The Science Behind Your Headshot: Work the System(s)

When you see someone’s face for the first time, you’ll form an opinion about them, based on a snap decision, and all that happens within a fraction of the first second. That’s why the first impression you make is so important.

Daniel Kahneman explains in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow (http://goo.gl/guvsu1) that there are two systems in one’s mind at work – aptly called System 1 and System 2. System 1 is the part of your mind that constantly scans your surroundings, and if something seems off, it summons System 2 to investigate. If you hear a loud noise, System 1 turns your head. System 2 evaluates the situation and deciphers that it was most likely the door that the wind slammed shut.
System 1 scans your environment and determines quickly what to think of the face of someone you look at. System 2 is asked then to validate System 1’s initial assessment. And here is where it gets interesting: System 2 is lazy. In the absence of any further information, System 2 will endorse the snap decision of System 1.

That’s why it is so important, when you’re crafting a headshot, to make sure your body language, head angle, wardrobe, lighting and all the other little things that can work in your favor actually do. At C1M, we have it down to a science – literally. And we apply what we’ve learned through our years of experience to make sure you have a headshot that will do all that it needs to do in that critical first glance.

Walter Schnecker, CPP

Walter Schnecker is the owner of C1M Photography, LLC, in Amherst NH. He specializes in Executive Business Headshots and crafts hundreds of headshots each year for businesspeople in a wide range of professions.

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James found the C1M approach unique.

“I am delighted with my headshot, and I think it’s in large part because of the coaching Walter gave me. We’ve all had our photos taken at one time or another, but I can say without reservation that I think Walter’s really going at it in a  unique way, and applying some interesting insights about people and their drivers. I had a general sense of what I wanted, but I think what we ended up with is better than what we would have, had Walter not probed in the way that he did to really get an understanding of what I was trying to accomplish with the photos.” James, Amherst, NH