Best Tips For Business Card Headshots
The days of business cards only boasting simple text with your name, business logo, and contact information are gone. In this day and age, the swankier, the better. Graphic design and photography improving by leaps and bounds over the last few years has completely transformed the business card game. Business cards are now meant to tell a complete story within a three-inch piece of card stock.
Here's where business card headshots come into play. Headshots on business cards are relatively new and have only been gaining popularity in the last ten years. However, they have made significant headway in the fields where person-to-person contact is necessary. Think realtors, medical professionals, and bankers, to name a few. A great business card headshot will help identify and put a face with a name. And most of all, it gives a great first impression, creating an instant human connection.
A Photographer's Tips For Business Card Headshots
1. Hire A Professional Photographer
You will not regret spending the extra money on investing in a professional photographer for your business card headshots. With skill, years of experience, high-quality equipment, studio lights, and professional touch-ups, your headshots go from selfie quality to top-of-the-line. As a result, your customers are more likely to invest their time, money, and livelihood into a person or brand who takes pride and care in themselves. So, invest in yourself and hire a professional. This is especially important if you are an executive as you will be handing your card out to numerous individuals.
2. Look The Part
When you think about what to wear for headshots you're going to be putting on business cards, you need to consider your clients and business. What would you wear to a first meeting or interview? What do your colleagues and peers in the industry wear at work? A suit and tie might not be a part of your daily work life, so that may not be appropriate for a business card headshot. But, neither is a band tee. So, observe and think about what your clients want to see the first time they meet you.
Also, make sure you are well-groomed. Try scheduling your headshots at the beginning of the day so you are fresh and polished. Then, go ahead and make sure your facial hair is in order, and if you need a haircut, go ahead and get one! A fresh blowout and style is an excellent idea before you go in for your headshots.
3. Get A Range Of Photos To Use
If you are a senior executive or an entrepreneur looking to get their CEO headshots, shoot a range of photos to use. In addition, you can expand your photos to be used in multiple ways. For example, you can use various images across your social media accounts, website, and business cards if you have multiple images.
Business card headshots should be taken before a neutral-colored background focusing on your face and personality. These will make a different first impression than your headshots on a website because they will most likely be handed to a client or colleague. In addition, there will be a sense of touch and sight associated with these photos, so you want your picture to convey trust and personality.
Ask your photographer if they are also willing to travel for some on-location headshots. Having headshots in front of your business location can show that you are invested in your corporation and care about it.
4. Talk To Your Photographer About What You Do
Before your shoot, talk to your photographer about your company and what you do. When your photographer understands your role in the company and what it is you want to convey to clients or consumers, they can work with different poses, backgrounds, and angles.
You can also ask your photographer for advice on what to wear for the headshot shoot. Professional photographers who are well-versed in headshots will have loads of experience and likely work with several industries.
5. Smile Naturally
There are no rules about how to smile during your business card headshots, as long as it's natural. Some people smile with their teeth, and some don't; both ways are acceptable! If you try to force a smile, it will show in the photos and come across as disingenuous. Which goes against everything you are trying to portray in a headshot!