Before we can get in to what the most important factors of choosing a professional headshot photographer is, we must first address the obvious factor many folks think about right away - cost. This might come as a surprise to a lot of you but one of the least important factors when choosing the right headshot photographer should be pricing. If pricing is the most important factor to you and you are looking for a deal, chances are you do not care too much about the outcome of your headshot. Your headshot is another form of marketing and should be something you plan for budget wise. Looking for the cheapest headshot in town will in fact be just that, the cheapest headshot in town. Your headshot experience should be one tailored to you and to get that you’ll need a true professional. What is important when it comes to pricing is that you can easily know the cost before proceeding with your booking. You should not have to fish or dig for pricing on a photographer’s website. Pricing should be laid out in plain view for you to look over on your own terms. Always be weary when getting pricing involves filling out a form (or calling) and waiting for a response. Pricing should not be sneaky and should always be available to a customer up front.
So then what are the most important factors in choosing a headshot photographer?
Let’s break it down with the top 3 things to consider when researching who you will trust to create images your clients will remember.
1. Portfolio
Make sure the photographer’s portfolio (or gallery) is diverse yet consistent. You should see a variety of headshots throughout their gallery that clearly reflect the individual’s professional role and personality. What works for a realtor should not be the same as a business executive, and neither should look remotely like what is necessary for an actor. You should see a variety of backgrounds and facial expressions, as well as a variety of angles and ages. Of course with diversity you must also see consistency. The photos should reflect the same quality and have the obvious notion that they were all created by the same photographer. You want to be able to visualize your new headshot amongst their portfolio and rest assured that you will be getting the same quality you are seeing for your own headshots.
Sample of SRQ Headshots portfolio
2. Reviews
Of course word of mouth recommendations are fantastic but another great resource are their reviews. Reviews speak volumes about any business or professional. You’ll obviously want to see many 5-star rated reviews when searching for the right headshot photographer. One thing to be on the look out for however is incentives or discounts for reviews. If the photographer is offering something in exchange for a review that is not only highly frowned upon by google but it is a big sign of dishonesty. Make sure to look for reviews that speak about the experience the client had.
SRQ Headshots client review
3. Prompt customer support
How soon are they to return your email or call? Did they answer the phone right away and take the time to thoroughly answer your questions? How long is the turnaround time on your headshots? These are things to ask yourself when choosing your headshot photographer. Headshots are something most people needed “like yesterday”. You should never have to wait days to hear back from a professional photographer or their assistant. If you’ve waited more than 24 hours to get a response from the photographer chances are you’ll be waiting a whole lot longer for your session and your headshots. Promptness is everything when it comes to professional imagery for your business. It is recommended to update your headshot as often as your look changes, which means that fresh haircut or color you got will need to be photographed in a timely manner before it’s time for a new one. You want to get the most out of your investment which means being able to use your headshots for more than a couple months. In order for you to do that you’ll need a photographer who is accommodating and can get you in relatively soon while also getting your final images back to you as soon as possible. (... and incase you didn’t already know, SRQ Headshots has a 24-hour turnaround!)
We hope this article has helped you to better understand what is truly most important when finding the right headshot photographer. And after you’ve taken the time to view our portfolio, read our reviews, and sure, even looked over our pricing, feel free to give us a call!; We would love to talk to you more about your new headshots. Or better yet, if you’re ready, you can book your new headshots right here. We’ll see you soon!