles:
@iammichellegifford @jennakutcher
And while you are at it, don’t forget to follow me on social media @charlottewebblifestylephoto
Good luck if you enter the draw. It closes on 14th April 2024, and the winner will be announced here shortly afterwards.
Best wishes
Charlie
