LinkedIn is a place where thousands of people are looking for work, for people to hire, and to make connections. These connections can make or break the transition to more contract work or into the corporate space.
But did you know how important it is to have your profile filled out and up to date AND have a professional headshot picture?
It’s so important, in fact, that you should have a professional take one for you.
You may say: It’s difficult to find a professional photographer in the area that specializes in professional headshots. Do I really need a professional photographer when I have a smartphone and tripod? Can’t I google how to take a professional headshot and take the DIY route myself?
In short, you can. But it won’t look the best. Many LinkedIn users take on the mantle of being their own photographer to skirt the expense of hiring someone to do the job, but in the end, unless you have the Midas touch when it comes to photography, your photos can come out looking unprofessional (the very thing you want to avoid).
While your LinkedIn profile will list your experience and accomplishments, your profile photo will showcase the type of person you are. A picture is worth a thousand words, so let your headshot speak to that.
At the end of the day, LinkedIn is a social media. Other social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, appeal to a broader audience where it invites you to shine a window into your personal, everyday life. But when going for an interview, you wouldn’t showcase a selfie you took on a recent holiday getaway. You’d want to put your best foot forward and convey how you would be in a professional setting.
Statistics show that LinkedIn members get 21x more profile views and 9x more connection requests.
With millions of people vying for jobs on the platform, having a professional headshot can make you stand out in a sea of competition. Most members on the platform will have photos taken from their phones. They’re usually crappy, have shadows, don’t show the applicant clearly, and overall don’t give a good representation of who a person is or how they will be if they are hired.
Bad photos make it seem like you don’t put effort into your appearance, and therefore won’t put effort into your work. When getting LinkedIn headshots in NYC, we create images that have the power to captivate and convey your message.
Our professional photographers work with professionals and have done so for the past 30 years. We know exactly how to frame a picture to make you look like the qualified and desirable candidate that you are.
To increase your connections and referral rates, invest in your profile picture. It’s the first interaction you’ll have with many potential connections down the road if you do so. This is your chance to express your friendly, trustworthy, and confident side – key characteristics to getting more prospects to engage with you.
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