What photos belong on your one sheet?
What photos belong on your one sheet?
Here’s a list to help you put that together.
One of the foundational assets that every speaker needs at their disposal is a one sheet.
At minimum, this asset includes your bio, topics and descriptions, and is submitted when applying for keynote gigs, podcasts and other media-related appearances.
It also includes links to download your promotional photos that can be used in the marketing materials to promote your speeches and appearances.
The goal is to give whomever needs to promote you as many options as possible, while also keeping an eye to present you in the most flattering light possible.
One question that I get often from speaker colleagues revolves around the types of photos needed for the one sheet.
How many images do I need? What should I be doing in the photos?
Here are the types of photos to look for when putting together your one sheet images:
2 HEADSHOTS
These are the tightly cropped photos from the top of your chest to the top of your head as you directly address the audience.
In terms of expression, you want a photo that conveys a sense of confidence, approachability and likability. You also want to create a perception of authority in this image, as well. You achieve this magical mixture through a combination of your facial expression, outfit and location.
Ideally, you’d have two shots - one open mouth smile (make the smile as big as your personality allows) and one where your mouth is closed. Allow your personality to dictate whether a smirk, slight smile, or prideful grin is the most appropriate expression to display in this photo.
Now, if you’re already using a professional headshot online, make sure that one is on the sheet to maintain visual consistency from your online presence to your promotional assets.
2 WIDER PORTRAITS
These images have a bit more breathing room in that it reveals you from the waist up to the top of your head. Your wardrobe becomes more prominent in the frame.
As such, it's important that you’re wearing a client-facing outfit so that the way you show up in this photo will resemble the person that they see walk into the room or on the stage.
These are popular photos used often by podcasters who want to incorporate text and branding elements onto the image to create the episode thumbnail.
Give them the same type of expressions that you displayed in your headshots - variations of smiles and confidence. Just make sure there is a contrast between the two so it doesn’t feel like a carbon copy.
Also, choose 2 images where you’re wearing something different. Remember, this is about offering the organization, podcast team or media outlet options for their design team to incorporate your likeness into their marketing materials.
So don’t be boring - be helpful :)
2 VERTICAL PORTRAITS
If I’m being honest, I absolutely hate photographing vertical portraits.
While they feel extremely constricting creatively, I had a change of heart over a year ago during a conversation with a speaker colleague.
She pointed out that while I may hate them, many organizations prefer the option to use them.
For some organizations and media outlets, the design layout of their website requires vertical images that sit next to the copy on the page.
If they’re stuck with horizontal photos, they could butcher that image to allow it to fit in their layout, and it just, overall, feels forced and not professional.
As a result, be sure to include a couple vertical photos. Expression-wise, it’s the same as the other shots on your sheet.
And yes, different outfits between shots, please :)
2 STAGE PHOTOS
For some promotional opportunities, it would make sense for you to share photos of you on the stage, especially when talking about the art of the speaking.
So, throw a couple of those photos into the pot.
One thing to keep in mind - keep your choices limited to images where you can clearly see your face.
DON’T pick the super wide shot where you’re a tiny little speck of dust floating on the stage in a sea of humanity in front of you.
Yes, that photo looks impressive, but that’s not the point of one sheet photos. You want people to see YOU, your personality, and in the case of these action photos, what you look like when you’re doing your thing.
If you can choose photos where you’re smiling with animated body language, then you’re playing with house money.
If not, choose images where you look assertive and confident in your expression and body language - avoid the crazy-faced outtakes that no one needs to see!
Also, if these visuals were taken on two different stages, that would be a nice to have, but if you feel like you’re stretching to find a second photo from another speech, just go with two from the same talk.
The world will keep spinning if you do :)
2 VIRTUAL PHOTOS
If you present virtually, or run major aspects of your business online, then having these assets on your one sheet is a good addition to the group.
For example, if you’re making an appearance on a podcast to talk about how you became an authority on building online communities, give the podcast team the opportunity to visually position you as such with photos where you’re addressing your people on a Zoom call.
Now, there’s several screen orientations involved when conducting a Zoom presentation or meeting, but the IDEAL one to create one sheet images would be speaker mode.
It’s where your face is front and center, and the audience can connect directly to your face.
While gallery mode and side by side mode photos are wonderful for other marketing purposes, including online content, the speaker mode shots are the ones that belong on the sheet.
You choose these photos in the same way you select the stage photos - look for the animated smile shots and the assertive, confident ones, and you’re good to go.
Also, if you only have one good set of virtual photos, just choose the both of them from that set.
1 AUTHOR PORTRAIT W/ BOOK
Written a book?
Awesome - be sure to be photographed with it, and include the image on your one sheet.
This is a wonderful asset to have, especially if you’re promoting it’s upcoming launch.
Even if you’re not promoting the book specifically, chances are you’re going to talk about it, whether on the stage or in an interview environment. It is your overall framework for your expertise, after all.
Have the photo handy on your one sheet to give folks the opportunity to leverage that shot as a way to create more interesting artwork to promote your talk or appearance.
As you can see, it’s a laundry list of photos that comprise a comprehensive one sheet.
But, the more options you offer organizations looking to promote your talk or podcasters who seek to spread the word about your appearance, the easier it is for them to choose the best photo for the artwork they create.
And that creates a win-win all around - isn’t that magical? :)
Over to you…
Take a look at your one sheet images and see how you feel about them? Do you have enough? Are they tired and dated? Need to include some images that you don’t currently have?
I can help fix that for you.