How Often Should I Update My Headshot?

1. If you have changed in a noticeable way

Is your hairstyle dramatically different? Have you changed your hair color? Do you have new facial hair, like a beard?

2. If you feel your previous headshot is not flattering.

If you are unhappy with your previous headshot, don’t make yourself keep looking at it – get a new one!

3. If your current headshot doesn’t portray the right message.

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.

4. If your current headshot is casual and you need one with more formal attire, or vice versa.

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?

5. If you need branding images that go beyond your main headshot, to use for social media and other marketing

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.

6. If a client sees your headshot first, and then either doesn’t recognize you in person or says “wow you look different”

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.