It’s Time to Get Your Publicity Photo
The phone rings.
It’s your human resource office telling you that they need a headshot, and could you get it them ASAP.
Now what do you do?
If you are already an accomplished senior executive, you probably have a current head shot, and you’ll just ask the human resource department what they need it for and in what format. They’ll have what they need within the hour.
But what do you do if this is the first time that you’ve needed a headshot? Or maybe you’re mentor has suggested that it’s time for you to have a publicity photo taken and kept at the ready. Maybe you feel competent to slay dragons in the workplace, but start feeling terribly defensive about the need for a photo.
Like most things in life, it’s not that complicated of a task. Once you do it the first time, and master a few good habits, it will become part of your standard business repertoire.
To start with, think about the reasons a publicity photo is requested. It’s to provide publicity — for you, for your company, perhaps for a specific event or publication, or to call attention to a particular announcement. Those are all very good things for you career, so a request for a photo should never be dismissed or ignored.
The photo may be used in a newspaper, magazine, a company newsletter, a conference program, a website, or other promotional piece, so quality matters. A quality photo will reflect positively on the individual.
Many people opt for a studio portrait. This is probably most important if you are already at a senior level, need a photo for the back of your book jacket (well, wishful thinking!), or know that it is being used for a specific event.
If you decide to go this way, you can ask other business associates who they’ve used, check with local professional organizations to see which photographers have good reputations, or do some research online. Always ask for references and samples of the photographer’s work. A seasoned business portrait photographer will be able to give you suggestions as to what you should do to make the process as pain-free as possible, and they frequently have lists of suggestions about hair, makeup, and dress. Don’t be afraid to ask for this information and then rely upon it.
A studio portrait is a more expensive option than many others. There is the sitting fee, and then the charge for the photos. You should keep a number of black and white glossy photos on hand, with the most common sizes being 8 x 10 or 5 x 7. If you are in a position where your photo will be used frequently (a senior executive in your company, a speaker who appears on lots of conference programs, etc.) or the photo will be used for a major publication, don’t think twice about spending the money for studio work. You’ll be glad that you did.
But what if this is the first request you have received for a publicity photo? Maybe it’s the first time you’ve ventured into a wider field, or you can’t justify the expense. Maybe you need the photo tomorrow – and there’s not time to get a studio portrait done. Maybe the photo is needed for something a little more casual and personality driven. Then what do you do?
We’ll take up other photo options in Part 2 of this article, so check back!
Tags: b5media, leadership, Leadership resources, Leadership Skills, leadership-turn, learning_about_leadership, Management, Personal Development, speaking, successRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Leadership Skills, Leadership resources, Uncategorized
0 opinions for It’s Time to Get Your Publicity Photo
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: