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When was your professional Realtor photo taken?

By
Real Estate Technology with Realogy Holdings Co

Man with a shaggy 70's haircut leaning on a AMC Gremlin I didn't want to write this post, but I felt impelled after meeting an agent earlier this week.  When I first saw her website and photo, I remember thinking that she needed to update her hairstyle a little, but she looked very professional.  When she walked into my office, I thought she'd sent her mother (who coincidentally had a modern hairstyle).

My point is that she was still an attractive, well presented, professionally appearing Realtor.  She just appeared to be a completely different person than who I was expecting.  I just don't understand why many Realtors don't update their photos more often; at least every other year.

I guess my point is this: if you look at your professional photo and it looks like the photo to the left, or if in the photo you have roller-coaster bangs and are wearing shoulder pads, you should consider getting an updated photo.  I believe our clients are expecting us to look like our picture.

Please feel free to disagree.

 

Posted by

Ray Garrett

Independent Real Estate Recruiting, Training, and Marketing Consultant
ZipRealty
cell:  804.615.4378
www.ZipRealtyCareers.com

Licensed in Virginia

Member: National Association of Realtors, Virginia association of Realtors, Richmond Association of Realtors.

 

Comments (41)

Richard van Seenus
Van Seenus Partners - Santa Barbara, CA
Best SB Agent

Change the picture, I often find I don't recognize agents from their photos.  Both weight and age being factors.  I understand the want to be perceived as young but seriously.  Personally, my current photo is 8 months old and I expect I will be changing it out in about a year.  Not that I have to, but because I want people to recognize me.

Mar 27, 2010 05:39 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I am going to get some new ones.  My pro shot is 5 years old.  I am actually going to just go casual this time as it seems to be the trend.

Mar 27, 2010 05:48 AM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Ray:  As far as using an "updated" picture... is the picture your dentist or doctor has on her or his card updated ?  How bout your accountant, or your minister, priest or rabbi ?  Are their photos up to date ?  I bet not... cuz they probably do not have pictures.  I, for one, do not agree with having pictures on my business cards. 

Mar 27, 2010 06:56 AM
Patsy Overton
Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

I'm happy to report that I had new head shots taken about a month ago.  Now, if I could just find the time to upload it to my social media sites....  Love that photo!

Mar 27, 2010 07:16 AM
Julia Odom
Select Realty Professionals - Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga Homes for Sale

I don't have a picture on my business cards but I've got a small avatar sized one on my website and I reluctantly put one on print ads. Just yesterday I met a client in person for the first time and he said that I looked just like I do in the homes magazines. Made me wonder if that's rare???

Mar 27, 2010 07:53 AM
Ed Tseng
El Sobrante, CA

Hey, that was a cool and aged picture, I like it.

Mar 27, 2010 08:24 AM
Tamara Inzunza
Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA
Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

My picture is about 5 years old...but I still look like me!!!

Mar 27, 2010 08:43 AM
Kathy Schowe
California Lifestyle Realty - La Quinta, CA
La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

I love this post!  I have met many agents who "fell in love" with their old picture-- and have'tn bothered to update it... it cracks me up!  Funny, I think my current pics are better than the old ones!  Kathy

Mar 27, 2010 11:36 AM
Robert Foster
United Country-Michigan Outdoor Properties - Northern Office - Wolverine, MI

Someday I will get a new photo, but one of my kids took mine.    Better angle from below, if it was from the top there may be some glare. 

Mar 27, 2010 12:10 PM
Nicole Donaghy
Re/Max Purpose Driven - Lexington, SC
Helping Families Home in Lexington and Columbia

LOL!  There is a local real estate agent in my area who had her biz photo with her dogs.  She used this same photo for many, many, (way too) many years, surely long after those poor pooches were dead and gone.

Mar 27, 2010 01:09 PM
Ronald Borch
WJ Bradley Mortgage Capital Corp, S. Burlington, VT - South Burlington, VT

You can always tell the age of an agent's photo by the size of the cell phone in their ear.

Mar 27, 2010 02:15 PM
Marzena Melby
Coldwell Banker Burnet Realty - Richfield, MN
Realtor, Twin Cities Minnesota Real Estate

The above are all the reasons I don't have a photo on my business cards or in print. 

Mar 27, 2010 10:49 PM
Michael Cole
CPG Tours - Corona, CA

Hey Ray,

That 'hair' picture in your post is a classic! I think that era was about the time I quit going to the movie theater. And that photo shows why. (LOL)

Mar 27, 2010 11:07 PM
Ty Lacroix
Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc - London, ON

I'm so ugly I don't put my picture on business cards or marketing material. It's not about me!

Ty

Mar 27, 2010 11:57 PM
Sherry Davidson
Davidson Realty, Inc. - Saint Augustine, FL

Haha loved the post and it is so true! We have 28 agents at our company and have had to fight some of them to update their photo. We now have a photographer coming in once a month to take all our new agent photos and update the older ones.

Loved the picture above with the crazy hair!

 

Peyton Davidson, VP of Marketing and Social Media

Mar 29, 2010 05:34 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

I just called a photographer to get new pictures taken for my office... we found a local photographer that just charges us an hourly sitting fee for the office and gives us a digital copy.. perfect for business pix!

Mar 30, 2010 03:51 AM
Beth Lester
Beth Lester Designs - Torrance, CA
Home Staging & Interior Decorating

I finally got a professional headshot this year, but I've had people tell me that I look the same as I did in high school (in my late 40's).  I guess that's both good and bad!

And btw, I bought a brand name dress yesterday (at Ross Dress-For-Less) and it had small shoulder pads!  My teenage daughters weren't impressed.

Apr 02, 2010 02:10 AM
Ann Allen Hoover
RE/MAX Advantage South - Hoover, AL
CDPE SRES ASP e-PRO Realtor - Homes for Sale - AL

I LOVE the photograph!  It sure brings back memories of my teenage years. :o)

Apr 05, 2010 03:16 AM
Stephen Arnold
HomeSmart Elite Group - Scottsdale, AZ
CRS, GRI, SFR

If you are going to have a photo on your marketing material...it should be somewhat (within 3-5 years) current!! 

Apr 06, 2010 04:52 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Mine needs updating. I really hit home when the lady making my business cards said my pic was too old!

May 09, 2010 04:49 PM