Do Real Estate Agents Need Good Headshots?
Real Estate Agents Are Untrusted
Selling a home in Sydney is one of life’s big decisions, and a real estate agent needs to be someone you trust. But real estate agents are ranked in the least ethical and trusted industry in Roy Morgan’s Image of Professions Australia surveys.
That’s a real problem, isn’t it?
Media loves to run stories on real estate horror stories, and the profession is really taking a beating. Almost every other week you’ll see a story of some housing problem, or someone being ripped off.
Being a licensed realtor in a big Sydney real estate franchise won’t exempt you from suspicion. After all, most of the stories are from the big franchises. How can you show you’re different?
How Do People Judge Real Estate Agents?
We know that great Sydney real estate agents genuinely want to help their clients. They understand client needs, offer professional advice, and bring many moving parts together to execute the sale. How can you show that on your website?
Many agents try to put on lots of testimonials. They think the proof is in the pudding, all these happy customers surely show you are trustworthy?
Well firstly, 80% of website visitors will NOT read your text during the first visit. They firstly look at the property listings. Then they will look at your staff profiles under your about page and decide whether to contact you.
Secondly, every agency has these testimonials. Sometimes they’re so over the top, it’s unbelievable. So whether they’re true or made up, consumers expect them to exist, and ignore them.
It comes down to your listing. We’re used to fancy dress-up terms like “fixer upper”, and “lots of potential”, and consumers are on their guard before they even read your listing.
How Does A Headshot Set You Apart?
In answering the question “Do You Need a Headshot?” the Real Estate industry has been the first to get onboard the idea.
Everyone in the Real Estate industry has a headshot, and it’s plastered all over their listings and website. They knew early on that a friendly face helps build trust in the relationship, and that’s how a customer will go with you instead of a competitor.
There’s a real boom in property since Covid. Every day more people are getting their licenses, and the industry is getting more crowded. Because of this high turnover, a lot of businesses do not have proper and up-to-date headshots of their staff.
It’s an expense they don’t want to make, because they don’t know which agents will succeed, and which will quit after a while. In other words, the business does not want to invest in (all) its staff.
It’s easy for the general public to see how much care you have, buy the type of headshot you put up for your staff.
What Does Your Headshot Say?
There are a lot of headshots we’ve see in Sydney Agencies. Here are a few:
The Casual Shot
This is the BYO photos from your wedding or fishing trip. You know you shouldn’t, but you put something up “until I have time for a proper headshot.” You never get around to the proper headshot.
Did you know we have an express service, and can get your retouched headshot out within a day?
The BYO Old Headshot
Oh, just bring your headshot from your old work. Save us some money.
We’ve seen an agency where every shot was different. Some dark, some bright, some dramatic, some cheery. One on a bright red background, some outside and some inside.
This under the banner of “Our Team” does not inspire confidence. Are you a team or just a bunch of randoms thrown together?
The DIY Receptionist Headshot
To save a couple hundred, someone with a phone takes a photo at your reception against the wall. What you’ve done is saved a couple hundred, and told your clients you can’t afford a professional headshot.
The Friend’s A Photographer Headshot
For whatever reason, some agencies choose to use someone not specialised in headshot photography. Maybe a friend is “into photos,” or you call in your wedding photographer. So you have dark eye sockets, people have forced uneasy smiles, some just look constipated.
All your staff hate their headshots, and hate you for making them do it.
This is the worst mistake you can make. You pay for photos, they don’t instill trust and confidence. You’ll need to pay again to get it done properly.
What Is The Purpose Of A Headshot?
The point of a headshot is to connect with your customers, and to build trust. It’s literally your first impression, and you can only make that once.
It also has to look like you. One day, your client will meet you in real life. If you don’t look like your headshot, that means your relationship has been a lie up to this point – is that the message you want to send?
A specialist headshot photographer knows what’s important, and can help you plan and execute a series of consistent an professional portraits for your staff.
Common Mistakes by Sydney Real Estate Agents
Here are some common issues we’ve seen in Sydney real estate websites:
Things that say an agency may be struggling
- No profiles or some staff missing photos for months
- Selfies or photo taken by receptionist
- Mish mash of photos that aren’t consistent
Things that say an agency don’t notice details
- Distracting/messy backgrounds
- Shots with the background crudely cut out
- White backgrounds that are off-white
- Inconsistent bright and dark shots on team page
- Mix of angles, full body and close ups, even photo shape
Things that just put you off
- Nervous, angry, tired or blank expressions in headshots
- Shots that are blurry and low quality
- Shots obviously 5+ years old
- Photos not retouched – splotchy skin or blemishes that you wouldn’t notice on the real person
- Photos overly retouched – everyone looks like a plastic doll.
Do you have any of these issues? These are things preventing you from doing your best work – face to face with the client!
Don’t Stop At Headshots
Just having a headshot is no longer enough. Most service professionals invest in a full range of half and full body portraits, which can be used in different situations. Articles, speaker profiles, magazine advertising – each situation calls for a different nuance to your portrait.
With half a dozen real estate agencies in every suburb in Sydney, you only have a split second to make your first impression. If you look professional and human, you’ll get called first. From there you just do your usual great job and you have a new client! Is that worth investing a little in?
Raise Your Brand With Quality Headshots
Let us help you put your best up front. Our sessions are easy and relaxed, and it’s quick! We set up on location and each time you get new staff, call us back and we can create new business portraits that are consistent with your existing ones.
Give staff headshots they are proud to use, and see morale and results soar! It’s so easy and effortless, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it earlier! See what Andrea had to say about her experience.
Executive Images provides Professional Headshot & Branding Photography in the studio in Coogee or at your business location. Contact us now and let us help you make your best first impression.
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