Do you have a headshot handy that you could send to a media organization quickly?
Today I got an email from a rather large media publication requesting a picture of me for an article that they might include me in (they were being a little cagey and wouldn’t actually say if I was ‘in’ or not – so I won’t say who it is).
The email was marked ‘Urgent’ – they needed my picture as soon as possible as they were on a deadline.
Luckily for me I have a few head shots that I was able to send off within a few minutes of the request hitting my inbox – but it reminded me of a similar request a few months back when I didn’t have a suitable picture handy and ended up being left out of an article that could have brought significant exposure.
I learnt my lesson from that occasion and got a photographer mate to take some high resolution and professional looking shots.
Having a set of quality pictures of yourself can be a very useful thing – for a number of reasons:
1. Media – while some media outlets will send their own photographers to get a new and unique image of you – many will not – particularly if you are not close to them. Similarly – having your images readily available on your blog means that they’ll get used by other bloggers also. I regularly see my ugly mug on some blog or another when people write about something that I’ve written. This can be both good and bad (depending upon the shot that they choose to use) – but it’s mainly good and can add to your personal brand.
2. Personal Branding – putting your image on your blog will not be for everyone – but I’ve certainly learnt the power of it over the past few years of ProBlogger. These days my image is down in the footer (although there is one slap bang in the middle of my home page – on the video) but for the first 2.5 years of this blog it was right up the top. The impact of this was quite powerful in terms of a personal branding exercise. However this is not for everyone – some bloggers want to brand their blog more prominently than themselves (for example at DPS I don’t include my picture – in fact I don’t even include my name on posts). It depends upon the objective of your blog.
3. Adding a Personal Touch – Having said that I don’t use my image on DPS, I do use it in my weekly newsletters where I include the image to the right in one of my sections. The reason for including it is not to promote myself – but to give the newsletter a more personal touch. Interestingly the week I started doing it I had 10 or so emails from subscribers that specifically mentioned it. Sometimes having a face to put to writing can add a new dimension to your reader’s experience.
Of course using your image online can have some dangers and risks and will not be for everyone. I I’m comfortable with people knowing what I look like, but I know many bloggers choose to blog more anonymously – and this can be a good thing also.
Well let me be the first to congratulate your on your “maybe” included article. And hey, as usual you’ve been able to report this in style with quite a bit of information to go with it.
No head shots for me. But then again, am I likely to get a request for one… doubt it.
Hope your requested head makes it to the article. Keep us all posted.
I have one photo that I use for all my profile pics and everything. I can do a pretty good “face only” crop of it, so if anybody ever wanted, I would use my standard profile pic, for branding. Kind of like you and that green shirt.
You make it look halfway decent, I’m not sure if I would look as good putting myself out there like that.
Hi Darren I am the second to Congratulate you , Nice photos with you i like that personal touch photo cool, Happy Blogging
– http://www.vhxn.com
I think it is a great idea to always have a pic on hand, but I also advocate using your photograph on your own blog too. One of the things I miss from Performancing is the thumbnails of bloggers, we had to turn them off as it was an additional stumbling block to getting people to contribute. Having a picture is one more way to increase the connection between blogger and reader.
I will never be able to post a picture of myself for many reasons including that of privacy but I do use an avatar pictured as a clown when needed.
So much for the chance of large scale exposure if they require a photo of myself.
I think that “Adding a Personal Touch” is very important if you want to use social marketing to promote your blog… in these days, people want to treat with people online and not with some anonymous website.
I’m always anxious about putting a picture of myself on my blog for safety reasons. Is there certain things you do to keep safe while posting your photos?
The last 1-2 years if have had som photos on my PC, to urgent use if nessesary. It’s a nice thing to have, you never know when your gonna need it ;)
I don’t put my photo in my blog contest blog:P
I seem to have littered the web with my mugshot, it’s almost every where I’ve ever commented on a blog with avatars, it’s on most of my websites. There are Dorian Gray undertones to illuminating a website with one’s face though. I even discussed that very issue in a post entitled How to Achieve Blogging Immortality in which I referenced you!
db
Just arrived here via your twitter; makes me wonder whether twitter is the new ‘RSS’.
I certainly wouldn’t wnt my head shot in my home page, but it does make me think that I should include a good one somewhere. I’ll talk nicely to a photographer friend; I wonder if she can make me look like Johnny Depp…
I usually don’t include pictures of myself mainly because I don’t think anyone would want to see my mug. haha. This is a good thing to consider though.. I may make use of my photo booth application.
I’m curious as to what the best medium would be. Certainly a nice photograph, but black and white? Color? Artsy?
Part of me imagines there being a camwhore aspect to it all, but my experience is likely tainted. Often enough in physical publications author photographs are presented alongside their work.
Its definitely something I’ve thought about doing, but I really don’t like my head as viewed by my iSight camera and my arm is just not long enough to take my own pic. Its something I want to do. I think it makes people think you’re more of a real person and less of a random internet blogger.
I definitely agree with this post Darren. Its up to each blogger but I know I personally prefer to see a face of who I’m reading from, especially an author of a book or blog I read a lot of content from. It bugs me when there is no personal info about an author available, now I don’t think its needed on each post but somewhere on the website, its valuable.
Some people even use it in there emails (like headhunters / recruiters) to help keep the face associated since they contact thousands of people and won’t otherwise be remembered.
Great tips!
A picture of yourself builds trust with readers.
I kicked and screamed about including my mug on the site initially. Ultimately, so many folks said they engaged with the site more and felt better because of my picture that it has been incorporated into my new header.
Now, the picture represents a way to empower other ordinary folks like me to launch their own site or blog. Heck if she can do it…
Maybe I’ll get a new pic taken for the new blog…
Thanks for stimulating conversation as always, Darren.
Dina
I’m using my own photo on my blog header.
Kevin – could try a tripod and a remote shutter or delay, perhaps?
db
i like to keep my secret an identity. not sure why..maybe b/c people can base assumptions on just a picture and i rather not have that.
How odd.. just today I put my picture in the sidebar.. and an hour or so later, this post popped up in RSS..
I’ll start a blog soon but haven’t decided yet. I’ll give myself 3 more days to decide.
Not sure if putting my picture up would help me all that much, especially with my ugly mug! Okay, I’m not ugly, but I look more like a lumberjack than a geek that’s for sure.
I’ll try it out though. It can’t hurt.
Well, there probably will not be headshot eminating from our blog as we are using the freedom of anonymity to discuss the subject of our blog. And though we are aware our anonymity is never truly complete, I do not picture Me or Mrs. Gentlenibbles turning over headshots to the press. Press is good for business, but may hurt the personal life a bit…
some people are bit shy about themselves, I dont know why, but its true – :)
Ne ways, nice thing is being mentioned here. I will try to do this.
-abs
Not everyone is comfortable putting a picture of themselves on the web.
I used to be really cagey about having my picture (and at times, even my real name) in my blogs.
These days I find it more useful that readers can put a face to my name and brand, especially as I was often mistaken for a man in the early days of Blogger Buster! (most readers assumed I must be male because I wrote about blog design, code and technical details).
However, I can honestly understand why many people are so anxious about having their identity so openly available. You never know who could be reading your blog!
I used to think that I would never use an image of myself on my blog, but now it’s different for me. I guess it all depends on what you are promoting.
I think it’s very important to use an image of yourself if you are writing a blog. It’s important for your readers to see who you are in order to relate. And I think that a good blog is a personal blog, just like problogger. You need to show people who you are, using your own words and your own images.
You got some ‘cute as a pie’ mug shots up there! *LOL (sorry but that’s my weird sense of humor)
I really didn’t want to post a pic of myself on my blog but it does make your blog more personable and I think it even helps readers trust you….you’re really a person behind the blog. Now I only have a pic on my about page (I’ve had one up since I started my blog) and I posted a couple pics in a post before, however if I had some professional head shots done then I would likely put one on my homepage.
Overall I think there are more positives to posting your pic than there are negatives. There are so many who want to remain anonymous online and I think that that can create mistrust at times. Maybe not always, but for the most part I think it’s hard to really get into a blog when you don’t know who’s behind it. Thanks!
I think that a personal picture on your blog has tremendous branding value… Getting it right in comparison with the blog mission and branding isn’t always easy, but once you DO get it right it can help the blog RADIATE personality.
good thing I am a handsome guy, otherwise I don’t know if I would have put an actual picture of me on my blog.
I have a slightly silly pic of me on my blog, as I’m not comfortable with me as just me, but me doing something is OK.
Having a professional head-and-shoulders for my About page or press releases would be useful, I suppose, but I like the personality my pic projects.
I keep meaning to get professional photos done. This is a good reminder! especially as I am actively going after media exposure in the next few months.
It’s coming this afternoon, now that you’ve reminded me..heh..
I’m going to go with 2 looks, a corporate one and a ‘cool kid’ one and put them on a rotator..
I’m all in favor of putting photos of myself since I want to let my readers know who is doing the articles, but is there any disadvantage to put your photo in your blog? (Besides being shy or something like that)
I recently moved to WordPress, and during the transition there was a period of time when my picture wasn’t up in my sidebar. A few people asked me “Where’s your picture? I miss your picture!” It was a reaction I hadn’t expected. Apparently my picture is not only my identity, but part of my blog’s as well.
The trouble is that, in photos I always look like I just got out of bed!
Where I’ve had to use a photo of myself, I keep it small so as not to scare the kiddies off ;)
Good Goddess Almighty….I *hate* having my picture taken and hate even more people seeing it *laughs*.
I am thinking about a site redesign, so maybe I’ll consider putting a photo up somewhere. Can’t imagine it on the front page, though.
I too hate having my picture taken-they always seem to come out looking like some Imposter (” who is that man-thats not me”) i might try one on my footer page too- one day-(maybe) ; )
I’ve got a few shots waiting but no one seems to ask for them.
I guess that’s why I work in radio. It doesn’t really matter what I look like. :)
I’m too camera shy to post pictures of myself on the internet. Only recent photo of myself was from two or three years ago..
I wish I could use my photo on my blog – but ever since that sex video…
Just a quick question for ya. If that is a professional shot, why is the top of your head and the bottom of your chin chopped off? Really, I am just wondering, I thought a full face shot would be much better no?? Oh, and yes, I do have a head shot, but to me it doesn’t matter because I hate any picture of myself.
Ron Killian
I don’t have good headshots of myself posted many places. I do have one I consider to be adequate, but most pictures of myself are from more of a distance.
Some blogs I like being a little more anonymous than others.
I agree that a picture makes for a more personal feel when you pop into someones blog or website. I have been trying to find a local photo place that will take a couple professional shots and release them to me digitally but everyone just wans you to purchase regular prints!
I don’t know about blogging, but I know, as someone that’s been auditioning around for performances, I know that headshots are very important. Sometimes they even ask for a headshot even though you are just auditioning for a voice actor part. It just helps people recognize you and recall things that’s associated with you.
I totally agree about your point. I tend to just use my macbook to snap shots in photo booth and fix them up a bit, but I use a picture as often as possible with my posts, and quite often, pictures of me.
Side note: I use Flickr to host my pictures. Bill Keaggy, author of Milk, Eggs, Vodka, used to be a Flickr friend until he got sick of looking at my head instead of my formerly interesting photos in my feed. : )
Great point, and hey, nice headshot! : )
Coming from Malaysia and having posted some critical articles on the Government of Malaysia in my personal blog, I prefer to remain anonymous (picture wise) for the ever present fear of being detained under the Internal Security Act 1952. When you have laws which allow detention without trial for people deemed to be a threat to national security (as defined by the Government), you do get a little wary of posting your picture for all to see.