We all know by now that there is a direct link between how we present ourselves online and the perceived value of the services we provide. Every week, in my studio in the northern suburbs of Chicago, I create headshots for an assortment of professional service providers, executives, entrepreneurs, and those in career transition, all of whom understand that when they are seeking to connect with potential clients, employers, or investors, it is crucial to be as warm, witty, wise, and wonderful on the screen as they are in real life…
But what if you are responsible for a staff? Are you putting as much thought into their online presentation as your own? If you have an “Our Team” page on your website (or something similar), here are some questions you might ask yourself:
- Do the faces of my fellow team members look relaxed and natural, approachable and trustworthy, capable of inspiring confidence among our prospective clients?
- Is the overall presentation cohesive and professional? Does it make a statement about the strength and shared purpose of the group as a whole?
- Are the headshots photographed against backgrounds that are appropriate for our brand identity, and in keeping with the overall color scheme and visual tone of our website?
If you are proud of your team’s high level of expertise, attention to detail, and overall commitment to excellence, it's worth a reminder that outdated, inconsistent, amateur, or impersonal headshots can unintentionally send the opposite message.
The good news is that getting high quality, updated office headshots doesn't have to be painful for either the subjects or for the person on your team tasked with getting this done, regardless of the size of your organization. It's best to work with a professional photographer who understands this sub-genre inside and out.
As for me, whether your team comes to my Highland Park studio, or I bring the studio to your team, I always provide:
1. Kind, gentle, and specific coaching
2. Consistent, flattering studio lighting
3. Immediate image review and selection
4. Professional, polished, responsible retouching
Other services like online appointment scheduling, individualized file naming, multiple crops, private online galleries, and ongoing new hire sessions are just the icing on the cake.
If you are in the Chicago area and would like to learn more, you can find me HERE.
But no matter where you are, and who you choose to work with, please don't let your team's current headshots stand in the way of your organization making the best first impression.