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| | A recent mindmap with my absolute favorite Sharpie - hot pink. |
Everyone always asks me about my "Sharpie picture," like "what does it mean, Michelle?"
Well, quite honestly, the whole thing was kind of an accident.
If you know me well, then you know that I always carry a handful of Sharpies and a blank book to draw mindmaps, take notes, and explain things using diagrams and drawings (it's the ex-math teacher in me... but that's a whole 'nother story). I also often use Sharpies and flip-charts in my workshops to keep things spontaneous and fun.
The point is that the day of my photo shoot (with Gio Alma), after we'd taken several head shot-type pictures (see below) I wanted to take some fun pictures just for me. So I grabbed a a bunch of Sharpies from my bag and started hamming it up. Gio played along and snapped away.
When I got the proofs, I thought the Sharpie pics were silly, obviously not something I would use professionally (haha). I went ahead and chose a regular, "professional" head shot and posted it everywhere - LinkedIn, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, etc.
 A few months later at the end of a speech about personal branding and networking, one audience member tentatively raised her hand and said: "But your portrait doesn't reflect your brand - you're fun, young and vibrant, your head shot is sedate and boring. It's beautiful, but it looks like it belongs on Match.com - it's not the you we met today."
Ouch.
So I asked the audience, "raise your hand if you agree with her?" Almost every single one raised her hand. I swallowed my pride and went back to the drawing board.
 I remembered the Sharpie pics. I started playing with them and I found one, ONE decent one that I KIND OF liked. I cropped it, put a frame around it, retouched it a little... and voilá! So I floated it out there on Facebook... the positive response was overwhelming.
Note that some people HATED (and still HATE) it, but I continue to use it in spite of that. Why? Because it's memorable, and it's aligned with who I am - the colors, the pose, the concept. And that's the purpose of a good headshot for personal branding.
Sure there are some people who don't "get" it. Guess what? That's quite all right. Those are not the people for me... The right people are the ones who love it. It's actually quite a good filter.
Do you have a great headshot? If not, consider getting one. I've attached some tips for taking a great headshot below. And if you want us to do it for you, well check out our Headshot Workshop - next week. The last one of the year...
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10 tips for boosting your personal brand by using a great portrait.
People make judgments about us within the first 3 seconds of meeting us. Right or wrong, how we are perceived visually is just as important as what we can do - at least at first. Online is no exception.
I'm blown away by how much my headshot has done to boost my business online. And it's more than just having the headshot, it's strategically placing it in the right places online to maximize my presence.
You can follow the steps yourself, or if you want, we can help you at the Headshot Workshop on Wednesday, December 15th.
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| | Brian Tannebaum, top Criminal Defense Attorney, Miami |
1. Use a current photo.
A photo that looks old screams "stuck in the past." Not only is it unprofessional, but you're missing the opportunity to keep your brand as current and as relevant as you are.
Even if you were more "beautiful" 10 years ago, chances are these last 10 years have given you experience, character and depth. Don't hide that.
2. Pick the right pose.
Your pose should be right for your brand. No generic, cheezy glamour shots! Your picture should reflect who you are and, if possible, what you do.
Also, consider whether having a "prop" will help convey who you are and what you do (like this photo of Mike Thomas with the lightbulb).
If you're a woman, consider avoiding the ever-popular "head tilt." It's a "little girl" pose that can diminish your credibility. See below...
3. Don't edit while you're shooting, edit once you're done.
When you do a photo shoot, be open-minded, try everything. You can always trash the photos later. The creative process and the editing process are opposites, don't confuse them! One requires open-mindedness, the other critical thinking.
Example: During my photo shoot I just pulled out that handful of Sharpies and played around. There were about 100 bad pictures, and one magical one.
Anyone can pick up a camera and shoot a picture. Only a professional can really do your portrait justice. Enough said.
 5. Eye contact. While some situations/personal brands require something different, by and large, making eye contact engenders trust. And we all know trust is the basis of every relationship - business or otherwise.
6. Use a variety of shots in different places - but keep them looking consistent. One idea: take lots of pictures in the same outfit in several different poses. Afterward, pull a handful of images: close-up, medium and full body. You can even use the same photo cropped several ways.
7. Be professional. If you're looking for a job, or are self-employed, your online pics should be professional and align with your brand.
Why? Because it's likely the first image that many people will ever see of you. If you're using a crop of yourself at the beach, or a picture of you kissing your mate, you're probably sending the wrong message.
 8. Notwithstanding the above, be authentic and show personality! Just because you're getting a professional headshot, doesn't mean that the photo has to be generic, stiff or boring.
9. Try to get an image that captures what you do somehow - perhaps use a prop or props (but be careful you don't cross the line into "cheez" territory...)
In fact, whether your brand is "Earth Mother," "Badass Exec," "Girl-Next-Door Entrepreneur," "Marketing Queen," "Trustworthy Financial Planner," "Kooky Artist" or something completely different, a portrait can and should project your unique brand.
10. Retouch (and crop). Take a look at these before & after, below. What a difference!!
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Not sure if your pictures are quite right? Ask a trusted friend to tell you honestly - and don't get defensive if you don't like her feedback!
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If you do nothing else, right now, at the very least make sure that your profile images are attractive and represent your unique brand. And if you decide that they don't, and you're not sure what to do about it, consider our Headshot Workshop.
Contact Jessica Lurie (305) 608-9455, jessica@mivistainc.com, to find out about availability.
Ciao for now!
Michelle
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