Are professional headshots worth paying for?

You’ve heard the expression “you get what you pay for.” This applies to just about anything. To get high quality website design doesn’t come cheap. Yes, you can use wix but will it be optimized by an expert that knows your industry and the ins and outs of SEO?

The same is true of professional headshot photographer. Getting attorneys to understand the importance of professional photography of themselves is often a challenge. They don’t see the long term ROI. If you have a selfie of you sitting at your desk (or home office) how does that correspond with your hourly rate?

If you’re getting ready to list your house with an agent, and they arriving in clothing that looks like they just came from the gym, how likely are you to give them your listing?

That’s precisely the same message that a bad headshot sends on your company website and/or linkedin profile.

When asked why Y Combinator success story Airbnb.com invests in professional photography, Creative Lead Venetia Pristavec replied, “Quality breeds trust. When you’re introduced to a new place, you look for signs that the information comes from a reliable source. Our listings with professional photographs earn more than twice as much money as those without them.” [Source: Fast Company, April 2013]

I did not take this "before" above. But I had to share the difference between a JCPenny headshot and working with someone who SPECIALIZES in Headshots, and knows posing, facial expression coaching and professional studio lighting to highlight your BEST FEATURES.

Who would you take seriously?