It has been two weeks since my last post, so I thank you for your patience as I navigate my life as an adult/grad student/NYC-transplant, trying to balance school, work, and personal life. Today’s blog post is one that I have been thinking about for some time. Instead of making it part of a “Navigating and Setting up a LinkedIn Account” post or a “Preparing for your First Interview: How to Dress the Part” post, I decided to write this as a stand-alone piece because it deserves special attention. I want to preface by saying that, like always, all opinions are my own.

First impressions are powerful and they are inevitable. The first few seconds of an encounter with someone (whether in person or via social media) is all that person needs to have a snapshot of you in their mind--of your physical characteristics, your mannerism, your attitude, and even your potential. In that short time span, that stranger will form a general opinion of you, whether good or bad. It sounds so superficial, and it is, but it is also human nature. We have been reading people for as long as we have been here and it is part of a defensive mechanism. People judge and unfortunately, sometimes unfairly.

At the same time, first impressions can work in your favor. You have probably been told by someone in your life of the importance of making a good first impression during an interview. Good first impressions can make the difference in job acceptance, college admission, and gaining respect by parents, students, and teachers alike. One question on my mind has always been, given its importance, how do I “master” this first impression? How can I leave a positive impression of confidence when I am actually nervous going into an interview, or meeting a stranger, or getting ready for an oral presentation? Obviously, I don’t have a quick solution for you, but I have found that authenticity is key. And related to it, vulnerability. From my own experience, feeling vulnerable can actually make you more approachable, relatable, genuine, and likeable. What else helps? Wear something that makes you feel confident and comfortable. For me, sometimes it is an awesome pair of heels that gives me both a physical and an emotional lift. Also, smile as though you are with someone you love; give the person the benefit of doubt. Look the person straight in the eye and maintain contact (but do not stare intensely). Talk, but listen more. You are forming a relationship, even if temporary, so it is important that you pay attention to the other person, and not only focus on yourself.

Nowadays, social media and online networking have taken first impressions into the digital realm. First impressions are now formed by a quick glance at your profile picture, whether you like it or not. LinkedIn--the platform used by students and professionals alike for networking--even has specific guidelines for users when it comes to choosing an appropriate profile picture. There is a good reason for all of this thought and effort, so if you are on LinkedIn, think about what you are communicating to the world about who you are through your chosen picture.

Here are five quick tips for choosing the right profile picture, as summarized by LinkedIn Business:

1. Choose a photo that actually looks like you! You laugh, but yes, really!

2. Make sure your face takes up, at minimum, more than half of the frame. People are skilled at reading faces, not arms and legs. Plus, even if you are petite like me, no one can tell! ;-)

3. Choose an appropriate expression. As I mentioned before, smiling naturally is key. And let your smile shine through your eyes.

4. Wear something that belongs to you and is appropriate for your work environment.

5. Choose a background that doesn’t take away from you. You want the person to focus on you, not what is behind you.

Capturing your best self:

For years, my profile picture on LinkedIn has been one that my then-boyfriend-now-fiancé took of me during a trip to Boston back in 2013. I cropped the photo strategically to meet most of the criteria above. As you can probably tell, the one criterion I did not fully meet was #4. Sunglasses on my head? You can also argue that #5 could have been improved. Boston Commons food hall? I admit, the picture is not ideal, but I chose it because I felt it was the one picture that represented the real me the best. As a shy individual, I avoid pictures whenever I can. I love photographing places, but I never enjoyed having my picture taken by someone else. I remember always dreading school photos because of how staged everything was, and how little attention the photographer paid to me. The pictures never turned out the way I wanted them to; I guess it partly has to do with my feeling of defeat going in to the photo session. So when Max captured the real me with that unexpected picture in the middle of the food hall, I used it for years until an opportunity came up to update my profile picture. It was about time; one can only stay 23 years of age for so long....

Hector Pachas is a professional portrait and headshot photographer whose life path crossed mine back in April of 2018. I was still teaching full time at the time, but I was able to sneak out during 10-minute break to meet him in the auditorium of the school, where he set up his portable studio. I was super nervous going in for my professional headshot. The last time I was photographed professionally was for my “staged graduation robe photo” in college, and prior to that, my "senior photos" in high school. I'm rather camera-shy so tend to avoid such experiences, but since I was cognizant of the importance of first impressions, especially online, I thought I'd go for it.

I had not met Hector prior to this photo session, so I was nervous, but I was quickly put at ease by his genuine smile, which radiated warmth from the corners of his eyes. I did not wear anything out of the ordinary: I wore my usual J.Crew blazer that fits me perfectly out of the box (I own several colors but opted for the black one, as it is the most formal), a light-colored shell for contrast, my only pair of pearl earrings (a birthday gift from Max), stretchy yet professional pants (also from J.Crew; comfortable for moving in), and my best pair of heels (a pair of Yves Saint Laurent, but purchased at a consignment store in NYC). Knowing that the heels would not make their debut in the headshot, I still wore them because they are my secret confidence weapon. My hair was a mess though, and completely devoid of volume, but there was little I could do about it (I am not a “hair person,” or rather, I’m a “natural hair” person). I had no make-up on beyond the tinted moisturizer that I had slapped on my face before rushing out the door. My lips were a bit chapped, still recovering from a very cold winter season.

Despite my lack of preparation and feelings of insecurity coming in for this session, Hector made the "modeling" experience effortlessly easy for me. We chatted during the whole session, which distracted me in a good way. I cannot remember what exactly we talked about, but it was definitely engrossing because within minutes, the giant camera lens in front of me did not seem that intrusive. When Hector noticed I was feeling awkward in my sitting pose, he gave me suggestions for how to reposition my body. I appreciated this greatly because I had no idea what to do with my arms and I was extra self-conscious about my posture. At the end of the quick session, he gave me a peek of some of the photos and I remember being super excited about how they turned out. I was so impressed that he was able to capture some of the moments that are rarely captured, which speaks to Hector’s skills and his "eye" for those otherwise missed "opportunities".

I’m sharing with you some of the photos taken from this 10-minute “photoshoot.” It is possible it was shorter, because I had to run to my Period 3 class immediately afterwards. In any case, the 10 minutes were a worthwhile investment, and completely doable, even if you are super shy or camera-adverse. If you happen to be in Connecticut, New York, or surrounding states, I would not hesitate to reach out to Hector. I cannot recommend him enough for professional headshots. He is exceptionally talented, wonderfully kind-hearted, professional and yet humble and genuine, and generous with his time. Hector’s expertise is in portraiture, and he caters to a diverse population of clients. I proudly showcase my headshot taken by him on my LinkedIn profile. The photo is more age-appropriate for me, and conveys professionalism without compromising character. The smile is my own, the messy hair is my own, the chapped lips are my own, and the freckles scattered across my face are my own. In other words, the photo I see is one of me--vulnerable yet fearless, a little sleep-deprived yet optimistic, young but nonetheless experienced. Hector captured the “real me” in a matter of minutes and this photograph now serves as the first impression I present as my professional profile picture.

A conversation with Hector Pachas--professional photographer with a gifted eye:

I end this blog post with a Q&A that I hope will help fellow readers as they consider getting their own professional headshot. These questions are all my own, and the responses are unedited.

1) What should a young professional wear to a headshot session? Not wear?

It is typical for men to wear a suit and tie and for a woman to wear a nice blouse with a jacket;  think interview attire. A must, is well-fitted clothes. Don't go buying something new just for the purpose of the shoot, unless you plan on having a wardrobe assistant that would carry pins to adjust fitting during the session. Your aim is to look professional and presentable, to get an approachable and confident look. Well-fitted, well-pressed or ironed and lint-free clothes are key to a good look. For guys going for a clean shaven look, either do it early in the AM or before the shoot. The latter can be tricky because if you cut during shaving, this will give more work to the retouching. Ladies, strapless tops can be tricky because if they're out of the frame, might not give you the look you were aiming for. Sleeveless can also be an issue as arms might create a distraction (too much skin).

2) For individuals who are camera shy, what would you recommend they do when getting their photograph taken?

Just relax, I know it's easier said than done but you've taken the first step into having your headshot taken so you're halfway there. Nobody is perfect in front of the camera and it is the photographer's job to make you feel at ease and capture the best you. Do your research on the photographer; make sure you find someone that you can connect with and will make you feel at ease.

3) What do you try to capture when you take photographs of individuals?

I think my aim is to get to know the person and from there, capture their personality; there are no two people alike and that's what makes us unique. We all have our quirks and things that drives us so finding that conversation point opens up the door for my “model” to chat and give me an array of expressions that defines that uniqueness. There are people who are very open so might make a session flow a bit faster, but by the same token, a shy person can give me more space to know them. I like to take the time and turn a session into a conversation over coffee with a friend.

4) What is your thought regarding first impressions, such as from photographs?

They're very important; everything comes through the eyes, and in the case of a headshot, they can make get you that interview or say "this is not someone I can connect with." Photographs can really create a connection with the viewer, and most, if not every time, bring out qualities we thought we didn't have (i.e., confidence or a great smile/look).

5) What are some best aspects of your job as a photographer?

Getting to know people, sometimes helps them. As a headshot and portrait photographer, my work sort of gets into that of a therapist. I get to listen to people, give advice on their look, reinforce their qualities and bring out the best in whom I work with. You get to be playful if you're working with kids. You get to talk about techniques, patience and a number of things if you're working with educators or doctors or simply talk about the latest episode of a show or about pets if that's what will get your “model” to look their best.

6) What are your tips for taking good photographs for those who cannot yet afford a professional photographer?

That's a very good question; there's always going to be different price ranges for everything and it boils down to the quality of images that you can get. There are photography students who sometimes volunteer or like to have people to build their portfolio in exchange for photos; that's a good option so long as you see the quality of work produced. There are different price ranges when it comes to photography; you can get good and affordable as well as good and expensive; good research always pays back. When it comes to headshots, you have to think of it as an investment; yes you can pay sometimes an amount that might seem out of the pocket high, but you're paying a professional that knows how to make YOU look your best, and will get you a headshot that will land you the job or clients you're looking for.

7) What is your advice for “looking older” or “more professional” for young women just starting off, such as with a first job?

I think the professional look is determined by how we're groomed/dressed. Most of the time darker colors give that appearance; a dark suit or jacket avoiding busy patterns or too colorful are also to be contemplated. And with that said, every rule can be broken depending on how you carry yourself; say you come to your headshot session with a light color jacket and a busy pattern and your photo is expressionless, there will be very little your attire can do... but usually a photographer won't let you see those as they don't deliver the message you want to get across.

Many thanks to Hector Pachas for taking the time to answer my questions. Do take a look at his website and Instagram page for his work. I hope this blog post has been useful. If these types of posts are appealing to you, please let me know via a comment, an email, an Instagram message, or any other creative means of reaching out to me.

I wish you a wonderful start to yet another weekend, and as always, thank you for following along my journey.

Warm regards,

Catherine