As they say, you only get one shot at making a good first impression, especially in professional settings. Projecting a professional, confident appearance is one way you can get noticed and thrive in your chosen career, regardless of the sector.

Social networking sites such as Twitter and LinkedIn allow anyone to find out more about who you are. Beyond that, most company websites now also feature headshots of their employees, ensuring customers can put a face to a name. Basically, there’s a good chance you will need to submit a photo for one or more of these online platforms, which is why investing in high-quality headshots is a great idea.

Here are some ways a professional business headshot can benefit you.

It’s All About the Networking

No matter where you are in your career, networking is incredibly important. Forming professional connections will help you find an array of new opportunities on an ongoing basis. You’ll be able to meet people in the same line of work as you who may give you some pointers or even want to collaborate on projects. You can meet potential clients or your future boss through networking, so it’s vitally important when you’re trying to grow your career.

Having professional headshots is one of those small but impactful details that will help you stand out amongst your peers. You’ll be seen as someone who takes themselves and their career seriously, which can take you far in terms of networking.

Not only can headshots be used online, but they can be added to printed business cards and resumes too. Having your digital image printed onto your business cards and resumes can give you an edge and show that you’ve put thought into marketing yourself. Being seen as someone who puts time and effort into those small details can only help you.

Grow Your Career

You might be focusing on making a good first impression during a meeting or interview, but the reality is the process starts way before you meet someone in person. The majority of recruiters and employers will scour the internet before they meet with or even contact a potential candidate. Having the right photo on your LinkedIn profile will help you stand out.

If you showcase a subpar photo that doesn’t paint you in the best light, that will be noticed, too. Before you walk in the door at your interview and a potential boss meets you in person for the first time, your online presence has likely already made an impression. By paying attention to what your business headshot looks like, you’ll be able to have an advantage before you’ve answered your first interview question.

Boost Your Confidence

Having a good professional headshot will instantly boost your confidence, which will benefit you during networking sessions and interviews. When you take yourself more seriously, it’s only natural for others to do the same. When you know that you’re making the best possible first impression, you automatically feel better about your personal brand, which radiates outward when you interact with others.

With a great headshot, you’ll feel energized, in charge, and ready to smash any career goals you’ve set for yourself. Others will feed off that energy and want to work with you.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

While business headshots can do a lot of good for you, they can also work against you when they’re done poorly. If you use an out-of-focus photo that looks like you shot it with a selfie stick in a dimly lit room, you’ll be turning potential business contacts off rather than making them want to work with you.

Finding a professional photographer will ensure that the photo you use on your social media site is professional, tasteful, and paints you in the best possible light. A photographer can give you advice on everything from which outfit might work best to which background would be most appropriate. They’ll be able to take several shots so you can choose your favorite one.

Consult a Photographer Today

If you’re ready to invest in yourself so you can take your career to the next level, it’s time to consider consulting a trained photographer. You’ll want to find one whose work you admire – you should be able to see some samples of their work on their website.

The consultation you have with the photographer will also help you decide if they’ll be a good fit. You should feel comfortable with them so they bring out a relaxed, natural expression on your face during the photo shoot.

Taking professional business headshots doesn’t require you to book a full photo session – a mini session will do just fine. You won’t have to commit to a lengthy photo shoot, so you can spend more time working on reaching your business objectives.