First impressions have always mattered, and in the past it was all about the handshake. In today’s virtual business society, a well-done headshot can be equally important as a firm grip.

A carefully chosen headshot is a key part of publicly representing yourself and your brand. As with all first impressions, your headshot should set the tone for who you are and what you’re about. It’s important that the image looks and feels like you, not how you think people want to see you. Luckily, the days of staged and stuffy yearbook-like headshots are over. Polished, genuine, and more relaxed headshots are in.

Here are a few tips for a great corporate headshot:

Don’t take yourself too seriously. Show some personality and SMILE!
Don’t abuse Photoshop or Instagram. A little touching up is fine, but steer clear of any unnatural filters or alterations.
No matter how pretty you look, skip any headshot that has other people’s body parts cropped out around your head.
Keep your background simple and clean. This can mean a white wall or a tree; just make sure that the background makes you stand out, and not the other way around.
Don’t wear anything with words, and stick to solids or subtle patterns. Words and flashy patterns distract viewers from your profile.
Update regularly—once a year is a good rule of thumb. A career change or branding adjustment may also mean an update is in order