You’re probably thinking a “headshot is a headshot” or wondering “what is the difference”? Well we are about to take care of you in this department.
First of all, let’s define what each of them are.
Traditional Headshots
A traditional headshot is going to be your typical head and shoulders photograph. Generally, around mid-chest to the top of your head and just above.
These are up-close photos and needed for your social media profiles.
More importantly, they are needed when clients or potential customers are searching for you.
Traditional Headshots are great for social media searches as they use up a majority of space for business searches looking for you.
Common social media searches only provide about 3/8″ or 5/16″ worth of photo space. You’ll need to use this space wisely to provide better search results.
Business Headshots
A business headshot, although similar, is better for website use than social media profiles.
Business headshots are what photographers call ½ body shots, or from the waste up.
You’ll see a majority of businesses use these for web photos where there is more room for images.
They are great for larger working spaces but not for social media profile photos.
A Business Headshot in the typical 1/2 body style which is great for websites and marketing material.
A business headshot variation used for social media profile photos.
Why Traditional Headshots Work Better
Sometimes it’s just easier to show than it is to explain so here we go.
For a fun little project, do a search for someone you have met at a networking event and haven’t connected with yet. During your search, you probably found 4 – 6 other people showing up on the search.
Here is something
similar to what you probably saw during your search.
the name in the search bar you’ll see several results show up.
So here is three different searches and you can see which profile photos are much easier to recognize than the other.
As you can see, those individuals with traditional headshots are easier to identify than those individuals with a standard business headshot.
Can you see who is in the full body (head to toe) photo? I can’t. Unless you have already seen their profile photo and interacted with them. But someone you really know isn’t the one you’re going to lose because they can’t find your business.
Now, take into consideration the profile photos in the post are about twice the size as they would be normally. Then a headshot is really going to come into play.
One reason, which I have done personally, is trying to find someone I met networking. They had a service I wanted to hire but couldn’t connect with them from lack of identification.
They were a small business, their website wasn’t up to date and had no contact information on their site.
The only way to find them was through social media or wait until the next time I saw them. Well, I couldn’t find them.
Once I linked up with them later, they were showing me their Facebook profile and sure enough, they had a wide photo of them in their profile. I had no idea who it was nor was I going to take the time searching.
If I’m not going to spend the time searching for your business and tracking you down, what makes you think your next potential buyer or client is… they won’t.
My Personal Reason
One reason, which I have done personally, is trying to find someone I met networking. They had a service I wanted to hire but couldn’t connect with them from lack of identification.
They were a small business, their website wasn’t up to date and had no contact information on their site.
The only way to find them was through social media or wait until the next time I saw them. Well, I couldn’t find them.
Once I linked up with them later, they were showing me their Facebook profile and sure enough, they had a wide photo of them in their profile. I had no idea who it was nor was I going to take the time searching.
If I’m not going to spend the time searching for your business and tracking you down, what makes you think your next potential buyer or client is… they won’t.
In Closing...
Now, with a business headshot your profile photo is much better than the full body photo however, it
can still be better by using the space you have been given with a traditional headshot
Facebook
gives us about 3/8” of photo working space in searches. Linked in gives us about 5/16”, and these
measurements are on a 27” monitor and on my cell phone.
Maybe I’m just getting older but I’m not picking anyone out on a line-up with searches unless their profile photo is close up.
Get those profile photos updated to a traditional headshot TODAY. Give us a call and schedule your appointment before you miss out.
Give us a call and schedule your appointment before you miss out.