Branding yourself professionally

Springtime is a time of renewal which, in addition to that "spring cleaning," often brings with it an upgrade to our wardrobe or household content.

Some people will also change their personal profile photo on social media during the spring, although the catalyst for that is often a big life event such as getting engaged or married, having a baby, getting a new job or moving from one country to another.

But when was the last time you changed your professional profile photo? Here are my top reasons why you should consider a professional portrait refresh this spring:

MOVED ON OR UP
Over time, your professional headshots may no longer reflect your professional level or field. Consider refreshing your headshots when you advance your career or move into a new field to ensure you look the part.

PERSONAL BRAND
Early in your career, you might not have had a well-defined personal brand. As a result, your headshots may look professional, yet generic to the industry you work in. Once you’ve defined your brand, it’s important to get headshots that reflect your brand identity.

VARIETY
Having one great headshot isn’t always enough. As you make a name for yourself, your profile is likely to be published on a wide range of websites and with social media becoming a key tool to create engagement for your personal brand, you want to have a variety of headshots that are relevant to the different aspects of your personality or work position. Create different scenes within the same location, change clothes and make sure to include a range of poses and expressions to give your headshots more variety and nuance.

WHO DIS?
You might love the headshot of you taken 10 years ago, but if you look a lot different now, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Any time your appearance changes significantly — including altering your hairstyle or colour and gaining or losing significant weight — you may want to consider an update to your professional profile photo. You want your headshots to create an accurate depiction of yourself to clients for when they meet you in person or over Zoom.

NO SELFIES
A social media profile picture is equivalent to what a job interview outfit was 20 years ago, so don't use a selfie or an informally staged shot taken by a friend in the backyard. To present yourself in a professional manner, engage a professional photographer.

Lisa Reid is a photographer at Blank Canvas. To see more of her work, visit lisareidphotography.com. This story first appeared in the March 2022 edition of Camana Bay Times.