Why you shouldn’t let your coworker take your headshot

Okay, so you need an updated headshot and don’t want to go to a professional. We get it, headshots can be pricey and professional photo studios are intimidating! Oh wait, your coworker Shannon always brings a camera to the company parties. Maybe she can take it?

Let me stop you right there. Unless Shannon has a secret portfolio of awesome looking headshots stashed somewhere you don’t know about, we DO NOT recommend giving her the responsibility of your next professional headshot. Why? 

They don’t have the skills! 

Let’s face it, your coworker likely isn’t a photography pro. They may not know the best angles or lighting to make you look your best. Pair that with a lack of composition knowledge and you’ll end up with an awkward photo. Coaching people into different smiles and poses and helping them throughout the awkward process of having their photo taken comes from YEARS of experience. Knowing where to place lighting and how to shape it to sculpt shadows and highlights on a person’s face isn’t something learned overnight. 

More importantly, being skilled in one area of photography isn’t a free ticket into all areas of photography. A hobbyist who takes great landscape photos and vacation shots could have no idea what they’re doing with studio lights and portraits, for example. Even a professional photographer is only a professional in their area(s) of expertise. We’re commercial photographers, so we wouldn’t touch newborn photography with a ten foot pole. Michelle tried taking photos of her own newborn and she ended up with photos of a baby looking a lot like Winston Churchill. 

Feedback matters during a headshot

Have you ever tried getting constructive feedback from a coworker? It can be difficult. Now try to get or give them constructive feedback on something they’re doing that is NOT part of their job there. You have an established professional relationship with this person based on both of your very specific roles at the company you work for. Let’s say Shannon is the Marketing Coordinator and you’re a Sales Rep, for example. 

Now you’re going to change those roles– Shannon is going to be your photographer, who will guide you, lead you, and work with you on the very personal matter of taking your photo and picking apart images of you. If you’re not ready for that kind of change in your professional relationship, it could be as awkward as bumping into her at a colonoscopy appointment.

They may also not have the same bedside manner that a professional photographer does, which comes from years of experience. Not only does working with a professional portrait photographer get you valuable guidance on posing, expression and overall appearance to help you get that perfect photo, but they’re also trained in how to communicate with you professionally and respectfully.If your coworker with a nice camera makes a weird comment about your nose while taking your photo, will it be awkward for you in the office after that?

Professionalism counts

Headshots are often the first impression that you make on a potential employer, client or business partner. You need to look like you mean business. Using a headshot that looks like an amateur took it could make or break that first impression. A professional-looking headshot also has a different psychological effect than an iPhone snap. Instead of, “they took a picture to use for their LinkedIn profile” it says, “wow, they’re important enough that someone took their professional photo.”

Equipment limitations 

While you may have a coworker like Shannon with a professional camera, they may not know how to use it properly. You may even be dealing with someone who plans to use their iPhone to take your headshot. Yikes! 

We know that phone cameras have come a long way, but they still can’t compete with professional-grade equipment to get the perfect photo. But what if Shannon has a $3,000 camera? Again, that still doesn’t mean she knows how to use it to the best of its capabilities. If you have the same stove that Bobby Flay does, why are his omelets always better than yours?

Consistency is crucial

If multiple employees at your job are getting headshots taken, using the same photographer ensures consistency in style, lighting and editing across all images, and a vendor you as a company can hold accountable. Even using the same team of photographers from the same studio means you’ll be getting consistent photos since they will all be notified of what to use for your team. We’ve been taking professional headshots since 2005 and we can’t tell you how often people come to our studio to pay for their own photos even though their company had Shannon from Marketing take their photos several times– they’re never happy with an amateur’s photos and feel bad telling them because their desks are next to each other! So they sneak into our studio instead and replace their headshots.

Final Thoughts

The bottom line is that as enticing as it may be to save some cash by letting Shannon snap your headshot, we cannot stress enough that you SHOULD NOT. Hiring a professional isn’t just about the quality of the photo, it’s the entire experience. Do you want Shannon always reminding you she did you a solid taking that sub par headshot? Yeah, didn’t think so.