I regularly get asked “how often do I need to update my headshot?” Obviously if it’s been a decade and you look completely different, it’s probably time to update it. However, if you’re on the fence, I respond that there are no hard and fast rules, but several things to think about.
Is your hairstyle dramatically different? Have you changed your hair color? Do you have new facial hair, like a beard?
If you are unhappy with your previous headshot, don’t make yourself keep looking at it – get a new one!
Perhaps in a former life, you wanted to be portrayed as a hard-hitting go-getter, but now you want to portray friendliness and approachability. Or, perhaps you went super heavy on the makeup before, and you want to look more like your natural self now. Your headshot does convey a message, so make sure it’s the right one for you now.
Leaving the coat and tie life for plaid and khaki? Or is your headshot cut out from the group photo of your last fishing outing, and you need one for the corporate world?
Do you want to portray yourself in different ways, such as more relaxed and cheerful, or working hard behind a desk? Branding images mean you have a library of different images to show a wide range of capabilities.
You may unwittingly be undermining your trust with your clients if you aren’t showing up as you present yourself online. I don’t mean you have to dress up and look just like your headshot photo every day – but you should be recognizable.
Contact me, or fill out the form on my pricing page.
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