So, what do they look like now?
Your professional portrait should be a reflection of who you are today. If your out-of-date photo is particularly flattering, you may be tempted to continue using it. The reasons to keep your portrait up-to-date, however, are compelling.
An authentic photo of yourself provides an emotional connection and builds your personal “brand”. Using an older, outdated photo that no longer looks like you causes you to miss the opportunity of building recognition for your personal brand and may even negatively impact your trustworthiness due to the older photo being perceived as an inaccurate representation of yourself.
An up-to-date professional photo sends the signal that your professional skills are up-to-date. Keeping your personal brand current demonstrates that you pay attention to details. A recent portrait also signals that you are ready for growth and taking on new challenges rather than accepting the status quo.
So, when was the last time you had a professional portrait taken? What are some past portrait trends that you would now shun? How would you define a great professional photo?