A leadership coach who helps others unlock their confidence — and yet, her own profile photo was telling a different story.
You have spent time building your business. You have refined your offer, shown up for your clients, and earned a reputation you are proud of.
And yet, every time someone lands on your LinkedIn profile, the first thing they see is a photo that does not reflect any of it. This is more common than you might think — and it is quietly costing you clients.
"I thought using my old corporate headshot was good enough... until I saw the results of what Meena did for me."
— Akanksha Bansal, Leadership, Success & Mindset Coach, Seattle WA
First impressions happen before you say a word
Research shows that people form a judgement in a fraction of a second — before reading your headline, before reviewing your experience, before anything. On LinkedIn, that moment happens every time a potential client, collaborator, or opportunity lands on your profile.
If your photo is outdated, blurry, or does not match the level you are operating at, that first impression is working against you. Not because you are not credible — but because your photo is not telling the truth about who you are.
Profiles with professional photos receive significantly more views, connection requests, and inbound messages. Your photo is not just an aesthetic choice — it is a business asset.
Meet Akanksha — the mindset coach who discovered a confidence she didn't know existed
Akanksha Bansal is a Leadership, Success and Mindset Coach based in Seattle. She works with high-achieving professionals to unlock confidence that transforms careers — and lives. And yet, for her own business profile, she was relying on an old corporate headshot. She knew it. She just kept putting it off.
What Akanksha discovered during her session at Meena Photo Studio was something she did not expect. It was not just about getting great marketing images — though she absolutely got those. It was what happened in the process of being seen with intention.
"Not only do I have some great pictures for my marketing, I also got a unique kind of confidence I didn't even know existed."
— Akanksha BansalFor a woman who coaches others on mindset and confidence for a living, that was significant. A professional session does something a selfie never can — it gives you a moment to fully inhabit your professional identity, to stand in it, and to see yourself the way your best clients already do.
Is your LinkedIn photo working for you — or against you?
If your profile photo is more than two years old, does not reflect your current brand, or makes you hesitate before sharing it — it is time. Not when you feel ready. Not when things slow down. Now.
Because your ideal clients are looking for you today. And the version of you they find should match the business you have built.
If you have ever thought "I'm not photogenic" — that is not a fact about you. It is a fact about the photos you have had taken so far. The women who walk out of Meena Photo Studio saying "I actually love these" are almost always the ones who walked in most nervous.
Headshot & personal branding sessions in Seattle, WA
Packages from $350 · Professional HMUA available · Payment plans available
Questions? DM @meenaphotostudiowa on Instagram or reach out via the contact page.
