How My Headshot Helped Me Make $40,000 More A Year

If you do a search for headshot photographers in a large city like Washington DC you may quickly find that getting good headshots can be costly prospect. Even bad headshots can cost $200 and good headshots are $400-$600 or even more. It becomes much easier to understand when you begin to realize the value of great headshot instead of only thinking about cost or price. A great headshot can easily help you get a better position and higher paying job.

The average pay raise when changing jobs according to Marketwatch is 10-20%. A pay raise like that can easily get you $10k-$20k or even more per year or $500 to $1000 more per month in net pay. In other words that expensive headshot can pay for itself in just one month while continuing to pay you for months and years ahead.

Headshots are consistently rated as one of the top 2 qualities of a linkedin profile along with your headline. Users with good headshots get 11 times more views than those without a headshot. So you will definitely start getting more eyeballs on your skills and experience and will find that getting a new job with more money is a lot easier with a modern professional headshot.

My first professional headshot helped me earn $40,000 more per year. I took it myself as a new photographer dabbling with headshots nearly 8 years ago. It was only more recently as a professional headshot photographer that I realized how important that headshot was to getting that pay raise.

At the time I was an under-paid consultant in an experienced mid-level role working on a government contract. I was updating my Linkedin profile fairly regularly and had your typical cropped cell phone shot that I was tagged in on facebook. I was dressed professional but it did not look like a professional headshot. 

Later while playing with my new cameras and lights I took a nice professional headshot. Clearly lit. White background. Professional attire. I uploaded to Linkedin not really expecting much. But quickly found more and more recruiters reaching out to me about positions that fit my background and experience.

I decided to interview for some positions and quickly found myself with a great offer for over $20k more than my current salary. During the same week another offer came in. Some simple communications and negotiations later I found myself with an offer for right around $40k more than I was currently making.

I know getting your headshot taken does not sound fun or exciting. It is not the kind of thing you dream about spending your money on like a nice vacation, a new car, a fancy apartment or toys for your hobby. But if it had the power to get you even 5-10-20k more per year than why not make that investment?

In the perfect world a headshot would not impact your employment or perceived value. It would just be your credentials and experience. In the perfect world maybe employers would just pay their workers more fairly and value their employees more.

But the reality is that companies typically only do the bare minimum to keep employees happy and keep them around. That means measly 2-3% raises that barely keep up with the increased cost of living. So getting ahead for most - especially early on - is going mean changing jobs and getting the raise you really deserve. A headshot is great way to increase your perceived value and get the positive attention you need to attract top employers.

Now I know you may be thinking headshots are for successful people or conventionally attractive people. There are certainly studies that have shown that good looking people tend to be more successful and get more opportunities. A great headshot and the benefits from it is less about being good looking and more about looking your best and putting your best self out there.

We often think of great photography being something for actors, models, politicians, online-influencers and business super stars on the covers of magazines and big name editorials. But that association that good photos are for successful people is also a life hack that can work in your favor.

By getting a high-quality headshot that shows yourself looking your best you will instantly make people think YOU are that successful business super-star. Recruiters and hiring managers will assume the best about you. They will assume you have great experience and credentials and they will look at your actual experience and credentials in the best light because why else would you have an expensive professional headshot? You must be a successful, detail oriented and high quality person.

Imagine finally getting that job without an 'Assistant' in the job title. Finally being the 'Senior' or 'Lead' in your career. And actually getting that pay you deserve with that new position. 

News Flash, it's not your employers job to manage YOUR career. It's YOUR job. So get out there and start making new opportunities for yourself by getting the positive attention you deserve with a modern professional headshot. Get that Headshot that is as high-achieving as you are.

Jared Wolfe is a professional headshot photographer based in Alexandria VA where for 5 years he has been providing headshots for businesses, companies, entrepreneurs and career motivated individuals. He serves all the Washington DC area including Maryland and Virginia.

Tired of your embarrassingly bad headshot? Ready for a modern headshot that will get you ahead? Click here to see my headshot pricing, details and availability.

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