What Does Your Headshot Say About You?

By Kathy Blanton
Master Career Strategist

When I first joined LinkedIn (circa 2003), neither I nor anyone in my first tier network posted headshots onto their profile page. When someone would request I join their network, whether I had seen them just yesterday or ten years ago, I would immediately look for a photo only to find that mysterious LinkedIn silhouette where a smiling face could have been.

I don’t know about all of my friends, but I was very skeptical about putting my mug on the Internet for the entire world to see. There might be some weirdo out there who could trace my whereabouts and stalk me. Or someone might figure out that my youthfully- written profile wouldn’t exactly line up with my not-as-youthful face. I also thought that if employers really wanted to see what I looked like they could simply take the time to have me in for an interview and see the real deal firsthand. Yeah, right.

Despite my reticence, one by one, people in my network began to add pictures to their profile and I, too finally succumbed. Today it is the norm for some kind of picture to be included on social media profiles. These photos range from professional portraits to very candid (and sometimes questionable) styles and content. And when a picture is missing, it is noticeable. But when it is poor quality or too candid, it can have disastrous effects on one’s professional brand and career.

While it may not always be necessary to have headshots professionally taken, it is very important to take the time to choose the right profile picture from your collection. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before posting your headshot:

If someone sees your picture today on LinkedIn or Facebook and then sees you tomorrow at a meeting, do you look basically the same? How current is your photo?

What image are you portraying in this picture? Fun? Dignified? Foolhardy? Approachable? Intellectual? Friendly? Experienced? Executive? Sexy? Is this image consistent with your professional brand? Is there anything about this picture that might impact your brand negatively?

Have you had friends or coworkers you trust give you feedback on your picture as it relates to your professional brand? Do you feel confident when you look at this picture?

Is the background in the picture and what you are wearing complimentary to one another?

Would you use this same picture in print media if you were asked to speak or perform at a major event in your industry?

Would you hire someone who looks like the person in this picture? If not, what do you need to change?

By taking the time to ensure that your photo is a nice, professional representation of your brand, you will avoid making the wrong first impression. A wrong first impression can be overcome given time. Problem is, you may not be given the chance.