Why Your Headshot Matters More Than You Think

(And How to Get One That Actually Works FOR YOU)

Self Portrait Headshot: © Eric O. Ledermann (2025).

Let's be honest: you're probably overdue for a new headshot or professional portrait.

Maybe you're still using that photo from 2019 that kind of looks like you—if you squint. Or perhaps you've been cropping yourself out of group photos for LinkedIn because you just don't have anything better. You know you need a professional headshot, but it keeps sliding down your to-do list because, well, there are always more urgent fires to put out.

Here's what I've learned: that headshot or professional portrait you keep putting off? It's working against you every single day.

Headshot vs. Professional Portrait: What’s the Difference?

Before we go further, let's clear up something that confuses a lot of people: a headshot and a portrait are not the same thing, even though photographers often use the terms interchangeably.

A headshot is specifically designed for professional use. It's typically a closer crop, focused on your face and upper shoulders, with the sole purpose of representing you in business contexts. Think LinkedIn profiles, company websites, conference programs, speaker bios. The background is usually simple or blurred out completely because the focus needs to be entirely on you. A headshot answers one question: "Who is this person I'm about to do business with?"

A professional portrait, on the other hand, is a broader lifestyle image. It might show more of your body, include meaningful context about your environment or work, and tell more of a story about who you are. Portraits can be used professionally, but they're more versatile. They work for personal branding, editorial features, or even just capturing a moment in time. Think of it this way: a headshot is a tool, while a portrait is a story.

And then there's business branding photography, which takes this even further. That's a whole collection of images showing you at work, in your environment, doing what you do. We'll talk more about that in another post, but for now, know that if all you need is a strong professional photo for your business profiles and materials, you need a headshot. If you want to tell a bigger story about who you are and what you do, you might need something more comprehensive.

For this post, we're focusing on headshots, the foundation of your professional image. Because if you don't have that dialed in, nothing else really matters.

Your Headshot Is Your First Handshake

PHOTO: © Eric O. Ledermann

Think about the last time you looked someone up online before meeting them. You probably checked their LinkedIn profile, their company website, or even just Googled their name. According to research, within one-tenth of a second you formed an impression of that person based primarily on their photo.

Now flip that around. Every potential client, hiring manager, investor, or networking connection is doing the same thing to you. Your headshot isn't just a picture. It's the first conversation you have with every person who might work with you, hire you, or refer business your way.

And if that photo doesn't look like you anymore? Or worse, if it looks like you had all the enthusiasm of someone at the DMV? You've already started that relationship on the wrong foot.

The Real Cost of a Bad (or Missing) Headshot

I've had countless people tell me they've been putting off updating their photos for years. One professional I worked with admitted she'd been using the same headshot since 2015—a photo that was taken during one of the most stressful periods of her career, and boy, did it show. She looked tired, closed-off, and frankly, unapproachable.

After we updated her headshot, she told me something that stuck with me: "I didn't realize how much that old photo was holding me back until I replaced it. The response to my new headshot has been incredible. People tell me I look confident and approachable, which is exactly how I want to be perceived."

The thing is, you don't know how many opportunities you're missing because of an outdated or unprofessional photo. You just know that your networking efforts aren't converting the way you'd hoped, or that your LinkedIn profile views are... underwhelming.

What Actually Makes a Great Headshot

After photographing everyone from corporate executives to creative entrepreneurs here in the Phoenix area, I can tell you exactly what separates a headshot that works from one that doesn't:

It looks like you, the best version of you. Not you from five years ago. Not you after a professional makeup artist transformed you into someone unrecognizable. Just you, looking confident, approachable, and like someone people want to work with. When you walk into a meeting, your client should think, "Oh good, they look exactly like their photo," not "Wait, who is this person?"

Your eyes tell the story. This might sound overly poetic, but hear me out: your eyes in a headshot need to have life in them. I've seen too many headshots where the person looks checked out, or worse, mildly terrified. A great headshot captures that spark of confidence and warmth in your eyes, the same spark people see when they meet you in person and immediately trust you.

The technical stuff is invisible. Perfect lighting, the right lens choice, and proper exposure should fade into the background. You shouldn't notice the photographer's technique; you should just think, "Wow, they look great." That invisibility is actually the mark of expertise, not the lack of it.

It works everywhere you need it. Your headshot needs to work on LinkedIn's tiny profile circle, blown up on your company website, printed in a conference program, and cropped into a business card. That means clean composition, proper resolution, and flexibility for different uses.

When you work with me, I provide all of that, plus support after delivery as you begin using your images.

The Process Shouldn't Feel Like Torture

Here's what I hear all the time: "I hate getting my picture taken."

I get it. Most people feel awkward standing in front of a camera. You don't know what to do with your hands. You're worried about your "bad side." You feel self-conscious about every tiny detail.

That's exactly why the process matters as much as the final photo.

When you work with me, we start with a conversation about what you need this headshot to do for you. Are you trying to land corporate clients? Are you transitioning into a new industry? Maybe you’re looking to project authority in your field? The approach for a tech startup founder should be different from a family law attorney, and I want to understand your specific situation.

Then comes the wardrobe consultation. What you wear matters. Not because we're trying to create some artificial version of you, but because the right choices help you look polished and put-together without distracting from your face. I'll guide you through what works on camera and what doesn't, but ultimately, you should feel like yourself.

During the session itself, I'll guide you through everything. You won't be left wondering what to do or whether you're "doing it right." And here's a secret: the best headshots happen after you've warmed up a bit, after you've relaxed and stopped thinking about the camera. That's when the real you emerges—confident, capable, and genuinely approachable.

The Investment That Keeps Paying Off

PHOTO: © Eric O. Ledermann

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: yes, professional headshots cost more than having your friend take a photo with their phone. But unlike that friend's photo, a professional headshot works for you 24/7 for years.

Think about it this way: if your headshot helps you land even one new client, make one important connection, or get called in for one job interview that changes your career trajectory, what's that worth? Probably a lot more than the cost of the session.

I've watched clients use their headshots for everything from speaking engagement promotions to book jacket photos to company rebrand launches. The best headshots aren't single-use photos, they're versatile assets that work across every professional context you can imagine.

What Happens Next

If you've read this far, you're probably in one of two camps: either you're convinced you need a new headshot (finally!), or you're still on the fence but leaning toward doing something about that outdated photo.

Either way, here's what I'd suggest: let's have a conversation. Not a sales pitch. An actual conversation about what you need and whether a professional headshot is the right move for you right now.

I offer complimentary consultations because I genuinely want to understand your situation before we talk about working together. Maybe you're preparing for a big career move and need photos that position you as a leader in your field. Maybe you're launching a business and need to establish credibility fast. Maybe you just need to stop cringing every time someone asks for a professional photo.

Whatever your situation, I promise you this: if we work together, you'll walk away with a headshot that you're actually proud to use. One that makes you look like the professional you are. One that opens doors instead of closing them.

And if you're thinking, "Yeah, but I really do hate getting my picture taken," trust me, you're not alone. I've worked with hundreds of people who felt exactly the same way before we started. The goal isn't to turn you into a professional model. It's to capture the confident, capable professional you already are, so that when people see your photo, they think, "I want to work with this person."

Ready to stop putting off your headshot? Let's schedule a no-pressure consultation and talk about what you need. You can reach me at 480.257.6757 or book a time directly through my website at www.ericoledermann.com/schedule.

Because here's the thing: six months from now, you're either going to wish you'd done this sooner, or you're going to be really glad you finally took care of it. I'm betting on the latter.