Do Realtors Need Personal Brand Photography?
If you are a realtor who is considering personal brand photography, you may be thinking “Do I really need it?” If so, it is helpful to consider the purpose of a personal brand photo session and whether it applies to you and relates to your goals.
Realtors are forward thinking and know that in order to stay current, they need to be on social media. Realtors see the importance of social media and most are amazing at staying active on it, making contacts, etc. But there is a downfall that is common among many realtors on social media… that of filling their social media accounts with almost nothing but posts of houses, houses and more houses. Now obviously, home listings are important and are in fact the reason that people are seeking you out. But what makes your account stand out from all the other social media home catalogues? What should realtors post on their social media?
From the perspective of a potential client, when I’m looking for home listings, I am going to search on Google and find websites where I can search by a variety of criteria such as home type, price, rooms, etc. When I look on Instagram, what am I searching for there? If I’m looking on a realtor’s social media account, I am hoping to learn more about them as a person. When I take the plunge to get serious about looking for a home… the biggest purchase I might make in my life… I want to make sure I am taking that step with someone I feel like I know. As they say “People do business with those they like, know and trust.” So how are you helping your potential clients get to know you and build the trust factor with them?
That’s where personal brand photography can come in. Personal brand photography provides you with a catalogue of beautiful, up-to-date images that help your intended audience get to know you and what you are all about. At your personal brand photography session, an entire gallery of images will be created of you and will include a variety of headshots, lifestyle portraits, “action shots” of you at work, images of you interacting with clients, you engaging in your hobbies, and a variety of other images. The images you post will transform your online persona from someone with nothing but one single headshot into the real life, unique and interesting person who your potential clients can’t wait to meet! People nowadays want to know more about you than what you look like in one headshot you posted 5 years ago. They are interested in knowing about who you really are, and whether you are relatable and likeable to them as a person. People are nosy, and they want to know things like what your favourite vacation was and what hobbies you spend your spare time on. Maybe you will connect over the fact that you have the same kind of dog, or order the same drink at Starbucks that they do, every single day, just like them. But you’ll never have the opportunity to communicate these uncommon commonalities with them if your social media accounts contain nothing but home listings!
You might be wondering “But what if my personal brand or who I am repels some people?” That’s actually a positive thing! Our personal brand will push those away from us who we do not click with, leaving room for those who will enjoy being around us, and who we will enjoy being around as well. Repelling the wrong clients is just as important as attracting the right ones. By showing a glimpse of who you are, you will make it less likely to end up having to spend large amounts of time with someone who you don’t click with, or who doesn’t understand the way you operate as a person or as a business.
A personal brand photo session will provide you with an entire gallery of images so that you will never again have to scroll endlessly through your smart phone’s camera roll or wonder what on earth to post. Your photos in your final image gallery will have been created by you and your photographer with a well-thought-out purpose and a plan, so that you don’t have to brainstorm day in and day out about what topics to cover. It will mean that you don’t have to painfully try every angle to get the best selfie possible, every single day. It means that every time you are ready to post or batch schedule your posts, you will actually feel excited about the images you have to share with the world!
Will you ever post home listings on your social media accounts again? Absolutely! Homes are fun to look at and are the product you are sharing with your potential clients, and they definitely want to see those too! But instead of posting ONLY home listings, your account will also be filled with amazing, personal images that will draw potential clients in and have them scrolling through your feed with genuine interest as they get to know you and realize that you are exactly who they want to lead them through the experience of selling their current home and buying their next one!
If you are a realtor in Calgary and area and you are interested in learning more about personal brand photography and how it can elevate your business, please contact me! I’d love to chat with you and discuss whether a personal brand photo session might be right for you!