Local food producers, jewellery makers, artists, craftsman, the list goes on. And that's just the tip of the iceberg of people putting themselves out there and going for their dreams.
If you're one of these people, working for yourself, or if you're still toying with the idea of taking the plunge then you'll already be aware that, really, YOU are your business.
You are what makes the business special and what makes people want to buy your products or your services. So you want to make sure that you are represented in the best possible way.
This is where professional portraits/headshots come in.
Here are my top 3 reasons why you should have some taken:
Yes, they buy the thing that you're selling, but really, they're buying YOU. So it's a great idea to have photos that really show the true you, on your social media pages and on an 'about' page on your website. People will naturally tend to feel like they know you better if they see a photo of you, rather than just a logo, especially if the photo captures your personality.
I use the Beloved technique in my solo portrait sessions, which results in brilliantly authentic photos. Your personality will shine through in your photos, which is just what you want when you are your business.
2) People are busy.
They might not have the time to read all about you and your business, they might just scan your website for the information they need. But they will see your headshot photo. When you think that your profile photo might be all they use to form an impression of you, then you see the importance of making sure it's a great quality photo that shows you at your best!
3) People use short-cuts and make assumptions.
We might not always be aware of it, but we do make judgements about people from what we see and read about them. If people see a photo of you that's blurry, or obviously cropped from a picture of a night out, they may well make assumptions about you and how seriously you take your business.
Yes, you want the photos of you to show your personality, but you need them to also show that you take care over what you do and what you put out into the world.
So, take a few minutes and have a look at the photos of yourself that you're using on your social media pages and on your website. Are they recent? Do they really reflect who you are? Are you happy to have them represent you and your business to the online world?!
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then maybe it's time to get some new, professional portraits taken.
Get in touch with me if you'd like to discuss a session! I'd love to get to know you and provide you with photos to be proud of for your business.