What to Wear: The Headshot

April 30th, 2016 admin

In this age of social media, having a professional headshot is as important as having a grammatically correct CV. A great one shows attention to detail and commitment to your craft. Since your headshot communicates in a nanosecond who you are and what you do, putting some effort into curating a professional image (aka one taken with a quality camera by a photographer who has experience with lighting and angles) is a worthwhile investment of your time and money. Here are some tips for captivating prospective clients or employers:

Consider Your Audience: If you work in a creative field, be creative with your setting. For a more conservative profession, play it a bit safer. If you are not sure of the tone you want to communicate or what is acceptable in your field, take cues from upper management or shining stars in your industry. Use LinkedIn as a resource and take note of headshots you gravitate toward.

Choose Your Setting: Collaborate with your photographer to identify a setting that is appropriate to the tone you want to convey. A professional background or something more casual? Indoor or outdoor? Whatever the setting, ensure that you feel relaxed and confident. And by all means, avoid too much staging or posing (insert Napoleon Dynamite joke here).

Curate Your Look: What you wear will depend on your field and the tone you want to convey. The pieces you choose should frame your face and accentuate your eyes. A good rule of thumb: wear something that you would choose for an important meeting. When in doubt, a top with a moderate neckline and a textural jacket is great for women: a button front shirt and sport jacket (tie optional) is failsafe for men.

Specific questions, just ask: ali@alicallconsulting.com

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