Many companies require their employees to have a fairly current and professional headshot portrait of themselves. If you are in the medical field, engineering, legal, or involved in consulting services of any kind then you probably already know this. It varies depending on what type of business portraits they want their employees to have. One company might be okay with various casual photos of their employees, and another company will want a more consistent and uniform look for their staff photos.
If you are in a position where you have just been hired by a professional services company and know that you need an updated photo, do not just assume that you can schedule an appointment with a photographer, and he or she will know what’s best for you. You could take a look at the other employee’s photos, or you could ask someone like your manager what they recommend. I would recommend asking to confirm because policies are always subject to change in corporate America!
Some of the requirements I have run into in the past include…
- Specific background or background color may be required
- A suit jacket and white shirt is a common requirement
- A uniform or company logo on the shirt
- Body orientation – facing forward or in a certain direction
The moral of the story is that if you aren’t sure, ask someone. The worst situation you could run into is getting a great photo taken that you really like and that you paid for, then having your new employer tell you it doesn’t meet their requirements. If you have any concerns or questions about a photo that you need in the near future, please get in touch with me and I’ll do what I can to help you.
Talk to you soon!
