Uniquely the same

Here’s a dilemma for you. You want your headshot to stand out, to be different, but you also want to look the part, to fit in. Can you be both an individual and one-of-the-team?

It’s tricky. Here are some things to consider.

Solo vs Corporate?

If you are flying solo, say, as a realtor or your own startup, you can add more than a dash of uniqueness to your headshot. I have had clients that have worn some very unusual attire but they have the freedom and flexibility to do so and feel that it reflects who they are. If the doors open, why not step through it?

If you’re building a brand, there may be a brand identity that you need to emphasise. Flying solo gives you latitude to express yourself and in a competitive market you should maximise that opportunity. Bring something unique to the table. You actually want to be different.

If you’re part of a team, your best choice may be to show harmony, consistency and a unified front. If everyone who has taken their headshot wore, let’s say, a black top and white shirt/blouse because it reflects the company’s branding, you’d stick out like a sore thumb if you turned up in a red leather jacket and a dazzlingly complex top. You’ll certainly stand out (hooray!) but I doubt anyone would be too pleased with the result. For these kinds of headshots, speak with marketing, check your website, ask a colleague.

What if you’re looking for a new job?

Ah, the very tip of the horns of the dilemma. You most certainly want to stand out from all the other candidates and in a later article we’ll discuss the “judging a book by its cover” philosophy but for now let’s just say appearances do matter no matter what people might say.

But that doesn’t mean if you’re applying for a senior position within a highly respected / conservative firm your profile should be you on the beach in Ibiza. What you should do is an age-old technique called ‘mirroring’.

Take a look at a handful of companies that you might be looking to work for. What does their “about our team” page look like, formal? Business casual? Casual? Play the role that you’re going for.

Within each of these categories there are opportunities to express something about yourself; you don’t have to go over-the-top but you can certainly introduce an element of uniqueness within the boundaries of the company’s identity.

You’re just trying to get them to consider you, a proverbial foot-in-the-door, so make them see that you look like you already belong at the firm and there are no red-flags from the offset.

Summary

Two words. Target Market

You’re not buying this headshot for you. You’re buying it for a stranger or more specifically, your target market. Who are they? What do they dress like? What are their expectations of someone in your role to look like? If the roles were reversed what would you make of you based on your headshot?

There are always opportunities for individualism, how much may depend on your circumstance and goals. Remember your target market and always be Uniquely The Same.