A professional business head-shot is essential for making a great first impression!

Let's face it; you don't want people to know that you secretly slump around your house in sweats and a t-shirt. They don't need to know that a blazer isn't actually your favorite article of clothing.  When establishing a business relationship you want to put your best foot forward, starting with the head-shot you choose for your business profiles.

A good head-shot says many things about you to include confident, established, and knowledgeable.   You'll want to showcase this image on social media sites such as LinkedIn as well as marketing materials and in your personal biography.  Before you grab your iPhone and pose in front of a white wall consider a few of these pointers to help you achieve a professional appearance:

• Go Professional - You'll want to find a photographer to take your head-shot. Although the picture of you and Justin Bieber is amazing and gives you a great story to talk about, it doesn't say "confident, established, and knowledgeable." Save that gem for Facebook and hire a professional who understands their camera and lighting well. You may even find an on-location photographer willing to come to your place of business to capture your headshot with your usual surroundings as the background.
• Know What You're Paying For- Find a professional who sells digital images with a royalty free business release. This allows you to use your image without limits. Be prepared to spend more on these digital images than more common types of photo images. Consider it an investment.
• Consider the Clothes - Set aside the vibrant geometric-patterned tie your kids bought you for Christmas, the chunky ornate necklace that matches your eyes and the hat you may have purchased to wear while watching the royal wedding on TV. You want to create a timeless look. Stick to solid neutral colors and understated jewelry such as a strand of pearls. Dark articles of clothing refocus attention onto your face and provide complimentary shadows under the chin.
• Let's Talk About Makeup - It's not prom. Stick to neutral tones. Mascara, pencil applied with a light touch and a clear lip-gloss are quite sufficient for your images.
• Blemishes Happen -If Murphy's Law strikes and you wake up with a doozy of a pimple, don't squeeze it! While our photographer will be able to easily correct minor imperfections, a giant swollen bump may not be so easy to remove.
• Strikes a Pose - Traditional head-shots are cropped just above the elbow joint. For best results you should be sitting turned at a slight angle on a tall stool with no back. Straighten your back and put as much distance between your ears and shoulders as you comfortably can. Posing like this will produce a cleaner neckline. You'll want to keep your hands folded together on your lap, to prevent awkward spaces at your sides.

Most importantly - don't stress!  Think, act and be confident; this will translate well in your images.

Lorelei Taylor is a portrait photographer in the Washington D.C. area.  She provides family portraiture and specializes in babies and children to document their lives in the form of images. For more information on how to book Lorelei Taylor Photography please contact loreleitaylor@photographer.net.