Does Your Headshot Represent YOU?

After a brief stint as corporate photographer for Melvin Simon & Associates, (now Simon Property group), I started Banayote photography in 1982. I have had the opportunity to work with businesses in the Fortune 500, and many medium and small businesses.

I’ve seen Indianapolis from it’s most humble beginnings through its glorious Super Bowl XLI win and its recent 100th running of the Indy 500. It was an honor to have captured images of presidential visits to Indiana starting with Ronald Regan. I have had the privilege of capturing the winning driver of the Indy 500. My images are used for the artist that creates the mold that goes on the Borg-Worner trophy. I have worked on this project for the past 28 years.

VIPs and major events are great. But it’s our everyday professionals from technology to manufacturing, executive to tactical that make the hard working state so diverse, emerging and fun.

It is great getting to know my subjects. During each photoshoot, I’m honored to get to know my subject in a unique way. This helps us work together to have headshots represent the subject’s personality.

Photos communicate many things, which is why it’s so important to make sure your professional headshot communicates the RIGHT things. Here are five important things to consider about your headshot:

Consider the purpose of the headshot. Did your company send you to the photographer for a photo for their website? If that’s the case, the company likely has coordinated with the photographer on the types of poses desired. Work with the photographer to make sure you are in line with the company’s branding, but your photo still speaks to your unique self. Just looking for a new LinkedIn photo? In that case, your photo should represent both your industry’s style and yours.

Be open to try out different poses. Sometimes a client comes into the studio with the perfectly practiced pose, which looks great. But trust the photographer’s experience and be open to their suggestions. Sometimes a new pose can feel awkward, especially with the bright lights on you, but they can end up looking great.

Treat it like a yearbook photo. If you know you won’t be retaking a new headshot for a while, stay away from anything too trendy that might cause the photo to go out of style in a few years. For men, a white shirt with navy coat is timeless. Women can go with simple blouses and neutral colors.

Know when it’s time to get a new headshot. Your headshot needs to look like you. If you connect with a prospective client and they can’t recognize you from your photo, they’ll be confused. Consider getting a new headshot if you have gained or lost a considerable amount of weight, it’s been five or more years since the photo was taken, or you have significantly changed your appearance in a different way. If a woman is pregnant during the time of her headshot, we can always work around the “baby bump,” but it is understandable that she may want a new photo after the baby.

Make sure your personality shines. Your headshot tells people what it’s like to work with you. If you’re a serious minded professional, channel that. Don’t let a photographer try to tell you to put a big goofy smile on your face. If you’re more quirky, don’t settle for a standard pose that bores you.

When a professional trusts a photographer to shoot his or her headshot, that’s a big deal. I’m honored to partner with each client to make sure their headshot or their event, advertising or corporate photos represent their brand and their message.

Rob Banayote of Banayote Photography will complete headshots at the July 13 luncheon for an exclusive PRSA-discounted rate of $25 each. To register for the luncheon and reserve your spot for a headshot, click here.

Learn more about Banayote Photography at www.banayote.com.