What’s the difference between a formal headshot, creative headshot, and a business portrait?
When you’re deciding whether or not to get a professional headshot , you’ll probably come across discussions of formal headshots, creative headshots, and business portraits. At first glance, these three might seem similar, but it’s important for you to understand their differences before you choose which one is the best fit for you. And since most companies only refresh their online images once every 18 months, it pays to get it right the first time.
What are the main differences?
These three types of images vary in style, formality, and context.
Formal headshots are the type most commonly seen on LinkedIn. They tend to be shot against a plain or slightly blurry backdrop are ideal for professionals working in corporate or large businesses. They help generate trust and authority while firmly planting you as a professional in your industry. They’ll help you stand out from the pack while still affirming your fit within your field.
Creative headshots are for people who want to take their image online to the next level. These images are more expressive and individualized than a standard headshot. They usually don’t have solid backdrops and instead place you in context, for example, seated behind a desk or in action speaking, working at a computer, or doing whatever you do best. These headshots focus on your personality so that your customer will get a feel for who you are and begin to bond with you. These headshots create more authority and expert status in field than a corporate headshot.
What’s a business portrait?
A business portraitis more formal and more professional looking than either a formal or a creative headshot. Usually, you are photographed wearing a full suit, nice dress, or whatever would be the formal uniform of your work, like a doctor, judge, police officer. And instead of a plain background, you’ll be photographed in context, helping to place you as a professional in your field. Think of an oil painting of a famous banker or president, only less stuffy.
In contrast to this, a headshot is taken as a formal representation of a person, generally in a professional or business setting. They tend to be straightforward and take a less time to plan in terms of composition and style.
If you work for a corporation and are thinking of having headshots taken, you may want to consider business portraits instead. They help build respect and an online brand that commands attention. And they will help your website or LinkedIn profile really stand out from your colleagues or competitors.
Why you need a great headshot or portrait
If you’re considering getting headshots taken, it’s important to learn about them and why they are so important to your business. Firstly, headshots can speak volumes about your brand and give prospective clients an insight into the way that your company works.
If you operate in a corporate way, you can present that by your choice of clothing and where it is that you have the headshot taken, such as against a plain backdrop, in your office or in a meeting room. If your company is more relaxed, a creative headshot can be a great way to display your individual personality.
To ensure you get your money’s worth, it pays to know about the different uses for headshots. When used on your website, they can help to enhance the feel of your pages and also give visitors a clearer understanding about the best point of contact for them.
Do you want to find the best corporate headshot? We offer a bespoke service and will go out of our way to ensure that we meet you and your company’s individual needs.
It seems like only a few years ago that I had this grand vision of how I wanted my headshot business to look. Our humble beginnings actually started when I was a struggling actor trying to make ends meet. I wanted to be a headshot photographer so I could support my passion for acting.
I was also sick and tired of the way headshots in Chicago were being shot. It’s not that there were bad headshot photographers, but rather that the photography I saw didn’t really encapsulate or help the actors in the way I felt I could. See, I was actually one of the most insecure actors, struggling in every headshot session to get the shots I thought I could get. For my first headshots, I spent $80 for five looks. Can you guess how much interest from casting directors and agents I got from them? Zero.
I learned right away you get what you pay for, but it’s actually much worse than just $80. I wasted several months of my time using these headshots, missing audition chances and not getting a single agent to take me seriously. So that $80 headshot session cost me $3,000-$5,000 worth of work! And that is being conservative at $500-$800 a month in potential bookings.
My second headshot session was after six months of no work or interest. I didn’t want to waste any more money or time so I hired the best photographer in Chicago at that time and got amazing headshots. FINALLY! They were the most beautiful photographs I had ever taken but were they good enough? Did they have what it takes to be successful? This is what sparked my passion or as everyone around me calls it…. my obsession. I became obsessed with creating headshots that actually honor and reflect my clients while educating them on how to be the best version of themselves in front of the camera.
I learned from my previous experience that a headshot is so so so much more than just a picture. It’s much more than just an exchange between a client and a photographer. I had an opportunity as a photographer to make a lasting impression on my clients. A chance to help them better their lives not just with great headshots but with resources and advice that I learned first hand in the business and that I had gained from working with other artists and photographers.
This is why JAHeadshots is the top Chicago headshot photography. It’s because we convert your investment in yourself into a huge money-making opportunity. The ROI (return on investment) is one of the best in the business.
So let’s get honest here and I want to share with you my special plan. That is why you are reading this blog, right?
My goal is that every person in the country has the opportunity to take an amazing headshot. So I have set out on a path to train professional photographers nationwide to shoot using my unique Natural Shot Method. This is a brand new system that I developed to get the results you have always wished could come from headshot session.
So here we are today nearly ten years after I opened up my first headshot company to live a larger and bigger life that we call JAHeadshots.
Joshua
CEO of JAHeadshots
P.S. If you want to contact us for headshots just click here !