In business, first impressions often happen before a word is spoken. This is what makes your headshot is more than a picture; it‘s a visual handshake, a silent introduction that conveys confidence, likability, and professionalism in a single frame. Like a handshake, it can be firm and reassuring, or limp and forgettable. The difference often lies in small but critical choices.
A headshot lives everywhere a professional’s reputation does—LinkedIn, websites, pitch decks, press releases. Before colleagues, clients, partners, vendors or hiring managers meet you, they meet your image. That photograph carries cues about how trustworthy you appear, how engaged you seem, and whether you project authority or warmth. Research in psychology consistently shows that people form judgments of competence and likability in milliseconds. Your headshot is the first test of that instinct.
Here are some tips to best ensure your photo visually conveys your desired personal brand image:
Do’s: Making the Most of Your Visual Handshake
- Do use genuine expression. Confidence is communicated through the eyes; likability through the mouth. Together they create the balance of authority and warmth that makes people lean in. Forced smiles or stiff stares fail that test. If your smile doesn’t reach your eyes, it is fake.
- Do consider the message you want to send. A corporate board member may want gravitas; a startup founder may want energy. There is no right answer other than the one you decide on. The headshot should serve that purpose, not just “look good.”
- Do refresh periodically. If your appearance has changed meaningfully, update your headshot. Mismatched expectations can erode trust before you’ve even said hello. A ten year old shot or an AI shot is professional catfishing.
Don’ts: Pitfalls That Undermine Presence
- Don’t rely on selfies or casual snapshots. What may work for personal social media rarely translates into professional credibility.
- Don’t over-edit. Excessive retouching may erase authenticity and make you look like you lack confidence. A headshot should present the best version of you, not an unrecognizable one.
- Don’t ignore body language. Slight posture cues—a tilt, crossed arms, leaning too far back—can signal defensiveness or disengagement. Tilting your head towards the shoulder closest to the camera makes you look weak.
The Broader Impact
A strong headshot doesn’t just open doors; it can also align a team’s brand. When a company or firm presents cohesive, polished headshots across its leadership, it communicates unity, credibility, and attention to detail. Conversely, mismatched or outdated images suggest inconsistency and a lack of care and resources. In an age where clients, investors, and partners often vet online before meeting, those subtle cues matter.
Think of your headshot the way you’d think of a handshake in a critical meeting: intentional, practiced, and aligned with the impression you want to leave. Done well, it can become one of the simplest yet most effective tools in your professional arsenal.
Famed headshot photographer and expression coach Chris Gillett is nationally-regarded for his work helping executives, entrepreneurs and attorneys master the “visual handshake” by combining confidence and likability in every image. Connect with him at www.liketherazor.com.
