We’ve all heard the adage, “There’s a time and place for everything.” Did you know this same concept applies to how you present yourself to your clients? As a realtor, you likely have A LOT of competition. Think about it though. Your competition isn’t limited to other realtors. You have to fight against the economy and whether or not it’s motivating clients to act. You also have to compete for time. You want to ensure you’re spending your time efficiently with the right clients which will be profitable. How you portray yourself in your marketing materials can give you a leg up in some of these competitive areas. Your first impression should provoke an impactful response that motivates people and helps qualify potential clients. In this article, I’ll share a recent experience I had with a realtor who was daring enough to think outside the box with his professional headshot.

Here's how a lot of my inquiries for headshots go. Someone will see my photos online somewhere, and send me a message that goes a little something like this:

“I love your photography style. It’s really different. I’d like to do some headshots like this particular picture I saw of yours. How much do you charge for something like that?”

I don’t take the bait though. I’ve learned that I need to take two types of photos. I need to take the creative one they initially asked about, and then I need to take the standard “vanilla” headshot. Why do I take two different types of photos? The truth is, people often get scared. Many people are afraid that their initial creative idea won’t be well-received by their clients or prospective clients. They love how the photo looks, but they’re afraid to use it because the “creative” version doesn’t look like other headshots that everyone else uses.

In a recent photoshoot that I did with a local realtor, the conversation started the same. He said that he wanted something different to stand out. He wanted to capture his confidence while also communicating humility. He even had some really good ideas in mind. We went back and forth collaborating and making plans. Even though we had to make some slight adjustments to our original plans once we got to the location, we were able to get pretty close to the original concepts.

The goal was to tell the story of his commitment to his clients by shooting at night. The idea is that he’s working day and night to help the people he works with. He's big-time into community involvement also, so he wanted to try and include some background that was familiar to his town, but not so that it took away the focus on him. We took these photos and we both agreed that they turned out great. Risking life and limb to shoot this photo in the middle of Main Street was well worth it! It was a lot of fun too. It was like real-life Frogger. Then, seeing the faces of people driving by wondering what we were doing at night with a giant softbox hovering over the street, was priceless. In the end, he felt we were able to nail his original idea in a way that went beyond the traditional "realtor headshots." We captured his story in very cool ways!

Then came the moment of truth. I wondered if he would use these photos, or if he would use a more “traditional” version. This man was brave, and he was rewarded well for his bravery! When he changed his profile picture on Facebook to this photo, he got a HUGE response from the local community. The impactful client response was immediately obvious. There were hundreds of likes and comments complimenting the photos, how he looked in them, and the overall creativity. People were comparing him to movie characters like James Bond. It was pretty great!

Granted, Facebook banter doesn’t immediately translate into dollars. Those likes and comments didn’t help the appraisal value of his listings. Those compliments didn’t simplify escrow proceedings. However, to get that much positive exposure in a small town, while the real estate market is in a challenging time, is a great thing! He was in the field of view and the minds of hundreds of people. Even though he paid for the photos, he didn’t pay for the responses to them. You could make the argument that a traditional high-quality headshot might have garnered a positive response too. However, the traditional headshot would not have created the quality of buzz and enthusiasm that these photos did. The people weren’t just complimenting how he looked. They complimented the overall aesthetic. That matters. His boldness made an impression that set him apart in a way that was compared to Hollywood heroes. That’s a pretty cool way to be perceived in any profession, let alone a profession that demands so much integrity and trust.

So, what’s the moral of the story? How do you capture confidence uniquely? How do you nail your realtor headshot to get the impactful client response that gives you the reputation of a hero or rockstar? Having the courage to lean into your style, even if it seems different from the norm, can be rewarding. Our initial plans were to try and shoot something that had cinematic qualities to make his story a compelling part of the photo. That doesn’t mean that we had to go full-on “Hollywood.” He still looks professional. The editing is stylistic, but still appropriate for the way it is used. The point is, sometimes it’s good to go against the grain a little bit, push the boundaries, and embrace your unique style as an asset. Your willingness to portray yourself genuinely can go a long way in building trust. If you’re not the “traditional headshot” person, then don’t take one like that. If you work with a dynamic and diverse clientele, show how you’re able and willing to work outside of the stereotypes of your industry. Next time you need a professional headshot, these are things you want to think about. Make sure you’re working with someone who’s thinking about these things too.

#bsideimpressions #headshots #professionalheadshots #realtor #realestate #tipsandtricks