Promo staffers are busy people put under a lot of pressure to staff the right team for each and every event they are assigned! Your photo helps the staffer to connect to the reason why you were selected for their event. This is why your photo is highly important. Therefore it is important for you to submit the right photo when you apply for events because many times staffers do not have the time to request a better photo from you and wait for you to fulfill the request. Here are a few examples of bad photos that keep being mistaken for good photos and the reasons why they can cause your submission to be declined more than it needs to be. Although there are some staffers who will take the time to make the request for a new photo from you, but why gamble on that? Stop submitting bad headshots! Find out why certain photos can hurt your chances of getting hired for promo events. Read more on our blog.
SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses cover your face which defeats the point of the headshot. Nothing complex about the a reason why.
Cute photo, but most clients don't like having to use their imagination to figure out what you look like without them. Next time, remember to take off the sunglasses.
FILTERS
Filters make photos look cuter and they're fun to use. But filters can also mask what you actually look like in real life. Filters can come off cheesy. The client is paying good money for you to represent their brand. For this reason alone, you should only submit photos that will be taken seriously. Photos with filters may get likes on social media but they are frown upon in submission for promo events. The same goes for overly photoshopped photos or photos heavily edited by make-up apps and so forth. Usually, the biggest issue with your photo is lighting. Try improving that and go from there.
Too Much Skin or photos not asked for
Sometimes event posts will expose the type of brand the event is for and some of you will submit a photo you feel fits the event which is nice but unless the event post asks for this kind of photo, don't submit that photo as the primary photo. If the post only asks for a headshot and full body, submit the traditional photo types first and a specialized photo as the third option. Always submit what's being asked for and if there's room or opportunity gauge if other kinds of photos are useful. With that being said, be mindful of how much skin is showing in your photos. It's okay to shoot your shot, but understand what comes with that.
THE SUPER CUTE WINDY PICS
When you're scrolling through your photos and you come across this really awesome photo of you where the wind was blowing and the good feels are rushing back, because that was a great day when you took this photo. Don't choose it. Pick another one. Even if it was at an event. Don't use it. It doesn't match the tone of what headshots were meant for. The headshot shows what you look like in a polished pose. Headshots are used for many things like event reports for the event manager, presentations for the client, profiles in the database, and so on. Technically, there's nothing wrong with the image but logistically, it doesn't fit as it should. Next time, either wait for the wind to stop blowing to take the photo or get somewhere the wind isn't impacting your photo for your headshot.
Lack of Personality
Since this is the promo industry, keep in mind that your headshot is a foreshadowing of your personality. Lighten up, the headshot is not for a badge that lets you in and out of a security building. Smile, look approachable, and friendly. If this is you, it may be best for you to let someone else take your photo. Relax and don't overthink it. Take multiple shots and choose which you like from the bunch.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Is a black-and-white photo okay to submit?
You'll be better off submitting a photo that is in color.
Q: My resume has a headshot on it. Is that enough?
No, because that photo is hard to snatch from your resume. It becomes too pixelated when cropped. Pixelated photos look unprofessional in presentations to the client and are usually not used. If that's the only headshot you provide, your whole submission is liable to be skipped over. It's totally okay to submit the same headshot from the resume as an image of its own.
Q: My camera phone doesn't take good photos. Will I be okay if I use my phone to take the photo anyway?
Respectfully, find someone with a better phone to take your photos. You are competing with people who are taking better photos because their phones can do so. Don't chop your chances if you don't have to. But it is still totally possible for you to book events with lesser-quality photos. so don't get discouraged.
Q: Do I need to invest in professional photos?
For some promo companies, they prefer professional photos because it makes them look polished. Other promo companies do not like professional photos with your submission because a professional photo is staged. We don't know if your make-up, for example, was done by you to know if you'll be able to show up like that for the activation. The same goes for hair or being groomed. If you do decide to take professional photos, keep it light and something you can replicate.
If you want to see examples of good headshots, check out the following blogs:
If you have any other questions, put them in the comments below.
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Hype! Agency
WEBSITE: https://thehypeagency.com/
The Hype! Agency is a full-service event staffing and execution partner, and have been paving the way since 2006. In an industry where reputation is everything, Hype! continues to be recognized as the leading event staffing agency.
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