Getting the headshot just right is leading some people to pay more than $1,000, according to an Aug. 11 report from The Wall Street Journal.
Headshots don’t help everyone equally, says executive recruiter Martha Heller. She notes that the leaders of a company trying to fill a key position may have predetermined notions of what the ideal candidate should look like. Historically, they’ve often pictured a white man, though clients are increasingly seeking people who will diversify the senior ranks, she says.
In any case, an applicant’s odds of receiving an offer can be diminished by a headshot that doesn’t match the picture in the boss’s mind.
The demand is fueling a niche market for photographers who offer facial expression coaching, and customers say the service is worth investing in.
