How Headshots Help Your Networking

When you’re trying to grow your business or your professional image, there are so many different ways you can invest your time into that goal, like social media, networking, building and growing your website, and of course, networking. The beauty of this is that for each of these things, investing in one area will make the others more effective too because they all contribute to your overall image.

Take headshots, for example. You invest in great headshot photography to use on your LinkedIn, website, and other areas, but you might be surprised by how much it strengthens your networking too.

Making You Recognizable

A lot of networking today starts in digital settings. Maybe you’re making initial contacts with people on LinkedIn, through cold emailing, or through social media groups and online forums in your industry. It’s always positive when you can foster those online relationships into an in-person meeting to really talk business.

It might seem simple, but in these situations, don’t underestimate the impact of having a headshot that actually matches the way you look in “real life.” It makes the logistics less awkward so that if you meet in, say, a coffee shop, you and your contact can recognize each other in the crowd.

Beyond that, though, if you look noticeably different in person than you do in your headshot (if your headshot is visibly younger than you look today, for example), it can make the person question your trustworthiness in a way that takes away the momentum you’ve been building with them.

Jogging Your Connections’ Memories

If you’ve done any kind of professional events where you’re networking with new people, you probably know the scenario well: you meet a ton of new connections and walk away with a stack of business cards, but you have a hard time connecting the face to the name so you can’t remember which conversation was with whom.

All the people you meet at these events will have the same problem…until, that is, they go to add you on LinkedIn, see your excellent headshot that reflects the “you” that they just met, and say, “Ah yes, I remember chatting with them!” It makes you stand out from the crowd of people whose names they’ve forgotten and helps to turn an initial handshake into a genuine professional relationship.

Headshots to Connect Your In Person and Online Communications

The most effective networkers are typically those who make a conscious effort to foster professional relationships both online and in person. That might include industry events, online industry groups, current or former colleagues, and so on. Whether you meet a new contact first “in real life” or online, a great headshot will bridge the gap between your digital presence and in person presence, giving every connection some added familiarity and authenticity.

If your current headshot doesn’t do that well, I can help! Contact Jaimié Birtel Photography to book your headshot or personal branding photo shoot.