Press Release
By SpotMyPhotos | June 29, 2020
NEW YORK, NY – June 29, 2020 – Nothing says “I’m ready to work” more than a freshly pressed suit, an updated resume, and of course, a professional headshot. Regardless of profession, COVID-19 sent millions of Americans to the unemployment line without warning. That is why Headshot Booker is coordinating the largest, single-day photo initiative to provide 10,000 unemployed Americans nationwide with a complimentary, professional headshot to include with their resumes and post to job sites such as LinkedIn. According to LinkedIn, people who include headshots receive 21 times more profile views and nine times more “connection” requests. Complimentary headshots will be conducted nationwide on Wednesday, July 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (local times) and are open to anyone who is currently unemployed. Visit HeadshotBooker.com to find the nearest location and schedule a time to be photographed. More than 200 photographers will participate across all 50 states, creating pop-up studios at Brookfield Properties retail locations to take the headshots.
10,000 Headshots is the brainchild of Tony Taafe, who co-founded Headshot Booker with renowned portrait photographer, Peter Hurley, national event photographer, Lauren Lieberman, and developer, Joseph Pelosi. Taafe recalled the struggles his dad had with unemployment and the impact it had on his entire family. “I know firsthand that the effects of unemployment extend well beyond an individual,” he explains. “My dad was the hardest working person I ever met. He was in construction, so the work wasn’t consistent and he had almost zero job security. Unemployment impacts everyone and everything associated with that person,” Taafe continued.
“Headshot Booker is in a unique position to provide out-of-work Americans with an important element of the job search process – a great, professional headshot. And thanks to our partners who share a similar vision, we will be able to help thousands of unemployed Americans put their best foot forward and help them get back to work.”
Headshot Booker, the world’s largest consortium of accredited photographers trained in the art of the headshot, has teamed-up with retail real estate giant Brookfield Properties who will use its shopping centers around the country as locations for the photo shoots. SpotMyPhotos, the first AI-powered photo delivery platform to directly integrate with professional cameras, will provide its platform to more than 200 photographers to instantly share professional headshots with participants. Participants can then update LinkedIn profiles from their phones.
“We are proud and excited to host the 10,000 Headshots initiative across our portfolio,” said Brookfield Properties Chief Marketing Officer Michelle Snyder. “As we continue to welcome guests back to our centers, we are grateful for this opportunity to help the members of our communities that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.” Snyder emphasized that safety for all participants is a core focus, and each photographer will follow specific protocols to ensure safe distancing and hygiene practices throughout the day.
“This is an impactful initiative on multiple levels for participants, photographers and partners,” said Ryan Jacobs, founder and CEO of SpotMyPhotos. “We are proud to leverage our platform to empower 10,000 people with the confidence accompanying such high-quality headshots as they seek out new job opportunities.”
More than 200 professional photographers will volunteer their services to the project thanks to the Headshot Crew, a coaching platform created by world-renowned photographer Peter Hurley. The Headshot Crew has set the global standard for headshot photography using Peter’s signature techniques outlined in his book, “The Headshot.”
“Many job seekers underestimate the value of a professional headshot, instead opting for a snapshot taken by a friend or even worse a selfie. The headshot has become the cornerstone of one’s digital brand identity and we want to empower people as they go through the process procuring a new job and getting back into the workforce,” explains Hurley.
“The base price for a high quality, professional headshot starts around $250, which equates to more than $2.5 million in collective services these photographers will provide through this initiative. These are small business owners who are looking for ways to give back to their respective communities and they are excited and grateful to be able to contribute,” Hurley added.
“We want everyone coming through 10,000 Headshots to have a wonderful experience and look to us as a support network,” explained Lauren Lieberman, co-founder of Headshot Booker and CEO of LILA PHOTO in Palm Beach. “Finding a job is hard work. Our hope is that, along with a great professional headshot, they will leave the photo session with a greater sense of confidence and purpose, knowing they are making an investment in themselves and their future.”
Headshot Booker will also create a dedicated platform where participants and others can share success stories with securing employment and find additional employment tools, tips, and other resources. The page will also serve as a means of support among its members.
In addition to Headshot Booker, Brookfield Partners, and SpotMyPhotos, additional support is provided by Canon USA, Tether Tools, and PhotoFlashDrive.
Headshot Booker is the premier agency committed to uniting Corporations with accredited headshot photographers around the globe. Headshot Booker is powered by the largest and most elite group of headshot specialists trained by Peter Hurley, renowned photographer, author of The Headshot, and co-founder of Headshot Booker. Whether a company is in one location or multiple offices around the world, we are passionate about delivering to each client an elevated experience, complete with a streamlined booking process and exceptional headshots with a cohesive and consistent look that highlights the people who define your brand.
Brookfield Properties is a fully-integrated, global real estate services company, providing industry-leading portfolio management capabilities across the real estate investment strategies of Brookfield Asset Management – a global alternative asset manager with over $515 billion in AUM. Brookfield Properties develops and manages premier real estate with a focus on maximizing the tenant experience in addition to the investment and operational performance of the asset. We also focus on integrating leading-edge real estate technologies which enables us to be at the forefront of innovation and sustainability – benefiting not only our tenants and business partners, but also the communities in which we operate.
SpotMyPhotos is a pioneer in automated private photo-sharing that uses AI-technologies to go beyond facial recognition and let your photos find you. The company was founded with the objective of facilitating rapid photo access in conjunction with unprecedented privacy safeguards. Through a patented advanced photo delivery platform, SpotMyPhotos empowers professional photographers to seamlessly deliver high-quality event photography in seconds to those photographed. SpotMyPhotos is available to photographers and event organizers as a subscription service, and has spotted hundreds of thousands of people at photo booths, entertainment venues, and events throughout North America.
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