Stop jumping in the time machine

Investing in photos…

is more than checking off a line item on your marketing to-do list.

During a recent, post-session review, my client kept raving over the results. 

Yes, a happy client does inspire the warm and fuzzies inside my tummy, OF COURSE, but, that’s not why I brought this up. 

In addition to being pleased with the images, he mentioned in passing that it would be silly for him to keep using his old headshots alongside these new ones because they no longer feel right.

In that moment, I mentioned something to him that I often share with other clients who come to a similar conclusion: 

When you use old headshots, you’re jumping into a time machine, looking back on a person that lived in a different time in different circumstances, whereas new photos place you in the present moment, showing you where you are with your life and business, and provides you the inspiration to look forward.

You see, your photos aren’t simply a line item on your marketing to-do list. 

You are emotionally connected to them because they’re you, front and center. And when you look at them, you can remember who you were and where you were with your business and life at the time this image was captured.

And that place could look totally different from where you’re standing today.

So, if you no longer feel connected to those photos, and to that version of yourself, your confidence and desire to use them drops significantly.

Now, one of the main reasons why speakers, authors, trainers, consultants and other expert-based business owners update their photos is because they have a shelf-life and eventually, they no longer look physically look like the person in that picture. 

And that definitely is a significant reason, no doubt about it.

You need to look like the person that walks into the room of clients as you do in your photos, otherwise that will raise eyebrows and affect the way that room of people perceives you. 

But, that’s not the only factor.

With regard to the client I mentioned above, physically, he looked like the same dude from the 6-year old photos he had to the ones we created together. 

But still, he didn’t “recognize” that person. 

When you’re a business owner, a LOT can happen in 6 years, and for him, it did. 

And he didn’t even realize the emotional impact that a new round of photos would have on him, including that moment of clarity that he shared with me. 

After we looked at all the photos, he shared with me his excitement of leveraging these photos in a way that will help gain attention for his coaching services and help get him on more stages. 

And the old photos are going to head out to pasture because they no longer serve him in a way they once did.

Give your photo portfolio a once-over and be honest with yourself:

Are your photos truly reflective of where you are and where you’re going with your business and life? Or, are they a greatest hits album that you keep pushing out onto the stage to play over and over again? 

Your answer might surprise you.

React accordingly :)

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