Keeping Your Business Portrait Updated

By Author: Kris Ward
Total Articles: 1
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I walked into a café when a lady with extremely long hair greeted me warmly. I did not recognize her at all, because in her Facebook profile photo she had a short bob hair cut. It took me a long time to catch on to who she was. I had never met her in-person before, but I recognized her voice from phone conversations. She had referred so much business to me, I really wish I had recognized her right away to give her more of a warm greeting than I did.

The experience is reminiscent of why we need clear photographs to effectively and efficiently communicate in the business world. A proper business portrait should show what we look like right now. Any change in style, a different pair of glasses, a haircut, etc. call for a new photograph.

When using a business portrait photo it is important the photograph matches not only what you want to represent to your clients, but is a clear photo of what you look like. A high-quality business portrait should allow someone who has never met you before to pick you out of a room full of strangers whether it is a prospective customer ...
... or a business associate.

Not having an accurate or updated photo can lead to some uncomfortable confusion at best. At worst it can lead to a customer feeling uncomfortable with approaching you. Imagine how disconcerting this can be for a customer who is seeking out a business owner for the first time, who has no idea who to look for. You greet them warmly when you meet, but they don’t recognize you because in your head shot you are not wearing the glasses you normally wear to work.

With an updated business photograph you have an added facet of connecting to different people that inspires them to reach out to you. They feel a certain familiarity with you from seeing a clear photograph of you from your business portrait.

The lady in the café recognized me easily in a room full of strangers due to the clear and updated quality of my head shot. The photo established such confidence in her that she had no problem walking up to me in a casual setting, even though she had never met me before. The same connection will translate between your customers and you.