There is an agent in our office and his picture is in black and white because it was taken before the invention of colour. We poke fun at him but he isn't about to change don't know why but he is number 2 money man in the office.

I'm a new agent so I'm still working on my first photo.  I was recently in a GRI class and the instructor told us she gets her photo redone every year or two.  She told us about an ad or mailing she did that displayed all of the photos from over the years.  The caption was something like "Which one of me did you buy your house from?"  I thought it was pretty clever.

We recently talked about this in a Mastermind group I am in.  In the group several people didnt use a photo on any of there marketing and that confused me.  There reasoning was that they felt that their "look" didnt sell them as an agent???  Getting down to it I believe you attract people that feel comfortable with you because of your photo (in many cases).  Being 33 and told I look mid twenties I have wondered if in many cases I lose a lead once they see my photo just due to my age difference from them.  What do you all think about that?

I've talked about one of my past principle brokers before. But here we go again. My old principle broker had his pic on his card from 1978. I didn't recognize him. It was funny. I thought it was an old box of cards, but nope. It was less than 2 months old.

This is the same principle broker that still didn't have a cell phone, pager, uses a thermal fax machine and still had dial up internet in the office in 2006. Good news for him and the picture is I still think he was driving the same car since 1978 also.

Don't get me wrong - I LOVED my old principle broker. Greatest guy in the world and a great mentor. I was just needed an office with more technology.

Todd

What other business people use photos on the cards...not many. I do not use my photo and do plenty of business.

Two thoughts:

As Connie stated, pictures don't sell clients. It's the service. Are you selling your services, or your physical attributes. Now if the NAR wishes to require current photos on the ID cards, then I can live with that. In fact, it's a good idea. Much like the the cable, gas, or electric person who arrives at your doorstep.

As Parker states, he has a valid point. I've seen photos which are at least 15-20 years old. And that, is based on vanity. Plain and simple.

My photo is 2 years old and only use it because I still look like the photo.

But I will NEVER use a photo on a For Sale sign.

Nothing is more important than building trust with a client. And unless you have that Nick Nolte mug shot, no photo in the world will help.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. <S>

I like the "morphed" photos the best - the ones with their "non-smiling" eyes and their smiling mouth thanks to creative photographers that make them over and "stage" the agent. The next best thing to plastic surgery, lol, but when I go to meet them at closing, I am still there waiting for the "morphed" agent when they are already there.  Pretty funny.  The pictures are traditional and I think homeowners like to put a face with a name when strangers are tracking in and out of their houses.

More than anything the picture puts a face to a name for people.

People need to be able to recognize you from your picture if you use one.

In our business where there is a lot of self promotion I think having your picture on your business card and marketing materials is important.

I too have had many experiences when I met another agent or broker their photo on the card was at least 10-20 years old.

The picture I have was taken when I was much older

Congats on the weight loss, and good luck on the dating seen?

i have used the same photo for 22 years now -

it's unchanged, but i'm not showing you my oil porttait.

Lou. . .you are a stitch!! lol

I'm sure you have all heard the saying a picture is worth a thousand words.

A lot realtors like to say it's all about the relationship or how hard you work for your client, while all this is great no matter what people might say the FACT is we live in an image obssesed society that likes pretty good looking people. I have heard every excuse in the book as to why they don't wan't to update their 20yr. old picture, from it would cost money to I just have don't have the time. When in fact the ONLY reason they have not done so is becuase they think they LOOK better in that picture and hope that their pretty picture will win more clients.

The truth of the matter is EVERYONE is different and chooses their agent for different reasons. I am a younger agent and becuase of my age I lose potential clients to older looking agents. But just the same I am not going to tell my clients I am 40yrs old when I'm 25 or have my photo air brushed to add wrinkles or something to make me look older. Why? Because it's not me, I'm not the older agent they are looking for. Most people associate older agents with experience, and younger agents with a willingness and eagerness to work hard for their clients. These are just assumptions some people make and it all works out in the end.

I need a picture that makes me look older.  I'm 37 but people think I'm 25.  Occassionally I get a double take when Relocation clients first walk into my office.  But it only takes a minute for them to realize I'm knowledgeable.  It's amazing that at 37 (if wearing a ballcap) I get carded for cigars.  Last year I had to leave the checkout line and go out to my car to get my identification.  That was an embarrasing walk out of the store and back in.  But I digress.  I think I'll start putting "37 year old" before "Jason Brown" on my cards.

When friends and past clients give out my cards I wonder if I lose potential business because I look young.  I'd think the receding hair line would say enough, but maybe I should use one of those "aging programs" and put a photo on my card of what I'll look like in 10 years.  

Jason Brown

I have the same problem as Jason.  But I'm not complaining!  LOL...I'd rather look younger than older!  ;)

I've had people tell me I look 19 before.  I had to laugh and say thank you, but I'm really 31!  The same picture that is here of me, is the same picture I use on my business cards, website and other marketing.  I do wonder if people think I am right out of high school sometimes just from looking at my picture and then think I am totally clueless!

At a regional conference, a group of us were having lunch and began exchanging business cards.

A woman at our table handed her card to Vinnie R., who very calmly (but loudly) exclaimed "You could kill the pope, and if all the cops had was this picture of you, they'd never catch you".  

It was a great line, and fortunately this lady had a sense of humor, because it was also probably true.

I have debated off and on about using a photo on business cards. Finally, I decided Yes, because the photo cards serves as another I.D. I read in the past where a real estate agent was impersonated to gain entrance to a home.

Another advantage of course is that with all the personal marketing we do, when or if we change companies, all prior advertising investment is not lost.