“How often do I need to update my headshot?”
The simple answer? Every 2 years. In today’s ever-evolving online world, your headshot is a vital part of your digital presence. It is your digital handshake, your “face-to-face” connection online that helps build relatability and trust.
If you’re like me, you would rather build connection in person and ignore your online presence. I love having people over and hearing their stories, being able to talk to them while hearing their voice and seeing them in front of me.
However, I had a couple of people come into the studio recently who had seen my picture on LinkedIn, or on my business card, and were a little surprised when they realized I was the photographer they had seen “oh, that is you.” I realized it was time to refresh my online “hello” and update my headshot. A change in hairstyle and glasses makes a big difference!
Headshots start to look dated in a couple of years because styles change, and well, let’s face it…your appearance starts to change with age too. It is important to have a headshot that is authentic to who you are currently. Keep it fresh and updated for the MANY ways you connect online. There’s the world of social media, your company’s website, your email signature, your Zoom profile picture, LinkedIn, and so many more online points of connection. And let’s not forget about your printed business cards and marketing materials!
While the rule of thumb is every two years to keep your headshot fresh and up-to-date, you may need to update sooner if your appearance has changed based on:
- New Glasses
- Haircut
- Hair Color
- Hair Styling
- Significant weight change
You may also need to update your headshot sooner than 2 years if your circumstances have changed:
- You’ve changed jobs – you need a headshot that works for your new role.
- You want to change jobs – you need a headshot that positions you in the right direction.
- You’re ready to uplevel your current headshot (which is a selfie or a cutout from a group shot).
- You only have 1 headshot, but you want a variety so you can convey different aspects of who you are across your network.
Chances are, if you are asking whether it’s time to update your headshot—it probably is. Embrace change. Be authentic and show up as you currently are. I am reminding myself of this too; I knew it was time for a couple of months before I finally got it done. The difference is, you don’t have to do it for yourself. I’m here to help. Get started with getting your headshot. Although, I can’t say I did it all on my own…I did have a little help…but I’ll leave the behind the scenes from my shoot for my next post.
