Four good reasons to get a good business portrait made

Nov 20 BizPics shoot offers affordable headshots

Originally post: March 21, 2011, Updated: October 3, 2011

Having a good portrait made of yourself is a good idea no matter what profession you are in or ambitions you have. 

First, you never know when the AP might want to feature you in an article, like the one social media strategist Alecia Dantico was featured in back when she was at Garrett Popcorn. Fast Company's piece on Domino's Ramon DeLeon was very useful to him, but more so because he had a picture of himself to provide the magazine (which I'm pleased to have made for him.)

You're doing yourself a favor, and the media outlet, by having a photo on hand. Because deadlines and budgets are tight, editors and producers don't always have the resources for getting an image made for their stories. And if by chance they are able to assign a photographer to make your picture, there's no guarantee you'll like the image.

Second, to help maintain or enhance your reputation, having a strong, smart online presence is important. If you are using LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, you're expected to include a picture of yourself. An up-to-date one is usually best, because you'll want to use one that communicates the qualities you want the public to know about you now.

Third, as the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but who's got time to read a thousand words? Reading a picture is faster. Portraits communicate in seconds qualities of a person words can't. They transcend language. Images are more show and less tell, which is what effective communication is about.

And lastly, because getting a portrait that works can be pricey, my firm, Kring Lerner Group, in cooperation with Boocoo Cultural Center and award-winning stylist Edda Coscioni of Salon Lamia, is offering good portraits at a good price on November 20.  Space is limited. For more information and to register, check out register as soon as you can.

Results from past shoots are online on Facebook.

In the portraits above: SymphonyIRI Group’s Nicole Kirkwood (upper left), Portnoy Enterprise’s Ken Portnoy, NPR's Cheryl Corley (lower left) and Catalyst Magazine's Linda Lenz.

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