Do you see your headshot as a cost or an investment?

Do you see your headshot as a cost or an investment?

The mentality of most businesses today seem to be to cut costs wherever possible. By cutting expenses, profit will be maximised. This includes hiring a photographer to do their headshots, they see it as a cost that needs to be kept to a minimum. The crucial point that they’re over-looking is that people buy people. Sounds strange but it’s true, people are much more inclined to buy from or invest time and money with someone who seems personable and approachable rather than a company solely looking for the transaction.

When it comes to headshots it’s time to make a decision – do you want something cheap and adequate or do you want to invest in yourself and the image that you will be putting across to your clients. Investing in your brand is, in my opinion, vital if you want to set yourself apart from everyone else and it’s important that you are working with people that understand you, your business and the message that you want to get across.

What I find really ironic is that businesses tend to be more than willing to charge high prices but are a lot less willing to invest in products and services that will affect their brand and the image that they’re putting out in front of customers. I cannot tell you the amount of times I’ve been handed a cheap and poor quality business card  (printed by a notorious free site) by individuals that are at the top of their game. It always makes me wonder if they are cutting costs on something as trivial as a business card what else are they are cutting corners on?

The way I see it, by investing in yourself, your brand and your image it let’s others (customers, colleagues and competitors) know that you are serious and in it for the long run. Lately the trends seem to have changed and more and more businesses are investing in their brand and their people. I sincerely hope this is a trend that will stick, after all smiles mean business.