The Power of Good Company Headshots: 4 Reasons Why Your Company Needs them ASAP
A well-crafted headshot can convey a lot about a person and the company they represent, and it can make all the difference in establishing a positive and memorable impression.
As people increasingly rely on the internet for information and communication, it's crucial for businesses to present a professional and trustworthy image to potential customers, partners, and employees. In today’s blog, we’re going to discuss the benefits of having company headshots.
1. Leaves first day jitters at the door
.jpeg)
Okay, I’ll be the first to admit it, when I was applying for jobs, I always scrolled over to the company’s employees section on LinkedIn to get a glance at what the employees looked like. Come on, I know you've done it too! Social media has given us all a free ticket to “stalk” nowadays.
The first day at your new job can feel like the first day of school. You have so much on your mind and we all know no one remembers anyone’s name the first day (guilty). But, imagine the company you started working for has team headshots on their website. Cue the sigh of relief! Even if you don’t memorize everyone’s name to their photo, you can go into your first day feeling confident in knowing who you might be working with.
Finding some familiar faces or knowing somebody’s role could lead you to ask the right person the right questions. Beyond that, you can already make out some first impressions of people based on their profile pictures.
I know, I know, looks aren’t everything. But having a reference photo is a major anxiety reducer and it’s a virtual first impression. It cleans up some of that headspace on your first day for other important things (like finding out how to use the office coffee machine).
2. Brands your company
I think a major green flag for companies is when they have a clear, branded presence online.
When I applied to Bulb Digital, I went through all of their bases. Instagram, website, and their other socials. When I got to their “About Us” page, there were unified headshots of all of the employees and their titles. It was clean, polished, and flowed with their website. “Wow, they have their act together,” I thought.
Headshots are a simple tool that goes a long way when it comes to making your company look like a unified brand.
Also, let’s leave stiff and awkward headshots at the door. Headshots are a chance to show off your brand’s personality. Look at these examples of totally different headshot styles, yet they all show a unique style and work in their own ways.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
3. Demonstrates your humanity
No matter how successful a company is, it’s easy to forget there are human beings on the other side of the screen doing the work. When applying to companies, the facade can be deceiving. I remember having to take a step back and saying “Okay, the company seems great, but what about the people?”
I’m not going to claim seeing pictures of people will tell you whether you chose the right company or not, but displaying your humanity, through headshots, as an organization, brings an emotional side to the online connection. People are mass applying to jobs nowadays. To have someone stop, look at the actual people working at your company, and digest it, you’ve already formed a deeper connection than most companies and that will go a long way.
Is Team Communication Holding You Back?
Find Out in Just 2 Minutes.
Take our quick scorecard to uncover communication gaps and hidden barriers within your team.
4. Sets your employees and company up for professional success
.jpeg)
Current and previous coworkers of mine have used headshots for multiple years across multiple jobs. I think that’s okay as long as we aren’t dealing with a total catfish situation. As a company, of course, you’re giving your employees professional work experience to put on their resume, but giving your employees a professional headshot is also another way to set them up for professional success and invest in their career.
Headshots end up on that list of things we know we should get done, but it keeps getting bumped to the bottom of the list. We find excuses and end up using that one nice photo your friend took on their iPhone in front of a white wall.
As a company, you’re not only investing in your own professional reputation, but also your employee’s. If someone scrolls by one of your employees on LinkedIn and catches a glimpse of their professional headshot, they most likely will stay a minute, look around, and possibly end up on your company’s page. It’s a win for your employee and your company.
The bottom line
If you’ve gotten through this article and are now wondering, “Well my company has 100+ people in it, there’s no way we can get headshots for everyone!” I’m not here to tell you you’re wrong, but have an open mind 😉
Stay on the lookout for another blog post where we’ll discuss affordable ways to take professional headshots. But in the meantime, I urge you to photograph (or even begin planning photographs) and put some of your leaders on display. Some people on display is better than no one!
