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Home : Blogs : J Philip Faranda, Broker-Owner : J. Philip's Westchester Real Estate Blog (914) 723-8900

You Might Want to Update Your Picture

Upon occasion, I meet an agent for the first time and they look nothing like their picture on their website or card. Let's face it...real estate agents are notorious for having absurdly old photos of themselves for way too long. It's hard to tell someone that they look like the grandmother of the person on their marketing pieces, so for those of you out there that we've been too polite to say it to bluntly, here are a few indications that you might want to get a new photo of yourself.

If you call to get a reprint and are told the glass plates broke.
The watermark is actually from, you know, water.
You recall the news of the day it was taken mentioned the Suez Canal, Neil Armstrong, or Watergate.
You are wearing a small lapel pin of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
When you meet an agent of the opposite sex in person they are far less flirtatious than they were on the phone.
When you meet an agent for the first time they do a double take.
When you see your own photo, you start to hum something from the Carpenters.
You have a rotary phone up to your ear.
Your jacket is sky blue.
There is something made of macrame behind you
You have big hair.
You distinctly remember driving home from the photographer in an AMC Gremlin.
It was taken on film and scanned later.

Seriously...update that photo! You aren't fooling anyone!

______________________________________________________________________________

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J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. Vice President, Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing Service.
I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS, serving Westchester, the Hudson Valley & Metropolitan New York.
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Posted by J Philip Faranda, Broker-Owner on 02/12/2011 03:46 PM

Comments (42)

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42 Comments on You Might Want to Update Your Picture

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

« 1 2 3 »

FEB

2011

This made me laugh! My pet peeve are those old ones that have Glamour Shots photos and it looks like someone smeared something on the lens when they took the photo because it is blurred. Sort of like they used to do when they shot close-ups of Doris Day. Yikes! (Guess I dated myself by referencing Doris Day..)

Phil

You have been to Texas enough to know that big hair is always in vogeu down here.

Great shot with the Shepherd. What a great looking dog

Love this as it is a pet peeve of mine! Even if I did at one time use the same picture for about 7 years! LOL hey it was agood picture! LOL My picture now is a couple years old...but I think i still look the same! ....or at least I hope I do!

what a great, funny & interesting post! I need to update mine ;(

Oh, I see where your love for German Shepards comes from! Our neighbors had them when I was growing up, they're great dogs!

Anywho . . . I think people using dated photos ARE fooling someone! Themselves! I have resolved to take a new picture each year on my birthday. Started last year and thought it was a good thing to do every birthday!

J Philip,

How true. I am using a current AR picture... well last summer, but need to redo the business cards. I will when I order new ones in a few months they are about five years old.

All the best, Michelle,

SO-WAY CUTE!! And very creative...good girl, Dutchess!!

I have seen the rotary phone in the photo...It makes me actually laugh out loud.

Just like music and hair styles, people like to hang on to what they liked from the "good old days". Pictures included.

FEB

2011

I just went to a card without a photo. I've seen some great photos and they are like 10+ years old :-0

I just try to hold my laugh when I see those cards... Wow - if that was you now, you're looking great!!!!

FEB

2011

J Phil,

I had a German Shepherd like the one in your pic and I was about the same age too! So how often do you update your photo?

I don't have a card on my current business card because I want to get a more up-to-date one that makes me look younger not older than I really am!

MAR

2011

Philip,

So funny, but true (no pictures we're edited in the creation of this comment).

Steve

MAR

2011

Philip: This is the second post I've read today about updating the photo on the card. Hmmmm Could be a sign. I love your humour about the water mark and also the glass plates. Now that was leading edge technology - in its day. Where is Ansel Adams when you need him?

MAR

2011

Hi Phil,

You struck a nerve.

We all tend to like how the picture looked 15 or 20 years ago...

Phil

MAR

2011

It's always interesting to meet a clean shaven heavy set bald man when walking into the open house when the picture on the sign is a John Schneider look-alike....whoops!

Bridget "Maryland Mortgage Mama" McGee

Yup, just did it. Didn't want to, but I did it.

MAR

2011

J. Phillip ~ Love this post! The feature button is obviously off line somehow. It’s a pet peeve of mine as others have said…..How about the cartoon characters, glamor shots and defiantly the 20 year old pics?

APR

2011

Yeah, sad to say, my picture on my business card is only 3 1/2 years old and I already need to update it! That's depressing!

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J Philip Faranda, Broker-Owner

Briarcliff Manor, NY

More about me…

J. Philip Faranda (J. Philip R.E. LLC) Westchester County NY

Address: 522 North State Road , Suite 100, Briarcliff Manor, NY, 10510

Office Phone: (914) 762-2500

Email Me

Phil Faranda is broker and owner of J. Philip Real Estate LLC in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Since founding the firm as a sole practitioner in late 2005, the team has grown to over 30 agents & closed 350+ transactions valued at $140 million. He is in his 4th term as Vice President of the HGMLS. This blog commentary is geared toward consumers and industry colleagues alike. You can reach him at (914) 723-8900.
Warning: *Sarcasm and irony advisory at all times.*

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