What’s preventing you from updating your headshot? I could make a long list of the excuses I hear. The thing is, your headshot is a big part of your professional identity and brand. Keeping it updated should be a priority.

That list I was mentioning? Here are the five most common excuses I come across…and why they don’t really matter.

I look so much younger in my old one

Maybe you discovered the Fountain of Youth. Maybe you’re trying to freeze time. But if you walk in a room and people don’t recognize you, it’s time for a new headshot.

In fact, experts recommend updating your headshot every 2-3 years. Using an old headshot can actually work against you—you lose credibility when you walk in and look completely different from the headshot people are used to seeing.

I want to lose weight first

I can totally relate to avoiding the camera because you don’t look the way you want. The thing is, a headshot is your first impression. A photo of how you used to look may give the wrong impression, effectively telling people that you’re not the confident business person you are.

A good photographer uses posing and lighting techniques that make you look your absolute best. There are clothing choices that make a big difference in how you look in a photograph and a professional photographer like me can help you pick those out. The result will be a headshot you can be confident will give the right impression about you.

I don’t take good photos/I look awkward in photos

That’s why you hire a professional, my friend!

When I was in the corporate world, I was sent to a photographer’s studio to get the standard company headshot. It was a professional studio, but kind of sterile feeling. I remember feeling awkward and stiff, like I had to stay perfectly still while the photographer tweaked where every last hair landed on my shoulders. The result was a headshot that looked stiff and overly posed. Go figure!

You shouldn’t have that experience…EVER! I work hard to make people comfortable in front of the camera, so we can capture their personality in their headshots. My clients rave about their headshot experience and get tons of compliments on their images. Some even tell me it’s the best headshot they’ve ever had!

I’ll just use that one from the family photo I like

But that doesn’t look professional. What’s the first thing you do when you “meet” someone online? You look at their photo. Does it give the right impression? (I don’t have to tell you how judgmental people can be!)

Think of your headshot as an introduction, a virtual handshake if you will. It’s pretty obvious when you’re using a personal photo on your social media profiles. Is that the impression you want to make in business?

If done right, a great headshot makes you look more polished and professional, and a really great headshot shows your personality without saying a word. It can mean the difference between “yeah, she’s okay” and “I want to work with HER!”

Trust me, it matters…a lot!

It’s too expensive.

Yes, a professional headshot can be expensive. Think of it as an investment in yourself.

A professional headshot is not something you use once and throw away, like that grande latte you spend $5 on every day. A headshot is something you’ll use over and over again in a lot of different ways. A great quality headshot can be used for several years.

You might be surprised to learn a great headshot can make you more confident as well. It’s true! When you have a headshot that shows your personality, you connect with people faster and that builds confidence.

Enough with the excuses. It’s time to get a new headshot! With expertise in posing and lighting, I’m confident we can create a headshot image you’re proud to show off. Seriously, what are you waiting for?