Why Professional Doctor Headshots Are a Must
Let’s all admit the fact that we google our doctors before we book the appointment with them. We like to read their reviews and peek at what they look like. Outdated medical headshots can turn a potential patient away.
Displaying high quality doctor headshots make a physician look more approachable and professional. Appearing more relatable can increase new potential patient bookings and put people at ease to come into your office.
Physician headshots that are outdated are unprofessional. It sends the wrong message to your patients and employees. Current headshots of you and your team shows that you care about your practice. Making a change like updated headshots is a small investment compared to the potential new business it will bring.
What makes a good headshot for a doctor?
A good headshot for a doctor needs to be taken by a professional headshot photographer. The headshot needs to be well-composed and with proper lighting. It’s important the photographer captures the doctor’s personality while keeping it professional.
A professional headshot can bring comfort to potential patients and make them feel comfortable coming in for their appointment. There are my physicians without any headshots, a doctor headshot will make you stand out from the rest of you competitors.
Doctor Stock Photos
Headshot stock photos and medical office stock photos are easy to spot. Using photos that do not properly represent your medical center or your team can raise a red flag for potential patients. It’s easy to lose trust from a website that doesn’t display authentic images and content.
Doctors really need a professional headshot
Building trust and credibility with patients is vital and what keeps Doctors in business. Physician headshots should be a part of the business processes. Having consistent headshots of the Doctor and their team across different platforms that current and future clients will come across can help influence a positive impression.
Doctors do really need a professional headshot because it helps humanize them and make them more relatable for their patients. Going to a Doctor is a very intimate and personal experience. Opening to a “stranger” is not always a comforting experience.
A headshot that shows your personality will make you look that much more approachable. Patients should feel comfortable with their Physicians and that comfort level should be enough for the patient to be able to reach out to them.
What should Doctors wear for their headshot?
When updating your headshot, have a variety of options that can be used on your website.
Take some headshots in your scrubs, Doctor coat, lab coat, white uniform, and stethoscope. After you are happy with the headshots in your uniform, take some professional headshots in your regular clothes.
Having variety is good because it can add more of a relatable aspect to your photographs. For example, a lot of pediatricians prefer to wear regular clothes in their headshots, so they look less intimidating for children.
How big is your team? If you have a staff that is part of your team, get them in for headshots too. Work with the photographer to develop a plan for consistent headshots that can be updated as your medical group grows.
Consistent doctor headshots
Details like having a consistent background (we recommend a neutral gray) and having a process in place for new hires is helpful. Find a headshot photographer that will work with you as part of the onboarding process. Working with the same headshot photographer to have a long-term relationship as part of the onboarding process for your team will make life easier.
Besides updating you and your teams’ headshots, also consider having updated office photos. This will give new patients an idea of what to expect when they come into your office for the first time. This is also a great opportunity to update your Google listing.
LinkedIn Profile and other social media listings
If you already have a professional headshot but it hasn’t been updated in a while, then it’s time to update your headshot doctor photo for you and your team. Having outdated headshots can turn patients away and make you less credible.
Looking up a doctor and seeing a headshot of them from their younger years and then coming in to see them in real like and aged by a good number of years is unprofessional.
Employers will see your headshot when hiring
If you are a Physician looking for a new hospital, office, or clinic to work at, having a new headshot is one of the first steps on your career search. Whether this headshot will be posted on LinkedIn or turned in with your resume, it’s important to have a headshot that represents who you are as a professional.
There are so many connections on platforms like LinkedIn. When you update your headshot with a post that you are on the market for a new job, imagine the network of people you can reach?
Recruiters are also often grazing different social platforms to recruit potential new hires.
A headshot that is taken professionally will already make you one step ahead of the game and help you stand out from the crowd.
Patients will review your photograph
Did you know that physicians that have a headshot photo come up on searches ranking higher than the ones without? This means that if you are a physician with a headshot, more potential patients will discover you faster.
Take the time to get a doctor professional headshot that best represents you. Discuss with your headshot photographer the kind of message you want current and future patients to perceive through your professional headshot.
Social Media networking
Besides updating your professional headshot on the different platform’s patients can come across, it’s important to update your headshot for networking purposes.
When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn photo? Showing your connections that you are current helps you stay connected and engaged.
If you have speaking engagements, then it’s a no brainer to consistently make sure that your headshot is updated.
With all the different social media platforms, creating content for current and future patients is a way to get ahead on how easily your practice can be found.
Medical marketing
Doximity conducted research and learned that doctors with profile photos are viewed twice as often as doctors without a headshot.
Having a professional headshot doesn’t say whether you are a good or bad doctor. It simply shows that you care about what you do and are making the effort to have a connection with patients.
Update your photo on all the possible platforms patients can see you on such as on your website, in directories and your social media accounts.
Some key items to take away from this blog post are:
Make sure to stay current and update headshots for you and your team.
Find a local headshot photographer to work with as part of your onboarding process to keep headshots consistent. Here is helpful content on how to choose a professional headshot photographer.
Having a headshot on your listing online helps with seo and to come up on more searches.
Update your photos on all the different platforms you use professionally.
If doing something as simple as getting a professional headshot that will bring you more business and attract new patients, why not do it? Being business savvy and staying updated with the latest trends will help you stay afloat.
With all the different tools we have access to online, it’s smart to be in control of making sure that everything patients see is up to date. Besides getting an updated headshot, consider implementing personal branding photography into your practice.
Do you think you are off the hook because you already have a professional headshot? Here are 5 reasons why it’s time to update your professional headshots
