Client Stories: Service Leader Ernie Granill

Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do? 

My name is Ernie Granill and Ive worked in the software industry for the past 20 years - most of that as a leader of client service teams.

What motivated you to get a new headshot?  How old was your previous headshot?

I had contributed my story and photos to my companies website and had been using an amateur headshot - as well as a selfie I took once while riding BART. They never really were meant to be professional photos - and as I grew and my career I realized I’d benefit from showing a more professional look - especially when representing my work and personal brand.

How did you feel about your old headshot, and what were you looking for in your new one? 

The most popular one of me was wearing sunglasses - and while I thought it “looked cool” - it wasn’t really the image I wanted to project anymore.

I wanted to still be my authentic self, and I thought showing my Tattoos would be a great way to do that , but also reflect that I was a professional and something I’d be comfortable sharing with executives from the major companies I was interfacing with daily. I was also in the process of updating my LinkedIn profile and looking for opportunities.

In what ways do you think your new headshot has impacted your business, visibility or job search? 

I think it made a big impact- especially when coupled with some big changes to my resume and personal story. I actually had more recruiters reaching out directly to me- one of which turned into a new job within 3 months of getting my new photo.

Have you received any feedback on your new headshot?

I do get comments from coworkers, I’ve used my headshot pretty consistently for company bios, but also my Slack photo and Zoom Photo.

How important do you think a professional headshot is for someone in your field? 

I think now with remote work being more of the norm in software/tech, a good headshot can be a great way to stand out and project a more professional digital persona.

What advice would you give to someone considering getting a new headshot? 

I really appreciated how direct I could be with Jeff on the things I wanted but also appreciated his guidance and suggestions.

Were you nervous or uncomfortable with the idea of having your photos taken and if so how was the experience in the end? 

I was pretty comfortable and everything was well organized. Overall it was a very quick and painless process.

How did you prepare for your headshot session, and do you have any tips for others on how to get ready for theirs?

I spent some time the night before picking out my outfit so I was confident in what I wanted to wear. I’d recommend preparing and having a friend or loved one to consult with ahead of time as well.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience or the impact of your new headshot?

No this pretty much captures it!

How was your experience working with S72 for your headshot session?

Jeff did a great job providing information on the day of the shoot me of his process. It’s kind of a lot of information but went a long a lot of the anxieties about where to go and what to.