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I have had countless messages about my profile pictures on Whatsapp, Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube since I changed them in August.

The reality is that, and I know I’m not supposed to say this, I am actually pretty proud of them! It’s the black and white one I’m talking about if you haven’t seen.

They’re super arty and moody and they’ve started conversations with people who have later come on to be our clients.

[Dan’s Iphone trick is in this email at the bottom for you]

This is the same thing that happened when we increased the quality of our podcast video and our VSL’s. Brand image quality matters and today’s podcast guest is the very man behind my profile pictures.

So make sure you take some tips from this one, because it’s low hanging fruit for us founders.

I sat down with Dan Kennedy last week,the guy who's photographed everyone from David Beckham to Angelina Jolie and he said something that stopped me cold:

"Entrepreneurs could easily be elevated by really thinking about what they're wearing. But it's just not something people are that aware of.”

Most founders have a LinkedIn headshot from 5 years ago. That's their entire visual brand. And it's costing them.

After 15 years photographing celebrities, Dan's brutally honest about what entrepreneurs get wrong:

The Hugo Boss shirt with creases down the front.
The "haven't had a haircut in 3 months" look.
The background that screams "registered office in Slough/Scranton."

When a celebrity walks into Dan's studio, a groomer tidies their hair. A stylist puts them in colors that work with their features. They're elevated before he presses the button.

Entrepreneurs show up in wrinkled shirts and wonder why the photos don't look "professional."

The gap isn't talent. It's preparation.

Dan works with massive celebrities under extreme time pressure, sometimes just 5-7 minutes. The moment they walk through his door, they're sizing him up: "Is this guy in control?"

So here's what he does:

He doesn't rush over. He breezes. Already knows everything about them from Instagram, recent interviews, life changes.

Then: "Hey Elizabeth, really nice to meet you. Shot one is on the leather sofa. Shot two by the window. Shot three on the roof with the London skyline. It's 12:15pm now. We'll have you out by 1:30pm. How does that sound?"

Their shoulders drop. They relax.

Because someone's in control. They have an out. They're in safe hands.

The tactical lesson: Control = trust = better results. This applies to photography, client calls, onboarding, everything.

People who get photographed for magazine covers call Dan back to shoot their book covers. Why? Because he made them look better than they thought possible.

This is the hidden ROI of professional imagery: It's not just the photo. It's the signal it sends.

High-quality headshots tell people:

When you show up on a podcast with blurry, outdated photos? The host has to choose: use your bad photos or find something themselves.

That's embarrassing. And avoidable.

Although, he has put an offer on exclusively for all of our podcast listeners, which I will link to HERE.

Dan posts stunning photos on Instagram... shot on an iPhone (latest one possible). Here's how:

1. Portrait Mode (blurred background)
2. Vivid Warm filter (dial it back, don't go full intensity)
3. Add contrast (a bit more black)
4. Sharpen slightly
5. Vignette (darken edges)
6. Light positioning: Don't face the sun. Ideally, sun on your back in shade.
7. Get closer: Don't shoot "you-with-background." Shoot interesting angles.
8. Use 2x Portrait Mode for telephoto effect

Dan's yearly refresh rule: Update your photos at least once a year. Sooner if you've changed your hair, weight, or style.

And don't just shoot corporate headshots. Show personality—industrial spaces, city backdrops at twilight, interesting angles. Personality converts better than stiffness.

When we analyze over 10,000 podcasts every month for our Podcast Profile Funnel clients, one of the 30 data points we track is: Does this show require professional guest photos?

The answer is almost always yes.

You could have the best positioning, the most compelling story, and perfect audience fit, but if you show up with a blurry headshot, you've already lost points.

Professional imagery signals that you're at the level the podcast host needs you to be at.

It tells them: "I take this seriously. I've invested in myself. I'm not winging it."

And when you're borrowing authority from someone else's platform, that signal matters more than you think.

The bottom line: You wouldn't show up to a client pitch in a wrinkled shirt. Don't show up online that way either.

Dan's Instagram: @dankennedyphoto

Want to become the kind of founder who gets invited onto the best podcasts? Reply with "PROFILE" and I'll send you our Podcast Profile Funnel qualification criteria.

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