Posted in response to this hilarious conversation: http://activerain.com/blogsview/437959/So-How-Old-is
(Thought it was pretty key to our profile, so I am posting it now as a blog.)
I just wanted to put my two cents in as a photo studio owner. Updating your photo when you make a long term change or after a couple years time passes is perfectly fine in most cases, but when you do update take your time and think about what image you're going for because a quality photo can say a lot to potential clients! If you're going to use a professional photographer - don't stress! Stress and negative tension is your worst enemy when it comes to professional portraits. A few blemishes or a few extra pounds are no big deal at all, in fact, to be honest, whether you're a real estate agent, a professional model, or a beautiful rose bathed in sunlight you WILL need some retouching so don't even concern yourself with that during the shoot. Just use due diligence when selecting a photographer and when you're in the studio number one priority is to relax and do what makes it fun for you- fun makes for the best photos!
A few quick tips for choosing a photographer:
1. Try to find out what the photo(s) will be used for if you're not handling the marketing materials yourself; for instance, is a third party going to cut your image away from the background in order to put you on some materials?
(It's best to let the photographer do any editing on the photo, including cutting away the background and sizing for print)
2. Have an idea of the look you're going for.
(Do you want a casual look or formal? What fits best with your marketing material? Bring examples if you can.)
3. Look at a lot of portfolios.
(There are A LOT of photographers of extremely varying ability out there, but it all comes back to what you're looking for.)
4. Talk to the photographer... meet in person prior to shooting if you can.
(You should be able to feel relaxed around the photographer.)
5. Look for a photographer who will take time to get the right shot and offers to work with you until you're satisfied.
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I changed my photo when clients started saying that the prior photo no longer looked like me, and it was only 2 years old! I had lost some weight and changed my hair style, so they wanted to see the new look on my marketing materials.
Choosing a good photographer is key. If you're not used to taking publicity photos, be sure to select a photographer who can give you suggestions for your poses. A small movement in one direction or another can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out.