Why A Good Headshot Matters (Even Mine)

When I left my full-time job as a Photo Studio Manager in 2021, I jumped into freelancing and started booking photography jobs on Upwork. I landed a few smaller gigs right away, but I wanted to figure out how to really stand out and build momentum.

So, like any self-respecting Xennial, I turned to YouTube for information. That’s when I found Josh Burns, an Upwork expert who made a bold claim: the single most important factor in getting a client to click on your proposal is your profile photo.

Your photo?

At the time, mine was a hiking selfie. 😬 Suddenly it felt very obvious that it was time to take my own headshot seriously. Being a photographer myself, I feel that I had no excuse. I set up a shoot, dialed in the lighting, made some awkward smiles, and then did what any decisive business owner would do — I asked my friends, family, and followers to vote on their favorite. (Spoiler alert: Number 2 won.)

Photographer Headshot

It’s hard to measure exactly how much a professional headshot impacts your success, but I can say this: once I switched to a polished, personality-filled, professional image, my response rate and booking rate noticeably improved. 

Many times a headshot is your first impression and the quality of your online image allows people to make assumptions about the quality of your services and tone of your business or personal brand. 

A great photo doesn’t just show what you look like — it communicates confidence, professionalism, and approachability before you ever say a word.

I believe a high-quality headshot that reflects your personality is one of the best investments a professional can make. If you’re interested in learning more about my headshot services, feel free to send me a message.