VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[audio'connell]

Hey Kids!

Did we ever come to a final decision on whether voice talents (just VO’s not on-camera and stage folks) should or should not feature their picture/headshot on their websites?

Or is this a Coke/Pepsi, McDonalds/Burger King/Chik-Fil-a kinda question that only causes fisticuffs, bloodshed and pinky swears?

Thanks for you anarchy, chaos and cupcakes.
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- Peter
audioconnell Voice Over Talent
Your friendly, neighborhood voice over talent

[Bob Bergen]

Before the internet and social media is was a huge no-no. Your voice will be judged by your look. You might have a baby face but a voice like James Earl Jones. Today, everyone's face is a mouse click away. You can leave your image off your vo marketing, but anyone who is curious will find it. Bottom line, it no longer matters.

[natanddaboyz]

The idea of headshots is hotly debated. I don't have (and never have had) one on my website simply because I don't sound the age I look. As a 50-something, somewhat grey-haired woman who sounds much younger, I don't want to disqualify myself from a job by a young 20-something producer having preconceived ideas about my "sound" from my appearance. That said, my current photos are on my social media, so if they're really curious they can find me and take a gander.
<shrug> your mileage may vary.
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Well-behaved women seldom make history. ...if this is true, I'm going to be legendary.

[Jack Daniel]

Pics of yourself can work in the context of a "vibe" for your site, and that's all well and good, but the odds of someone caring more about your reads because of your pictures are vanishingly low.
The value of websites overall are much overstated. When you are looking for representation they have more value; and when your site actually generates business, such as for those (who can do very well indeed) who base their work in corporate and similar videos, the look and feel can be critical.
I have some photos of me hobnobbing with cool people on my site, but you have to look for them, because the people who hire me don't care about how highly I value my image. I say this not to pretend that I don't care about my image--I do, as I am as vain as anyone, and because I use social media to bolster my image as we all do--but because the people who hire me rarely look at my site, and when they do it's usually to confirm that I've done the kind of work they are considering me for. The pics of me and friends are of far more interest to other VOs than to buyers.
It seems unlikely to me that having your image front and center will help you get hired; but it certainly can get you unhired if you look too silly or smug or focused on your looks. That is, to the degree that pictures matter. I would say that if you are going to use photography as a major element of your design, the pictures should be amazing and highly professional. And looking interesting is far more valuable than looking pretty.
Truth is, you find every level of photo use from nonexistent to basically a photo album with some VO thrown in; and in both cases, the sites represent people who are highly successful and those who are not in equal measure.
The work will out, as Shakespeare might have said, if he'd felt like it.
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Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town

[Lee Gordon]

Picture vs. no picture belongs in the same list as these:

Sitting vs. standing
Headphones vs. no headphones
PC vs. Mac
ProTools vs. Adobe Audition (or anything else)

There is no right or wrong answer. It's just personal choice.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice