Why You Need New Headshots in 2023
Much like a good portrait photographer, a good professional headshot is worth its weight in gold. It can set you apart from the competition, help you build a uniquely special personal brand, and highlight your beauty inside and out.
If you’ve been mulling over getting new professional headshots, stop — this is the year to get it done. Here are five reasons why.
You want a leg up on the competition.
The job market is competitive. The finest of margins decide who gets the initial recruiter LinkedIn message, the first interview, or the final job offer. While many candidates have similar job experience and accolades, they don’t always have an engaging personal brand to match.
This is where you (yes, you) have a competitive advantage in the job market. With a professional-grade headshot, you’ll stand out in LinkedIn searches, applicant systems, and in piles of resumes.
You have a fresh, new style.
Look at you! You have a great new hair color and style, some stylish specs, and an updated wardrobe. This is the perfect reason to call up your local portrait photographer for new headshots.
Professional photos should always reflect your current appearance — otherwise, they’ll feel dated and inaccurate. Time to hit the refresh button and invest in new headshots.
You look more knowledgeable and distinguished.
Getting older is inevitable — and whether you believe it or not, you look more distinguished, wise, and knowledgeable as you age. That can be the boost you need to land that new job you’re after.
If you’re aging like a fine wine, message your local business photographer and get some new headshots snapped. You’ve never looked better than you do right now!
You’re changing careers/industries.
The austere, formal headshots from your days in government work won’t translate well if you’re looking for a job at a creative agency. Similarly, a non-profit headshot won’t offer the professional look you’re after for a corporate finance job.
If you’re looking to pivot in your career, your headshots need to pivot with you. Portrait photographers with experience in branding can help you choose the right close and construct the right looks for your desired industry.
Consider your career shift a shift in your personal brand — update your photos to match.
Your headshots are over three years old.
A lot can change in three years, whether it’s your appearance, hair trends, headshot trends, or your career industry. What’s trendy now will feel dated in an instant. When was the last time you had new headshots done?
A great rule of thumb is to update your headshots every three years at minimum. This will ensure your personal brand feels fresh and reflects your current appearance and professional goals.
Schedule a Photo Consultation
Know you need new headshots but not sure how they should look? Feeling uncomfortable about getting new photos taken because of camera shyness, physical changes, or other factors? It’s time to schedule a consultation.
With over a decade of experience helping people feel comfortable and look beautiful in their photos, I’d love to discuss your needs and help you get the perfect headshots for your personal brand.
The Beauty of Hiring a Brand Strategist
Now’s the time to hire an experienced brand strategist to help elevate your business. Here are a few ways a brand strategist can help you avoid mistakes, increase revenue, and make your life easier!
It’s a tale as old as time: a talented and creative entrepreneur builds a business from the ground up. They’re so, so excited to scale their business — so they quickly throw together a website, write some copy, launch it, and turn on the ads. The faster they can get it launched, the better. A few months pass and… nothing happens.
Why aren’t people flocking to their offer? It’s because, like many entrepreneurs before them, they built a house without a foundation. They’ve neglected their brand strategy and identity.
I’m Miriam Bulcher, a brand strategist and business coach for women. In this post, I’ll discuss five reasons why hiring a coach will make your business more successful and sustainable.
Your marketing campaigns will be much more effective.
Investing in ad spend — like Facebook, Instagram, or paid Google ads — comes with a high level of risk. If all your ducks are in a row, it could be the boost you need to take your business over the top. However, if your brand isn’t where it needs to be… you could set your business back or sink it entirely.
The biggest reason paid ads don’t drive the leads and conversions you desire? Your brand isn’t speaking to the right people in the right way. Speaking doesn’t just happen in words — the images, color scheme, and overall aura your business gives off will play a massive role in whether or not a potential customer signs on the dotted line.
You’ll think less and do more.
Every second counts when you’re a solopreneur. The more time you can spend executing tasks instead of plotting your next move, the more profitable and sustainable your business will become.
However, you can’t avoid strategy entirely. This is where a brand strategy expert is critical to your success. You can work together with your coach to build the most effective brand and business strategy moving forward — then all you have to do is get the job done.
Working with a business coach who focuses on branding can help you maximize the effectiveness of your brand. You’ll feel comfortable knowing your ad spend is being put to good use and attracting your ideal customers.
Your business will feel more authentic and personal to you.
Some say business isn’t personal. But when you’re a solopreneur, that isn’t the case. Your business is a direct reflection of your personality and identity, whether you want it to be or not. This is the joy and plight of being your own boss.
One of the biggest struggles I’ve seen with budding solopreneurs is that their business doesn’t sound or feel like them — and their audience knows it. They’re stuck with photos that don’t reflect their personality, copy that sounds too salesy and impersonal, or a visual identity that’s like every other solopreneur out there. If your brand isn’t a reflection of who you are, then how do you expect potential customers to connect with you?
Working with a brand strategist is an effective way to align your brand and personal brand. They’re both crucial to the success of your business — they should work in tandem.
You’ll avoid classic rookie mistakes.
Imagine the time and money you’d save if you could avoid the mistakes of dozens of business owners before you. That’s the beauty of partnering with a brand strategist. They’ll help you get your business off to the right start — or take it to the next level — while avoiding the pitfalls that set businesses back weeks, months, or even years.
The most successful business owners invest in strategy and coaching. It pays for itself because it helps them find the smoothest route to success.
You’ll have an expert to guide you through the tough times.
Running your own business is rewarding — but it comes with its fair share of difficulties. Where do you turn during the tough times?
There’s something to be said for having an experienced brand strategist by your side throughout your journey. They are the first to pat you on the back when things go well, and the first to say “I’ve been there” when things don’t go your way. Their advice is often the very thing that keeps your going, and pushes you past the valley of disappointment toward the lofty peaks of success.
If you’re looking for a business coach and brand strategist who understands women entrepreneurs and their journey to success, schedule a consultation with me. I’ll help you master your mindset and grow your business in a way that is authentic to your and your audience.
Branding Photography: What is it and Why Does it Matter?
Not all portraits are created equal. Learn how branding photos can elevate your brand and say more than a thousands words.
What are branding photos?
Branding photos are a collection of images that represent your brand visually, whether it be headshots, location photos, candid business shots, or product photos. Branding photographers ensure your photos all meet a distinct and consistent visual standard that aligns with your brand. That means your photos work with your brand colors, types, messaging, and the like.
Why is branding photography important?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words — and that’s extremely relevant with branding photos. Potential customers spend 3x more time looking at photos than reading text, so your brand’s photos need to look great, align with your visual brand and messaging, and capture your essence as a person and a business.
“Branding photos speak a different language — they talk to your customers before your copy does. It’s important that you are saying what you want through your images and that you work with a photographer who understands the importance of a photo and how it can sell you.”
When done well, branding photos can increase revenue and business engagement by making your brand stand out from the crowd and appear more professional.
Where can I use branded photos?
Everywhere! New business photos can be used on social media, your website, email newsletters, print materials, and more. You’ll always have the perfect photos to fit your business project.
How are branding photos different from other photos?
A cohesive collection of branded photos are different from other photos because they’re designed to align with your brand. Your photos will work well by themselves or in combination, and will always exude the important tenets of your brand identity. Photos are just photos; brand photos are strategically aligned with your brand and your goals.
This includes: colors, brand identity, target audience matching, props, cohesiveness between personality and the brand logo, and a number of other factors.
Then clothing — whether it's casual or professional — must match the identity of the brand. Otherwise, it could turn potential customers away.
Branding photos speak a different language — they talk to your customers before your copy does. It’s important that you are saying what you want through your images and that you work with a photographer who understands the importance of a photo and how it can sell you.
What is my ROI on branding photography?
Great visual branding can transform your business and help you exceed your goals. It’s what makes your business irresistible and irreplaceable in your niche. It’s the backbone of any business strategy or marketing campaign — so it must be done at a high level!
How do I choose the right branding photographer?
The best branding photographers have top-tier photography skills in tandem with an extensive knowledge of brand strategy and design. This is what separates your local portrait photographer from a high-end branding photography expert.
What is it like working with a branding photographer?
The best brand photographers will work with you to understand your business goals, brand identity, and vision for photos before any photos are taken. This will ensure that photos will look great and be strategically effective.
Branding photographers will have recommendations on poses, what to wear, and props to include in any photos so each photo is perfectly aligned with the overall strategy.
What if I’m nervous about being in photos?
You’re not alone! It’s completely normal to feel uncomfortable at the idea of taking branding headshots or candid business photos. The best branding photographers know this and will ensure you are comfortable every step of the way.
Expert photographers will give you specific directions on how to pose during your shoot. This helps you look your very best and takes the thinking out of getting your pictures taken. All you have to do is look into the camera and you’ll look great!
Book a Free Consultation
Curious about how high-end branding photos can elevate your business? Book a free consultation with Miriam Bulcher to see how her decade-plus of branding photography experience can help you increase revenue and take your brand to the next level.
I’m Miriam Bulcher — a branding photographer and business coach for women. I’ve turned smart, efficient work into six-figure businesses for myself and my clients. Schedule a consultation to see how I can help you elevate your business while being your best self!
Why NOW is the Best Time to Update Your Branding Photos
The best time to update your business photos is yesterday. The second best time is now. Here are five reasons why you should freshen up your brand’s image library.
When was the last time you got fresh, new headshots and branding photos? Two years ago? Five years ago? So long ago you can’t remember?
Whatever the case, now is the best time to invest in branding photography that elevates your brand, attracts your ideal customer, and helps you look your very best.
Let’s take a look at five reasons why NOW is the best time to invest in new photos for your business.
Your business will feel more modern.
Trends change fast. If your ideal customer wants their business to be modern, they will only work with businesses that feel modern themselves.
Updating your business photos helps you stand out from the pack, making your business look cutting edge, modern, and “in the know” on what’s hip and trendy in the business world. This increases your credibility with potential customers and makes it easier for them to say “yes!” to whatever you have to offer.
Your photos will make you look your best at any age.
I’ve heard many clients say they could wish they could keep their 10-year-old headshot forever. It’s normal to like photos where we look younger, thinner, or with fewer wrinkles than we do now.
However, having updated headshots (and branding photos in general) is crucial to attracting your ideal audience. What would a potential client think if they saw your 10-year-old headshot online and then later met you in person?
“Trends change fast. If your ideal customer wants their business to be modern, they will only work with businesses that feel modern themselves.”
Authenticity is the foundation of any successful brand. Don’t dilute it by using old photos, filters, or anything else that gets in the way of who you really are.
Bonus: looking older has its perks with your ideal customer. You will appear more wise, knowledgeable, trustworthy, and credible by embracing your age. The best headshot photographers will help you look your very best while highlighting your natural beauty — no matter your age.
You can use your new photos everywhere.
Email newsletters, social media, websites, print materials — there are so many ways you can use (and reuse) new brand photos. Imagine a world where every time you need a photo for a business project, you have the *perfect* branded photo waiting for you.
No more searching for stock photos, taking a photo on your iPhone, or re-using the same old headshot for the hundredth time.
Having a diverse selection of business photos from different angles and in different orientations will help you create fresh and exciting business materials every single time.
You will impress return customers.
Experts say that return customers are twice as important (and profitable) as new ones. Their experience with your brand is extremely important.
Your loyal customers have seen your website and social media dozens of times. That means they have seen the same exact photos of your business for months or even years!
Now is the time to freshen things up. Your loyal returning customers will stop and enjoy the new photos — and that will make them even more loyal to your brand.
Branding photos pay for themselves.
Photos are the most important part of a visual brand identity — they can make or break your strategy. Fresh, new photos can have potential customers pulling out their credit card. Old, dull photos on the other hand… can have them heading for the exit.
Strong, branded photos are crucial to a great first impression with potential customers — a first impression that could be worth thousands. Your investment in high-quality, professional business headshots and photos will almost certainly pay for itself.
The best time to invest in new business photography is six months ago. The second best time is today. If you’re looking to elevate your business with luxury business headshots, branding photos, brand strategy, and more, schedule a free consultation with me today.
I’m Miriam Bulcher — a branding photographer and business coach for women. I’ve turned smart, efficient work into six-figure businesses for myself and my clients. Schedule a consultation to see how I can help you elevate your business while being your best self!