​The adage that “a picture is worth a thousand words” has managed to stand the test of time, even and especially in our media-saturated world. Not all pictures, however are created equal! Here are just a few commonly held misconceptions about head shots and their place in your business.
Headshots are just a fancy selfie! I can do that myself!- False! For one a headshot gets rid of the background noise of the photo and allows your image to take front and center! A selfie cannot do this adequately enough to look professional. Human minds are information processing machines. This means that if there is anything more interesting than you in your selfie, the viewer is going to focus on that employer. 
Headshots are too formal… I can’t showcase the real me so what’s the point?- False! A harsh truth of business is that employers and clients do not really want or need to see the real you. They are looking for the professional you. The one that can get the job done and get it done well. A headshot doesn’t need to be formal to put your competence on display! A good photographer like the ones here at Camera Coach excel at showing your best self for business through relaxed posing and soft lighting. Having an array of editing options and sizes doesn’t hurt either. 
But I’m just not photogenic. I need a setting to generate appeal- False! This is a very common complaint, but in truth everyone is photogenic enough for a headshot. The key is to be willing to work with your photographer to get the desired result. It’s tempting to just sit and wait for the flash and hope that everything turns out okay. This creates anxiety on both sides of the lens! Photographers want your feedback so they can ensure that you get the product you paid for! The flipside of this is being willing to listen to the photographer’s feedback too. If you really think a headshot is going to do more harm to your image than help; contact your photographer ahead of time so the two of you can brainstorm editing options or other features to add that extra something that can make your image pop!

Which category do you fall into?
I have a professional headshot, I dressed up and someone took my picture on their phone, selfie all the way! Though it is tempting to believe that employers, co workers and potential clients want to see the real you as a form of connection this is simply not the case. I business is exactly that, a workplace that no matter the profession demands its own standards of decorum. 
      It's about first impressions. Often times the first exposure that other professionals, be they potential supervisors or clients have of you is your digital profile. Thanks to the increased use of social media it is easy work to create opinions and perceptions of yourself and to reach a wide audience with them! This is great news no matter what your job situation is, but what are you really telling people?
        Humans process far more information far faster in a visual format than a verbal or written one. One study concluded that 81% of people only skim what they read online!https://imgur.com/468Awwl That means that no matter how great your written communication skills are, a visual is going make or break other's idea of you. This is where a great headshot comes in.
        If visuals are key to marketing yourself then why not invest in them? The idea that you have to get completely formal or that the photo will look stiff and not showcase your personality is false. Dress to create the greatest informational impact for your viewer, no one is going to believe a ranch hand in a 5 piece suit any more that they would trust a lawyer wearing a basketball jersey to work. A good photographer, (like ours here at Camera Coach) will be able to capture a look that's right for you and your business!