Why Business Headshots Cost What they Cost:
Let’s talk about the elements that bring a winning business headshot together. There’s the wardrobe of course, and this post assumes you already know what to wear (how formal, choosing non-distracting and industry-appropriate attire, etc.). And there’s the most elusive aspect to your headshot — your attitude, that confidence and unafraid to look directly and smile. Yes, that attitude is the other thing, a key thing, that YOU bring to the photoshoot.
I’m talking about what the photographer does WITH those clothes and and that smile. So those elements are the right lighting and pose.
HEADSHOT SETTING
But first, let’s discuss the setting of your business headshot. If you already know this, then skip ahead to the next section. Mostly a business headshot will be in a professional photo studio. But some business headshots are done on location — either in your own offices or in an outdoors setting. To end up with the best headshot for you, consider the audience for your headshot. If you are in construction or information technology or real estate, those might be best suited to different settings. Are you a psychologist that should emphasize warmth and trustworthiness in their headshot? Are you a corporate attorney needing to emphasize toughness?
Indoors or Outdoors? Of course outdoor headshots need to think of the weather, the time of the year, and the angle of the sun, both during the time of day and the season. What you don’t want in an outdoor headshot is harsh lighting that casts shadows on your face. So here is where overcast can be your friend, softening the light, and what is often even better, being in the shade. The shade, however makes the light more bluish (versus yellowish, and we can also talk about that in terms of more “cool” vs more “warm”). The shade is mostly my choice for outdoor photos and I know how to warm that photo back up where it does not look blue and you have warm and healthy skin tones — important! Bea case of seasons and time of day, an outdoor headshot makes it nearly impossible for, say a large corporation, to get consistency when dozens or hundreds of employees get their headshots taken over the course of months or on an ongoing basis — even with the same location/pose/and lighting setup.
But that being said, an outdoor headshot can work great for a real estate agent or a less formal type business headshot. And that assumes your headshot photographer is using the right lens to blur the background JUST RIGHT — not too little or too much. The idea here is that you want to leave an impression of the surroundings, but not blur them into oblivion.
The bottom goal is to get value in your business headshot. You want the right image to best impact the right audience. And you want, as our Dallas headshot slogan is to “make a strong, positive response.” The value in your headshot is an investment in yourself. Separate that from the up front “cost” you pay the photographer. That is not the value. The cost is minuscule compared to the value of the new connections, the new opportunities, and the new business deals that having a truly professional headshot will streamline for you. You want to be received with respect, not doubt — with trust, not suspicion. And your headshot does this (when done right) in a way that is subtle, but powerful, and unspoken visual message to your prospects and peers!
Value comes from getting respect from peers and from encouraging a prospect to LIKE and TRUST you enough to want to do business with you. That means appearing professional/competent and still be welcoming, not aloof.
If this value is what you want, we welcome you as a headshot customer: in the Dallas, TX area, call 877–858–0071 for pricing and availability on headshots for yourself or the entire office! www.DallasBusinessHeadshots.com
