A "What to do" article from our 10,000 Headshots Project in July 2020. As we shot, many of the subjects were very appreciative, not to mention the joy and cries of delight as they saw their brand new images.
Most had never seen what professional lighting and coaching can do for their self esteem, and their images, and how it can put rocket fuel into their futures.
This article was posted here for reference. The event has come and gone, but the often secret, information on job hunting and headshots, is still critically valid.
If like many others today, you’re searching for a new job — maybe something that offers a flexible work-from-home option to sustain you through the COVID-19 pandemic? — you have to freshen everything up, from your resume to your portfolio to that first impression in the age of virtual job searching: the headshot.
Headshots may not be required along with your resume, but they’re a necessity for professionals, topping LinkedIn and Twitter profiles (yes, people do find jobs on Twitter). A professional headshot sends a certain message that a selfie just doesn’t, especially when potential employers are looking at your profile.
The drawback? Professional headshots can be perceived as expensive, with the cost of a sitting starting at around $250, and $2,000 is not unusual. If you’re out of work right now, that expense may seem a bit out of reach, yet is less than the cost of a cell phone, a good jacket or even some tattoos.
In response, photography booking agency Headshot Booker and Brookfield Properties launched 10,000 Headshots, a single-day photo initiative where more than 200 photographers provided free headshots to unemployed people across the all 50 states on July 22.
In Delaware, Don Mann of Don Mann Photography Inc. in Wilmington, participated that day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Christiana Mall.
Mann came out of retirement to start Don Mann Photography, specializing in professional headshots for businesses, actors, modeling portfolios and individuals, as well as commercial and event photography.
“Our community, like so many others, was hit hard by COVID-19 and we were looking for ways to help our neighbors get back on their feet,” said Mann, who noted that,
"According to LinkedIn, people who include headshots receive 21 times more profile views and nine times more “connection” requests."
“We heard about what Headshot Booker and Brookfield Properties were doing across the country and wanted to be a part of it. We are giving hope in a desperate situation, and are excited and grateful to be able to contribute to such a great initiative.”
Anyone who was currently unemployed was eligible to get a free headshot. If you plan to participate, visit HeadshotBooker.com to schedule a time to be photographed in order to facilitate safety and social distancing for the 10 minute one-on-one sessions. Photographers are required to wear masks throughout the shoot, keep 6 foot distances, and participants will receive their images through contactless photo delivery courtesy of SpotMyPhotos.
If all the resumes meet the job requirements, what can set you apart? The answer starts with your headshot.
The holy grail of job hunting is hot referrals, yet when an employer hears of someone, the first thing they do is look that name up on LinkedIn. They go right for the profile picture, your headshot. If it is a compelling, Top 1% Headshot showing approachability, competence and trustworthiness, you go right to the top of the list. If not, provided your resume is close, you may get added to the pile. If other applicants have Top 1% Headshots, you often will not even make the sort file, much less the interview list, no matter how great your resume and job application. The door opener is a Top 1% Headshot like we create for you.
The Headshot Battleground.
The battle zone for a headshot starts when your headshot is first viewed. You have milliseconds to win this battle. If you win it, they keep looking at it for a couple of seconds. At the gut level they say to themselves, "I like this person, they look competent, and I would be glad to work with them." This battleground in the best cases leads them to contact you right away. Lose this battle in those critical first milliseconds, they move on looking for other answers. Often the headshot is so poor it repels the viewer, who turns away or glosses over it in their mind.
You can rank headshots on a scale from 0 to 100. Only the top 5% win this first impression battle zone. Most headshots do not even make it to the 70% category. Here they see your headshot and gloss right over it, and look for other alternatives to you. They may not be offended, but they certainly are not impressed.
As a job hunter or client hunter in today's world, you may met the initial entrance criteria, but without a top headshot, you will not jump ahead of the other competitors. If everyone has a top resume, the battle belongs to the headshot. Ignoring it or going cheap is not a wise choice.
We use the term "Top 1%" headshot to focus on the high lookability factors of approachability and confidence leading to trustworthiness. These rare headshots are more like one-in-a-million, but we use the "top 1%" name to drive the point that all headshots are not equal, and sadly, most are not even contenders in marketing and branding for career advancement, much less for a job, or clients, in desperate times.
What is a Top 1% Headshot?
Rocket Launch
Add Rocket Fuel to YOUR business life, and Watch it SOAR with a proper, Top 1%, Headshot!
We are experts for those who hate having their picture taken.
A proper professional headshot does not just fill a spot on a form. Studies prove it can be one of the most valuable marketing tools there is, WHEN DONE RIGHT.
This is even more important in these COVID 19 days where meeting people in person is constrained by masks and social distancing. Your professional headshot is the only way to introduce your better self. Then add in video interviews with amateur cameras at strange angles, and the job seeker is placed at a disadvantage, unless the interviewers are also looking at their awesome and compelling headshot.
"I, Don Mann, was competitively selected to join the world’s top headshot shooter for his team."
"When people see a proper headshot with that extremely rare confidence and approachability caused by my proven coaching, they want to meet you, work with you, and call you. This is the power of my rare expertise for you."
"Head shots are becoming more and more important in business these days," said Mann. "You want to be somebody who looks approachable, knowledgeable, confident, competent, trustworthy, and people would like to do work with you."
"For a business head shot, over-the-top happy with a big toothy smile, is a bit needy-feeling," said Mann. "It's that moment afterwards, where it's just that afterglow of the smile and it's not over the top and it's confident and it's connected. That's the moment I capture with my camera."
Typical review when people see the headshots we create with them: "The difference between the other “pro” headshots I had and yours is remarkable! I'm so glad I found you. Thank you so much!"
I create headshots that help people get jobs and clients, and I put that know-how into YOUR headshots. The result for YOU is more business, more job interviews, and more opportunity success. And for the job hunter, getting those awesome calls for an interview.
These times are harder than ever before. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
I’D LOVE TO HELP YOU.
The see more Top 1% Headshots see our home page. https://www.donmannphotography.com/
Contact me now: 302-561-5555
Adapted from: "Unemployed and ready to update your job profile? Check out this free headshots event.
Don Mann Photography participated in the nationwide 10,000 Headshots initiative at the Christiana Mall on July 22."
By Holly Quinn
https://technical.ly/delaware/2020/07/13/unemployed-free-headshots-event-christiana-mall-don-mann-photography/
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