Frequently Asked Questions: “How Often Should You Take A New Headshot?”
Headshots are an important part of any professional’s business profile. They can be used on social media, all sorts of different marketing. And if you are single, they can even be used for non professional applications like a dating profile. The uses are UNLIMITED 🙂 But one of the most common questions I receive is, “how often should you take a new headshot?” Here are some ideas and tips to keep in mind when updating your headshots.
Embrace The Changes In Your Appearance!
When it comes to updating your headshot, I believe that it should be updated every 1-2 years. In this time span, your “look” has most likely changed a little bit and this is the perfect time to update your headshot 🙂 Maybe you have some new glasses, a new hair style, or you could have even lost a little weight. Hint: if you have happened to gain a little weight, this can be minimized in the editing process 😉
One of the common barriers to updating your headshot is that you may have taken a headshot that you LOVE. And you want to just stick with this for however long you can. That is great – but keep in mind that you can take ANOTHER great headshot that is more up to date. You can change the background or have a different outfit that is different from your previous headshot.
Don’t Psych Yourself Out Into Thinking You Are “Bad” At Taking Pictures
Another tip that I HIGHLY recommend is to not psych yourself out before any pictures are snapped. Everyone is capable of taking a “bad” picture. But you do not want this at the front of your mind. Being confident is one of the most important factors in taking a really great headshot. If you have taken a not so great headshot in the past, make sure not to bring this type of energy into your new session.
Make The Session Fun 🙂
And most importantly, HAVE FUN! There are several ways you can do this 😉 One idea is to schedule your session after you get your hair done or cut. This is typically when you are confident and looking and feeling your best. Schedule your hair appointment, take your headshots, and then plan something fun afterwards.
Another way to make the session fun is to bring a friend with you to update your headshot together. This can be a close friend or a colleague that may also need to update their headshot. When you are around your friends, you are typically yourself and they can usually get you to give a genuine and confident smile 😉
Hopefully this can help answer the question of how often should you take a new headshot. Remember to embrace the changes to your appearance, have fun, and don’t psych yourself out. If you have found this short article helpful, there are even more tips that you may also find helpful:
