Your headshot is often the first time a board, client, or recruiter sees you. It is worth getting right.
It appears on your firm's website, your LinkedIn profile, and conference programs, sometimes for years.
It speaks before you do
A strong headshot tells people who you are and how you operate. A dated or casual one can quietly undercut years of experience.
Consider where your photo actually appears: your firm's leadership page, a proxy statement, a conference program, the profile a search committee pulls up before your first conversation. In each case, it is often the only image someone has of you. A photograph from a decade ago, a cropped vacation snapshot, or one taken in an ill-fitting jacket all suggest that you have not given the matter much thought.
Wardrobe matters as much as the photographer
Choose a well-fitted jacket in a solid, mid-tone color, a shirt with a collar that sits cleanly, and a tie that adds a measured note of color. Avoid anything that will date the photo quickly.
Fit is everything in a headshot because the camera is close and unforgiving. Shoulders that sit precisely, a collar with no gap at the neck, and a tie knot sized to the collar spread all register immediately. Bring two or three options to the session: one more formal, one slightly softer. A navy jacket with a white or pale blue shirt is almost always a safe and strong choice.
Think about where it will be used
A headshot for a board biography calls for something more formal than one for a speaker profile at an industry event. If you need both, capture both in the same session with a simple change of tie or jacket. It costs nothing extra and gives you the right image for each audience.
Update it when your role changes
A new title is a good reason for a new photo. It should look like the person who will walk into the meeting. As a rule, plan to refresh it every two to three years, or sooner if your appearance has changed in a noticeable way.
Prepare in advance
Have your clothes pressed and checked for fit a few days before. If you would like help choosing what to wear, I am happy to advise. Several of my clients in Plano and across Dallas-Fort Worth now schedule a short wardrobe session before every headshot or board photo.
If you would like a second set of eyes before your next important room, begin with a private conversation. I meet clients at their office, their home, or a quiet table at the club, wherever is easiest.