This is an I-Heart podcast.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the new corner office, the podcast where we share strategies for thriving in the new world of work,

where location and hours are more flexible

than in the past. Today's tip is to invest in good headshots. When you're working from home,

you are generally seeing fewer people in person. People are more likely to get to know what you

look like from your photos. So you want to be

sure that your photos are conveying the right impression. When I got a contract for my first

book a great many years ago, I realized that I needed some author photos that I was happy with.

I worked with a photographer who took lots of shots in Central Park,

and I wore some outfits that said, author, to me.

Probably it was a little silly.

But I liked having the photos available for publicity.

Over the years, I've taken advantage of any opportunity to get new headshots taken.

Several conferences I've attended have had makeup artists and photographers available, and paying for their services has seemed like a great

bargain. That's because these days, we tend to know people from their pictures. Whenever I'm a guest

on a podcast, the show tends to ask for a headshot

to use on social media. When I'm giving a speech, the event distributes my headshot as part of

publicity. Your LinkedIn profile should have a headshot. Your website needs a good headshot.

Remote workers will often be using their headshots, and so these headshots should be good. Now, good means several things. First, hire a pro.

Yes, you can take photos with your phone, but you know all those gorgeous influencer types on Instagram?

Have you ever noticed how their entire families are all in the photos and the influencers themselves

...