Do your member’s agent photos look like this? If so, then it is time for them to have a new photo taken (and delete the old one forever)!

In real estate agents are not just selling homes, they’re selling themselves. A quality headshot is important to convey to clients their personality, professionalism, and why they are the agent they should work with.

Agent photos likely appear on their marketing collateral, social media, websites and in their online marketing. Think of all the places their photo appears just by using ListHub:

• On the publisher websites listings are syndicated to like Trulia, Zillow, Homes.com, etc.
• On listing detail pages
• Reports customers also have their agent photo featured on their Seller Reports

A bad photo can make a bad impression with potential clients. What’s worse? Having no photo at all!

With ListHub it’s easy for agents to upload their photos to personalize online marketing. Click here to view a short video tutorial to learn how.  But before they upload a photo, we want to help them get the right photo because “you never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

Here are 3 tips to help make a great first impression with new agent photos:

Hire a Professional
Buyers and Sellers hire them because they are the experts in buying or selling a home, right? The same is true of hiring a photographer. Sure, we all have cameras on our smartphones, but having a camera does not make you a photographer. Seriously, let the experts handle this.

There is a lot to consider when taking a great photo: the lighting, mood, location, etc. Plus a good photographer will know their way around Photoshop and be able to touch up the final product to make sure it is nothing short of perfect.  Make the investment to have a photo that really rocks and have it updated every few years.

Photographers can be expensive but there are a lot of options out there especially with so many people who are entering the field as part-time photographers, to earn some extra cash. Here are few ways to find an affordable photographer:

• Craigslist – Craigslist is a great place to find people who are looking for work, both professionals and amateurs. Using an amateur photographer does not necessarily mean amateur photos. Some new photographers are really talented and looking for ways to build their portfolios.
• SmartShoot.com – SmartShoot is a website that we have used for both videographers and photographers and had great success. The website allows you to post jobs (along with your desired budget) and photographers will submit bids for the work. This allows you to control cost and compare photographers.
• Affiliates Members of your Local REALTOR Association – Many professionals join the local real estate associations and provide services at a discount to REALTOR members.

Keep It Simple
When they are considering what to wear in their photo they should remember to keep it simple. Trendy clothes or jewelry, may not still be trendy in a year or two from now!

They should dress in a way that is both professional, and a representation of who they really are – everyday. If they tend to dress business casual at the office, a business suit is probably not the right look. If they always wear glasses, they should wear them in their headshot. If they normally wear their hair straight, they shouldn’t curl it — people should recognize them if they ran into you at the mall or the grocery store.

Solid colors and classic styles are always a great choice and give photos greater longevity. Since these photos are generally shot from the waist up, consider how the clothing falls and whether it flatters the neckline. Darker shades which draw attention to the face and generally flatter the figure should be worn. This doesn’t don’t mean they can only where black! Navy, dark-gray, chocolate, forest green, deep teal, eggplant or a rich caramel are also great choices to add some color. Clothes, makeup, hair, and jewelry should all be subtle; anything too flashy will take the focus away from the face, where it should be.

Preparation is Key!
Before taking a headshot they should get plenty of rest and drink lots of water (avoid alcohol and/or smoking a few days before taking the pictures) this will help skin to be hydrated and fill in line and wrinkles, reduce under eye circles, giving them a nice healthy glow.

If they are planning on cutting or dying their hair before the shoot, do this at least a week in advance. Freshly colored hair can look unnatural on camera and a new haircut usually looks best after the first week. Men, if you are planning to shave, do so early in the day to give your skin time to recover from any nicks or irritation.