1% Startup Marketing Challenge

Week 19

​

Hey folks! 👋

When was the last time you actually looked at your headshot? Like, really looked at it?

If the answer is "uh, 2019?" or "I just cropped myself out of a group photo," then this week's challenge is for you. A solid headshot does more heavy lifting than you'd think - it builds trust before you've even opened your mouth, helps people spot you in a crowded conference, and signals that you've got your act together.

The good news? Sorting it is easier (and cheaper) than you probably think.

Remember: If you missed any of these weekly challenges or want a refresher, you can see them all here.

​

Challenge #19: Upgrade your headshot

You'd be surprised how much a decent headshot can move the needle. 📸

Not in a vanity way. In a "people actually trust you enough to take a meeting" way.

This week's 1% marketing challenge is to upgrade your headshot. Whether that's a quick AI generation or finally booking that photographer you've been putting off.

It matters more than you think, and here's why:

1. Credibility happens in seconds

When investors, potential hires, or partners land on your LinkedIn or website, they're making snap judgements. A blurry photo from 2019 or that cropped wedding pic signals "I don't have my sh*t together" even if you absolutely do. A clean, professional headshot says "I'm serious about this" without you having to say anything at all.

2. Recognition is currency

In any given month you might be meeting customers in Melbourne, pitching investors in Sydney, speaking at events in Brisbane. Half these people might have only seen you on Zoom. A good headshot helps them pick you out of a crowd, which matters more than you'd think when you're trying to build real relationships across cities and time zones. (Trust me - when I changed my hair from blonde to brunette, I got a lot of people doing a double take and wondering whether to reintroduce themselves!)

3. Personality still counts

Professional doesn't mean stiff. The best headshots show a bit of who you are approachable, confident, maybe even slightly cheeky. You want people to think "I'd actually enjoy working with this person."

🪄 The AI shortcut

AI headshot generators have gotten scarily good. Tools like Gemini's Nano Banana can give you something polished in minutes (with the right prompt), and for early-stage founders it can be a great, affordable short-term fix. Below are before and afters of a recent "glow up" of some of our team's headshots!

But if you've got budget, a real photographer is still better. They'll get the lighting right, help you relax, and capture something AI can't quite nail yet.The good news is photographers are often more affordable than you expect. Especially if you mention you're a startup and just need a few solid shots. (If you're in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane and want a recommendation, flick me a LinkedIn DM!)

Hot tip 🔥 If you've got co-founders or early hires, consider matching your headshots - same background colour, same style, same vibe. Teams like splose and Earlywork do this brilliantly. It's a small thing that makes your whole crew look cohesive and intentional.

So this week, take 15 mins to sort your new headshot. Book in a photographer or jump into Gemini (or your favourite AI tool) and "glow up" of a picture you already have. You'll feel weirdly more legitimate, and more importantly, other people will think so too. ✅

👏 Credit to Natalie Piucco for the inspiration for this one - I adapted the prompt from her post here to help create our team pics! You'll find the prompts I used below.

AI Headshot Prompts

(Use these with a picture of yourself that you like!)

Woman: A high resolution black and white portrait of this woman wearing a sharp white tshirt and chic small gold earrings along with her hair down, natural but neat. She stands confidently in minimal studio setting slightly to the side natural daytime lighting. She looks at the camera casually, with a relaxed smile and friendly expression. The image has a natural studio headshot style, but not too corporate.

Man: A high resolution black and white portrait of this man wearing a sharp white tshirt. He stands confidently in minimal studio setting slightly to the side natural daytime lighting. He looks at the camera casually, body straight on to the camera, with a relaxed smile and friendly expression. The image has a natural studio headshot style, but not too corporate.

Dog: A high resolution black and white portrait of this dog. He sits confidently like a good boy in minimal studio setting slightly to the side - natural daylight style studio lighting brightens his face and pulls beautiful beams of light into the background, as if coming in through a window. His expression is calm, confident, with a friendly smile. The image has a slightly cinematic, but natural style. His fur is fluffy and soft, well kept/recently brushed but not short or overly styled.

Any feedback? 💌

We'd love to hear it. Did you try this challenge? How did it go? Hit reply on this email to let us know.

This newsletter is from the team at Stella Startups 👋

ICYMI, we’re Stella Startups – a marketing partner for Aussie and Kiwi startups from early stage to scale up.

We bring you marketing strategy, brand expertise and hands-on execution, all with a commitment to innovation so you can make an impact bigger than your budget. Head to our website to find out more and if you’d like help, book some time to chat (we don’t bite).

See you next time,
Gemma & Bridget