This is a question I get a lot, so here are my thoughts.

As a general rule and simple answer, your headshot should be ideally updated once per year.

The goal of a headshot isn’t only to accurately present you and what you look like so people (usually clients) can recognize you — it’s so much more than just a pretty picture. More importantly, a great headshot positions you as a professional in your industry. Ideally, you can even grasp what you do by looking at your headshot, or at least in tandem with information on your business card or email signature.

A lot can happen in 12 months — you grow and age, change hairstyles or hair color, or maybe you even change your career and industry. So, it’s crucial that you have a current professional headshot.

After all, your headshot is often your first impression for creating business relationships.

Below is a quick checklist to help you decide if it’s time to update your headshot.

Checklist to Decide If You Should Update Your Headshot

For Everyone:

✅ You’ve changed your appearance

A lot can happen in 12 months — you grow and age, change hairstyles or hair color, or maybe you even change your career and industry. So, it’s crucial that you have a current professional headshot that actually looks like you. Have you changed any of the following:

Your hair style or hair color
Got glasses or contacts
Transitioned your gender identity
Yes, even if you’ve gained or lost weight

Then it’s a great time to update your headshot!

For Professionals:

✅ You’re starting to search for new opportunities or change industries

A new headshot can actually help position you for the new career you are seeking and help you stand out from other applicants. Especially, if you are changing industries. Your old headshot may look like you, but if the look and feel to it doesn’t fit the industry you are going into, it’s not going to position you well enough to land the opportunity. “Dress for the job you want,” right? Exactly! Position your headshot for the job you want too.

✅ You’ve changed your job, profession, or industry

If you’ve just started in a new role and don’t have a new headshot yet, then it’s time! You also might ask your boss or human resources team if they provide updated headshots for new staff members. As a headshot photographer, I often go into offices to take rounds of headshots for new team members, so it’s worth the ask!

For Business Owners:

✅ You’ve started a new business venture

Then absolutely it’s time for a new headshot! Your headshot should position you as the professional and leader of the business, but it should also feel engaging and approachable to make potential clients or partners want to come talk to you and ideally hire you. Your headshot needs to do a lot more than just be a pretty picture of you (and no selfies please).

✅ You’re targeting a new/different type of client

Whether you’re adding a new service or product to the business or you are shifting your marketing strategy, it’s important to know the type of client you are targeting. Therefore, it is a great idea to make sure that your headshot aligns with the type of client you are targeting.

For example, if you’re targeting a really high-end, luxury type of client, as a photographer I would recommend that you don’t take your headshot outdoor with business casual or casual attire. Instead, having a black or white plain background with professional attire will better speak to that type of client. Similarly, if you are targeting an every day, blue collar male type of client, then too professional (suit and tie) type of attire may scare them off. Think about your type of client and what they would be attracted to.

✅ You’re rebranding

Whether you’re doing some refreshing to your brand or completely rebranding, it’s important to have a consistent, cohesive look and feel to your brand as a whole, which also includes updating your headshot.

To achieve a fully branded headshot, working with a professional photographer who is not just able to capture a pretty picture, but will dive deeper into understanding the details, colors, and feel to your brand to help design a headshot that will match that is key.

If you checked any of the above, then it’s time to schedule your branded headshot!

So, let’s get started!

Start Designing Your Headshot Session Here