37 ways to use your professional headshots!

I am often asked, “How many headshots do I need?"

That depends on:

1. What do you want to communicate?
2. Where will you use the headshot?

What do you want to communicate in your professional headshot?

An image of you can evoke a range of emotions, such as confidence, warmth, approachability, humour, friendly, angry, happy, sad, perplexed, and the list goes on. Generally, "approachability" comes from the mouth/lips (e.g., are you smiling? Slight grin?) and "confidence" comes from eyes. Read about, should you smile in a headshot.

Where do you want to use your professional headshot?

Here are some of the best uses for your professional headshots:

Communication headshots

User ID on your cell phone
Text messaging APP
WhatsApp
Clubhouse
Email (profiles)

Social media headshots

LinkedIn profile photo

LinkedIn cover image
Instagram profile

Facebook profile

Online meeting profile headshots

Zoom
WebEx
Google meets
Eventbrite
Skype

Websites headshots

Marketing material headshots

Actor headshots

Author headshots

Other headshots

Depending on what message(s) you want to convey and where you want to use your professional headshot will help you decide if you need one headshot, or more than one.

Sometimes you don’t know what you like until you see it. During a professional headshot session in my studio, we take a lot of photos, and then sit down together, and you select the image(s) that you want professional retouched. The number of images you select, is entirely up to you. 

How often should you update your professional headshot?

Generally every 2-3 years, or if you have significant changes to your looks (e.g., hair changes, weight loss/gain, etc.), or your current headshot is no longer a good fit.

Your headshot is your image to the world, make it a good one.

My photo was taken by Robert de Wit

Read more about professional headshots:

1. What makes a good headshot - Part 1
2. What makes a good headshot - Part 2
3. What makes a good headshot - Part 3
4. General questions about professional headshots
5. How do you do professional retouching?

Peter Istvan Photography

Peter is a professional headshot photographer. Available in studio, or on location. Serving Parry Sound, Muskoka, Sudbury, North Bay, Barrie, Toronto, and surrounding areas. View pricing and scheduling.