We have already determined that you are missing opportunities by not having your photo on your marketing materials. Everyone HAS one...USE IT!!! Now, let's talk about the photos themselves. The type of photo should be determined by two things. First, what kind of personality do you have, and second, how do you want to portray yourself to the world?
Do you want to look friendly? This will probably help you get a wider variety of clients! Do you want to come across as very stylish and polished? You will probably attract the higher end clients. This is a personal choice. If you don't already have your photo displayed, you should visit other profiles, choose the photos you like, and then figure out what it is you like about them.
Here are four of my favorites! I did not ask permission from these people, but I hope they see their appearance in this post as a compliment, because that's how it was intended!
Look at Dane's photo. Would you expect her to pull up in front of a home driving a rusty pickup truck with a "Honk if you love Hooters" bumper sticker? Of course, not. But, how do you know that? Because her photo shouts urban chic! It says Dane is NOT going to stage your home with plastic cat figurines! Her style will be sleek and elegant.
Look at Michelle's photo. Do you think when she invites friends over for dinner, she serves them franks and beans on paper plates? No, because look at the setting of her photo! This is a woman who loves to be surrounded by beautiful things, and will make the homes she stages beautiful, too.
Look at Audrey's photo. Can you picture her sitting at home on the weekends crocheting Kleenex box covers for her friends? Of course not! You can read Audrey's personality in the pose and the sassy gleam in her eye! This young woman is going to put some pizazz in her staging!
Look at Jackson's. Would you guess that Jackson collects Smokey and the Bandit memorabilia, and he displays it on a shelf made of planks of wood between two cinder blocks? No way! His photo shouts of color and style! I'm surprised anyone moves after Jackson has staged their home!
Look at Julia's. Does she look like someone who is going to pocket the silver when she is in a home staging it? Of course, not! Her photo says she is a bright, and honest stager who is going to give you every penny's worth of staging paid for, and then some!
I think you get the idea. I used stagers for my examples, but the guidelines are the same for real estate agents or lenders, or anyone that deals with the public in a position of trust. Use your photo as a tool to express your sense of style and personality. And please, keep your photos updated. Men, we don't want to see you in your three piece suit with the reversible vest, and ladies, the glamour shot thing was very '80's! Two to three years is a good lifespan for your photo. Because, whether you like to admit it or not, we do change in that amount of time!
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