Headshots for Entrepreneurs and Startups

Before the pitch deck opens, before a single number is shown, the investor has already decided whether they want to hear you out. Your photo did its job before you even walked into the room.

Israel is a startup nation, but not an image nation

Israeli entrepreneurs are exceptionally good at building, developing and thinking. They're less good at marketing themselves. That's not something to be ashamed of, it's cultural. We prefer to "prove it in the product" rather than "sell ourselves."

The problem is that in the world of fundraising, investors don't just buy a product. They buy a founder. They look at the eyes, the expression, the presence. They ask themselves: "Do I believe in this person enough to hand them a million dollars?"

Your photo is the first impression they get, before they've even met you.

The pitch deck is perfect, the photo less so

One of the most common situations I come across: an entrepreneur who spent months building a perfect pitch deck. Every figure precise, every chart in the right color. And then their LinkedIn profile picture is a selfie from a bar last October.

Investors look you up on LinkedIn before the meeting. They see the photo. They feel something, and not always what you wanted them to feel.

What an entrepreneur needs to convey in a headshot

An entrepreneur has to convey three things at once, and that's hard:

Vision — someone who sees what others don't. Eyes that look a little beyond. A gaze that says "I know where we're going."

Confidence — someone who believes in themselves enough that you believe in them too. An open posture, a direct gaze, an expression that doesn't apologize.

Approachability — someone you can work with. A smile that says "I'm not just smart, I'm also pleasant to be around." Because investors sit with founders for years, and they want someone who's good company.

Smart casual — the style of the startup world

Unlike lawyers or accountants who need a suit, entrepreneurs can convey professionalism in clothing that's polished but not formal.

A clean shirt, dark jeans, a casual jacket — that works. A polo shirt, like in Ariel Roter's photo, works very well. A full suit is usually too distant for the startup world. A collarless T-shirt is usually not professional enough.

The rule: look like someone you'd meet at a high-level tech conference.

Photographing entrepreneurs — what a single session should cover

An entrepreneur doesn't just need one profile picture. They need a bank of images that serves them on every platform:

A head-and-shoulders shot — for LinkedIn, the company website, press coverage.

A half-body shot — for presentations, marketing materials, stages.

"Action" shots — at the laptop, in conversation, listening — for ongoing content on social media.

All of these can be photographed in a single day. The result is a bank of images that serves you for the next two years.

Before a round — the best time to shoot

A question I hear: "When is the right time to shoot?" The answer: before the fundraising round begins.

When you're pitching, you need every detail to be ready. When an investor looks you up on LinkedIn after the meeting, they need to see a photo that reinforces the impression you've already made, not one that weakens it.

Sharon Gabay — headshots for entrepreneurs

I've photographed dozens of entrepreneurs and founders, before funding rounds, before international conferences, before product launches. I understand the language of the tech world and know how to build a photo that speaks to investors.

To book: WhatsApp 054-2000-300

➜ I'll build you a founder's image bank that holds up on LinkedIn and in the room before your next round →

Questions and Answers

1. What style suits a headshot for an entrepreneur?

Smart casual — professional but not overly formal.

A clean shirt, dark jeans, trousers that sit well on the body, a jacket optional.

Bring two or three sets and we'll choose together based on the message.

2. Does an entrepreneur need more than one photo?

Definitely. An entrepreneur doesn't just need one photo. They need a bank of images that serves them in every situation:

A head-and-shoulders shot — for LinkedIn, the company website, press coverage.

A half-body shot — for presentations, marketing materials and conference stages.

Variations in expression — with a smile and without. A direct gaze and a sideways one. Because some situations call for seriousness and others call for approachability.

Variations in body language — hands in pockets, arms crossed, hands on the table. Each conveys something different, and an entrepreneur needs options.

Different levels of formality — one more polished set for meetings with investors, one more casual set for social media.

All of these can be photographed in a single day. The result is a bank of images that serves you for the next two years.

3. When is the right time to shoot before a funding round?

At least a month before the fundraising process begins. Investors look you up on LinkedIn before the meeting, so the photo needs to be ready and professional.

4. What's the difference between a headshot for an entrepreneur and one for a lawyer? An entrepreneur needs to convey vision, confidence and approachability. A lawyer needs to convey authority and seriousness. The style, lighting and wardrobe are matched to the target audience and the message.

5. Can the photo be taken at the startup's office? Yes. The mobile studio comes to you. It saves time and lets us mix in atmospheric shots of the office that tell the company's story.