In today’s global workplace, prospects often attain their first impression of you and your business on a company website or social media site. In fact, most people will decide if they want to do business with you within 3 seconds of seeing your picture and those of your staff and building. With this in mind, you should always put your ‘best face’ forward.
In fact, the quality of your executive portraits will send a subtle yet significant message about you and the standards you’ve set for your business. A professional portrait is an investment in the business you are working so hard so hard to build.
Last week I attended a Chamber of Commerce function where the speaker, a long time professional in his industry, passed out his brochures at the end of his talk. I quickly glanced at the picture on his brochure and wondered ‘who is this on your brochure?’
Well, it was indeed him, but the picture was taken about 20 years ago. Let’s just suffice it to say that he did not look quite like his picture on his brochure any longer. But, what his picture actually said to me was ‘maybe his ideas are a little old – like his picture.’
At this same Chamber of Commerce meeting a member of the Chamber that I had not met before came up to me and said “you’re Peter Hudson the photographer. I recognize you from your website.’ Now, I’ll tell you – I’m pushing 50 years of age (did I just say that?) and I could stand to lose 50 pounds – and I have little hair left – but, when I took my professional portraits for my websites, business cards and social media sites I dressed appropriately and did a very small amount of air brushing on my picture to look as good as I could.
Do I look as good as my 28 year old associate? Of course not. But,for my sites I did prepare a recent and accurate image of myself and people do frequently come up to me and say ‘you’re Peter Hudson the photographer. I recognized you from your picture on your website.’
A dear friend of mine is a professional real estate agent. The picture on her business cards, website and social media site is great, but it was taken several years ago. When a customer meets her in person today – for the first time – I’m sure they think to themselves ‘she looks nothing like how I thought she would.’ It was my first thought the first time I met her, too.
Don’t get caught up in the thought that you looked better 10 years ago then you do today. It may be true, but this is where I come in. I can brush out a few lines here and there and suggest what you wear for your executive portraits to help you look your best. I even have information available to help you prepare for your executive portraits. Ask me about it when we meet.
You are a beautiful person today – whether you are male or female – and people are going to make quick judgments about you when they meet you in person anyway – so let’s keep those first thoughts about you positive – as opposed to – ‘that’s a nice picture of you on your business card – was that taken in 1986?’
It’s really important to keep your professional photographs current. Even photographs that were taken 2-3 years ago need to be updated.
Your picture, the picture of your staff, your vehicles and office building will speak volumes about your company – positively or negatively – in a matter of seconds. How do the pictures on your website, social media sites, business cards and brochures look?
Remember, you have about 3 seconds to influence a person’s opinion about whether or not to do business with you. Could your pictures and those of your staff stand to be updated? Probably so.
