What makes a good estate agent snap?
Pressure does funny things to people.
Some grow, some shrink, some growl and some shriek.
Being in front of a camera also does strange things to people.
Some freeze, some pout, some glare and some hide.
I’ve seen cameraphobia a fair bit during my career as a journalist and now as a PR man.
I had a London buses moment last week. Just when you’ve waited ages for a client to ask about the power of good photography three come along all at once.
For various reasons, web profiles, business cards and a news release.
Getting good photography on your website, business cards, email signatures and marketing materials is a BIG step forward in improving your agency’s image and the way people perceive you.
You want to look professional yet personable. Cheap, badly thought out photography will put people off you and your agency. In this age of people making snap decisions a decision to cut corners on your snaps is a bad one.
Below are some simple pointers using the Clint Eastwood method.
Good
Think SAS – Smart and Smiling.
Look at the camera. Feels more sincere.
Relax – A good, experienced photographer will know how to get you to relax, – a bad one won’t.
Bad
Take your hand from underneath your chin – you ain’t David Brent.
Take the phone away from your ear – staged pics look staged and fake.
Don’t stare mystically away from the camera into the distance like a poet musing over their next verse.
Ugly
Male or female – don’t pout – Save that sexy stuff for Facebook / instagram / Tinder (notice I didn’t mention Linkedin – prospects who are social media savvy will often check your profile on there – ensure you have a good snap on LinkedIn).
Don’t look too cool for school – it puts people off. Ditch the pic of you sat behind a massive desk, leaning back in your chair etc.
The worst of all – the selfie or cheapie. You’ve spent thousands on your website then won’t invest a few more quid in getting a professional photographer in to take shots of the team, your office, local area.
I’ll leave you with this line from a photographer I was working with when I was a junior reporter.
We’d been sent to interview and photograph a local councillor who was, to use a journalistic term – an absolute eejit and lovingly known in our office ‘as the big rude fatty’.
So while the snapper is taking Councillor Charm – Less’ photo he barks an instruction: “Make me look slimmer in these photos.”
The photographer, never known for his diplomacy and an equally grumpy pumpkin, reply still echoes in my ears.
“I’m a photographer not a bleeding magician.”
Thanks for reading and here’s to your next instruction.
Jerry
PS: I’ve come up with a bundle of estate agency canvassing letters and content for sales brochures and guides.
If you are interested in being the first in your area to hear about it just ping me an email saying ‘Bundle!!!!’
PPS: I’ve plenty more tips but they’re for my retained clients. You could be one to – to have a chat about this email me – Jerry@propertyprexpert.co.uk
PPPS: The pic accompanying this blog is a ‘staged’ example of a crap snap.
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