Whenever I host a professional portrait day and invite potential clients, I get the same basic question: “Why do I need a professional portrait? I’m just a _____.”

With the proliferation of social media websites, and with more and more hiring professionals checking out the sites you list (and googling to find the sites you don’t) you can’t afford to have a mediocre photograph on social media websites.

But, don’t take my word for it. From Social Media Examiner’s “12 Ways to Market Your Event With Social Media”:

#10: A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Although Twitpics and iPhone photos are great and shareable, hire a photographer for the day. If you can’t afford one, consider an in-kind trade of a free pass. Make sure you come to an agreement on who owns the photos and how they can be used online to promote this and future events.

Want your professional portrait taken sooner rather than later? There’s still time to Register for a Professional Portrait with Girl + Camera