Why You Need Headshots Before Graduating from College

For many of you, you are about to embark on an entirely new chapter in your lives with plenty of unknowns accompanying it. It might be that you are now applying and researching promising new entry-level jobs or continuing your education at a different university. Either way, the overload of uncertainty can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. Regardless of what you’re applying for, you are likely to compete with other people with similar qualifications to yourself, so how can you stand out from the competition and secure your future position? Look no further than professional headshots, but why should you get one?

5 Reasons Why You Need a Professional Headshot Taken

Make the Most of Your First Impression
With any application, you only have one chance to make yourself stand out from the countless other applicants flooding the inbox of hiring managers. Having a headshot of yourself on your resume, or a LinkedIn account (because you can guarantee that your social media accounts will be reviewed) can give managers a face to match with the resume in front of them. To make the most of your first impression with an employer make sure to dress the part in professional dress and not be as casual for your photos (and remember headshots are typically from the chest to the top of your head so maybe don’t stress about finding the perfect shoes to match)

Increase Credibility
I’ve seen LinkedIn profiles and other professional networking sites as the number of people with a simple “selfie” as their profile. This isn’t inherently bad, but having had your pictures professionally done can elude to recruiters that you take your career more seriously and hold yourself to a higher standard in your career choices.  

Improve Your Personal Branding
Outside of job seeking opportunities, professional headshots can also be a perfect way to enhance your personal brand. An experienced photographer can work with you to better capture the essence of what makes you unique and the persona that follows that uniqueness about you.    

Boost Your Self Confidence
Being part of a photo shoot can be a fun and enjoyable experience to boost your self-confidence. Photoshoots with professional photographers are meant to make you feel comfortable in your skin. Some photographers will go as far as playing whatever music the model wants during the session to make them feel as comfortable as possible.  

They Aren’t Always Expensive
Professional photographers all have their own styles and packages ranging in prices, but contrary to popular belief, having headshots taken of you doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. It may take some digging, but getting your headshots can be very affordable and even free, depending on what college you attend.