Professional Photos and Your Job Search | Houston Headshot Photographer

As you are pulling yourself together and getting ready to embark on a job search, is it necessary to have a professional photo to go along with your resume?  I think it is becoming more and more important, but there are a few things to consider before you pick out a snapshot and paste it next to your name.

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First of all, there are a couple of things I have to say:

  • In the United States, it is generally illegal for employers to consider your photo in a hiring decision. If an employer can’t use race, ethnicity, gender, etc. to make a hiring decision, it may not be smart to include your photo on your resume itself.  After all, your resume is a tool to get you hired, right?
  • Second, recruiters are human. If they are good, smart recruiters, they won’t judge you based on your picture.  However, if they met 300 candidates at a job fair yesterday, your photo may help them remember you from everyone else.

 

I absolutely do not think you should include your photo on your resume, barring a few exceptions.  However, job searches today are so much more than resume drop-offs.  Your LinkedIn profile, Facebook information, and personal website are integral parts of your job search.  Having a photo as part of your online presence is critical.  That scary grey silhouette that comes with an incomplete profile is not how you want recruiters to see you.  You want them to know that you spent some time developing your online profile, and that you care about how you present yourself.  You also want them to be able to distinguish you from the other 412 people on LinkedIn with a similar name.

If recruiters are searching online profiles to actively seek out potential candidates, they are much more likely to view a profile if it includes a photo.  No one clicks on a profile that seems incomplete at first glance.

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When should you include your photo on your resume or other printed materials?

  • You’ve been on the cover of a major industry-relevant publication.
  • You are an actor, model, or in a similar profession.
  • You’re looking for customers, not an employer. (Think of realtors, personal trainers, and stylists.)

 

What should you consider when choosing a photo for your profile?

  • It portrays professionalism. (That means no visible cocktail glasses, even if it was a company event.)
  • It suits your industry. If you are an attorney, you probably want to be wearing a suit.  If you are a chef, an action shot of you in the kitchen might be more fitting.
  • It was taken specifically for this purpose. You don’t want to crop your buddies out of a photo and use what’s left on your profile.
  • It’s not boring. If there is a cinder block wall behind you, it’s going to look more like a mug shot than a head shot.

 

As with every part of your job search, there is a fine line between being the best candidate you can be and just being yourself.  Your photo is a great way to inject a little personality into your profile!

 

Written by Leanne Goplen Zabriskie, Recruiting Knowledge Manager at Aasonn

 

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@taraflanneryphotography

Let’s talk about it 👇🏻

If your brand photos aren’t working… it’s probably because they’re not telling the full story. 📖

So many business owners come to me thinking they just need a good headshot. And while that’s a great pace to start—it’s not enough to truly connect with your audience.

When I work with clients on branding sessions, we create a variety of images that show who you are, how you work, and what it’s like to be in your world. Because that’s what people really want to see. 

Here are 5 types of brand photos I recommend for every business owner ⬇️

📸 Classic Headshot – Professional and polished, but with personality. Think confident, approachable, and totally on-brand.

📸 Lifestyle – You doing your thing—working on your laptop, taking client calls, sipping coffee. These shots feel natural and authentic (because they are).

📸 Detail or Flat Lay – The close-ups: your hands writing, your products, your favorite pen and planner. These add texture and storytelling to your visuals.

📸 Environment/Context – Your space, your vibe. Whether it’s a cozy home office or a sleek meeting room, it helps clients imagine being there with you.

📸Team or Interaction Shots – Collaborating, problem-solving, laughing. People want to see connection—these images make your brand feel human.

Every image we create is intentional—designed to help your audience picture themselves working with you and to build that all-important trust before they ever reach out.

✨ Ready to show up with confidence and clarity? Let’s make it happen. DM me today to book your FREE consultation.

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I get it—you’ve hired someone new, and now you need a matching headshot… but your original photographer is no longer available. 😬

Do you really have to start over and re-photograph the whole team?

Not if you hire someone who knows how to recreate what’s already working.

That’s where I come in.

When a company calls me in to match an existing set of headshots, I study every detail of your current images so your new photos blend in flawlessly—like they were taken on the same day.

Here’s what I focus on to make that happen:

✅ Lighting – Studio or natural? Soft, directional, or diffused?

✅ Background – Color, texture, and how sharp or blurry it is.

✅ Cropping & Composition – How close is the shot? What’s the framing like?

✅ Posing & Expression – Are your team members posed formally or relaxed and candid?

✅ Editing Style – Bright and airy? Bold and contrasty? Warm or cool tones?

📸 The result: a polished, consistent set of headshots that reflect your brand—even across time, locations, or different photographers.

✨ You don’t need to start over. You just need the right photographer.

Ready to match your headshots? I’d love to help. Send me a message to chat!
This Mother’s Day, skip the flowers and give her something timeless—a moment, beautifully captured.

She’s been your biggest supporter, your soft place to land, your strength through every season of life.

And while you may not say it every day… you feel it deeply: the love, the gratitude, the bond that only grows stronger over time.

A family photo session isn’t just about the images.

It’s about carving out time to be present with each other.

It’s about documenting the connection, the laughter, the quiet strength, and the unspoken love that lives in every glance and every touch.

Whether you’re celebrating your mom, becoming one yourself, or honoring the memory of someone dear—these portraits become keepsakes.

Not just for now, but for years to come.

📸 Mother’s Day sessions are relaxed, natural, and designed to feel more like a meaningful experience than a posed shoot.

✨ Limited spots available—let’s create something she’ll treasure forever.

Let's Connect to set up your FREE Consultation!

#mothersdaygift #mothersday2025 #familyphotos

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.