Get Ahead with a Head-Shot

This is the first in the “Professional Presentation Series”. I would cover many aspects from dress to success to public speaking tips that would help you in your professional image as you reach for your career dreams. About two years ago, I attended a company-wide award’s dinner. Many individuals were honored at the dinner to celebrate the amount of years of service to the company. As each recipient bio was read, a larger than life sized photo of the individual was posted on the projector for all to see. Now, I have nothing against spur of the moment pictures, but this was not the time or place for them. Some of the photos were one-step away from being a mug shot. As a professional, it is important to have a recent professional headshot available at all times. You would come off more polished and taken seriously. Some good uses for a professional headshot include:

• Professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn
• Recipient of an award in which bio and headshot would be included in journal
• Personal or professional website
• Membership directory of professional organizations
• Ad’s
• Competitions
• Business cards
• Jobs in the entertainment fields
• Your book, CD, DVD, article or any other products
• Obituary (Hopefully shouldn’t be used any time soon)

Aspire. Create. Develop.

Shemeka Peters