Here’s a question I get asked a lot: “My headshot is three years old — do I really need a new one?”
My answer is almost always yes, and here’s why.
Your headshot is a representation of who you are right now. Not who you were in 2021, not who you were before the pandemic, not who you were when you had a different hairstyle and twenty fewer gray hairs. (No judgment — I’ve got a few myself.)
When someone meets you in person after seeing your headshot online — at a networking event in Irvine, at a client meeting in Costa Mesa, at a conference in Anaheim — there should be immediate recognition. They should look at you and think, “Yes, that’s exactly who I expected.”
If there’s a disconnect between your photo and your current appearance, it creates a subtle but real sense of unease. Clients start to wonder: is this person’s information out of date too? What else are they not keeping current?
As a general rule, I recommend updating your professional headshot every one to two years, or whenever there’s a significant change — new haircut, major weight change, new job or title, or if you’ve just started looking noticeably different.
For professionals in Orange County’s fast-moving industries — tech, finance, entertainment, real estate, healthcare — staying current matters even more. Your digital presence is often the first impression you make, and it should reflect the most capable, current, confident version of you.
The good news is that a headshot refresh session doesn’t have to be a big production. I offer streamlined refresh sessions specifically for clients who just need a quick update without starting from scratch.
If you’re not sure whether it’s time for a new headshot, send me your current one. I’ll give you an honest answer.
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