Michelle Villalobos (vee • ya • low • bos) 

Social media like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and email marketing are the cornerstone of your online image. If you're in sales, marketing, PR (especially if you're self-employed,) you can't afford not to be using these tools. But there's a lot more to it than social media... 

These days, prospects and clients are likely to google you and see your online presence before they ever meet you in person! Some people are even saying that "Google is the new resume" because even if you do meet someone in person, chances are they'll google you if they're interested in learning more.

So when people look for you online... What do they see?

1. That it reflects your unique brand.

2. It has to be current - a photo that looks old screams "stuck in the past." Even if you were more "beautiful" 10 years ago, chances are these last 10 years have given you experience, character and depth. Don't hide that.

Chris Carol Myers
Virtual Assistant

3. The right pose says it all. And that pose should be unique for your brand. No generic, cheesy glamour shots! Your picture should reflect who you are and what you do, and shouldn't look like anyone else's – unless of course that's the brand you wish to convey. In which case, that's a strategic decision.

Marla Acosta

Professional Makeup Artist For Editorial & Film

4. Quality. Enough said. 

5. Eye contact - at least for most people. While there are certain brands that require something different, for the most part, making eye contact helps to draw people in. Simply put, making eye contact engenders trust. And we all know trust is the basis of every relationship – business or otherwise.

Take note: Just because you're getting a professional headshot, doesn't mean that the photo has to be generic, cheesy, or boring.

In fact, whether your brand is "Earth Mother," "Badass Exec," "Girl-Next-Door Entrepreneur," "Marketing Queen," "Trustworthy Financial Planner," "Kooky Artist" or something completely different, a portrait can and should project your unique brand. And if you don't have a professional portrait, you're missing the opportuntiy to let a picture speak 1,000 words – about you.

Cristina Maria Lloyd

Outta Space, Professional Organizing For Small Businesses, Home Offices & Closets

Why do you need a professional headshot? Because it's likely the first image that many people will ever see of you. If you're using a crop of a family vacation photo, an old picture from 15, 10 or anything over 5 years ago, you're making a mistake. 

Not only is it unprofessional, but you're missing the opportunity to keep your brand as current and as relevant as you are. In this day and age, that's really important.

Here are some additional results from recent Headshot Workshops:

Gina Nordqvist

Nordqvist Creative Agency, Specializing In Real Estate Marketing Strategy & Execution

Furthermore, you need a consistent image. Even if you use different photos for different purposes, they all need to be high-quality, attractive and they need to accurately align with the most important brand in the world: yours.

See below: using a "montage" of several photos instead of just one is pretty cool too.*

Jessica Lurie

Mivista, Inc. Partner & Yoga Enthusiast 

Are you starting to see how your profile pic can help you really start to use social media more effectively? So how do you get a great headshot? I'm so glad you asked ;)

We can help you take control of your online brand AND we're going to shoot your brand new, attractive, unique, perfectly branded headshot.

The Headshot Workshop is the easiest, most comprehensive and most cost-effective (not to mention fun!) way to get a professional portrait that properly and beautifully reflects your brand online.

Dr. Maria Escoto 
SoBeDENTIST.com

In addition to a one-on-one phone consult with me to guide you in developing your personal brand and your online presence, our amazing photographer will shoot an attractive, authentic, true-to-your-personality headshot of you. You'll get 3 high-res retouched headshots that I'll personally help you pick.

Take a look at Michelle Wolfe's photo below. We created an actual logo for her using her photo from the Headshot Workshop III. We also create a new email signature for you - see the Sudsies one's on the right column, above.

Michelle Wolfe
"Promotional Products Diva" – Halo/Lee Wayne

Here's another cool thing we did for Brian Tannebaum - to show his unique speaking style. He can use this array on a one-sheet promoting his speaking services:

This is perhaps the coolest event we've ever done. What's not to love? Get fabulous professional portraits, solidify your personal brand, revamp your online presence & have fun!

A quick rundown of what you'll get:

1. 3 attractive, professional (not cookie cutter), retouched digital headshots that capture your unique brand.

2. A full CD of the rest of your photos – high resolution so you can do whatever you want with them.

3. A pre-shoot phone session with me to go over discuss your personal brand, figure out how to make your photos right for you, and to discuss any online content that may need "tweaking."

4. A post-photo shoot phone consult with me (Michelle Villalobos) once you have your photos, to give you tactical ways to use social media to raise your profile, and to actually properly set up or revise your social media profiles as needed (LinkedIn, Facebook, Facebook Fan Pages, and even Twitter - if needed, depending on what makes sense for YOU.)

1. The Portrait(s)

Okay okay. You get it. You need a headshot. But I'm sure you know a photographer, or even a friend who can do it for you, right? Maybe. Maybe not. 

Anyone can snap a photo. Not everyone knows how to make sure you're unique personality and brand are captured in a way the works for you online. We do – we guarantee it.

First off, we define your brand and figure out the best way to capture it on film. We have an excellent relationship with our photographer, and I (Michelle Villalobos), personally work with you on all of the preliminary work (establishing your brand identity, discussing wardrobe, hair, makeup and props) to make sure you get the perfect headshot. 

You might not know this, but I worked for Ocean Drive magazine for over 7 years, half of that was in editorial – executing photo shoots and articles. If there's one thing I know, it's photo shoots! 

We'll make sure your portrait "fits" you – your personality, your business, your unique look. It will be attractive for sure, but it's not a "Glamour Shot" or anything like it. You'll love it - I promise (and guarantee it). 

Some of our Headshot Workshop clients say it's the ONLY picture they've ever liked of themselves!

Tricia Bannister
Spa Consultant

In addition to getting a great headshot, we also do a pre-photo shoot session over the phone to help you craft your online brand. This is where we discuss what you should be wearing to properly convey your brand to YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

The checklist will help you: