Posted by Becca_FL on 5/8/08 9:51am
Msg #246682

Profile Pictures

I know we have discussed this before, but I just have to bring it up again.

Why is it that people post pictures in their profiles that make them look unprofessional? I just don't get why this is done or how it goes unnoticed by the person posting the photo. I mean, this is a notary listing why would you post a sports photo of yourself? Why would you post a photo of yourself frowning or looking disgruntled? A photo in a profile is meant to attract potential clients not run them off.

I guess it just goes back to what Sue/PA said this morning.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/8/08 9:57am
Msg #246684

**Why would you post a photo of yourself frowning or looking disgruntled? **

I must be looking at the same ones you are, Becca.

Reply by MichiganAl on 5/8/08 12:56pm
Msg #246725

Or a grainy picture, or a vacation picture, or a picture of you and your girlfriend, or you with your kids.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 5/8/08 11:42pm
Msg #246840

Personally, I like the one in my area of the mortgage-broker-signer-lady who is in strapless number holding her puppy-dog, with the photo scanned in sideways, so you have to crook your neck/head all the way to the left to see what she looks like in her teal evening dress.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 5/9/08 11:58am
Msg #246895

Well, in my case, MichiganLoud, I posted a picture of my girlfriend and me because she looks better than you and I ever did or ever will.

And also because it gets me business (despite the real estate bust, my revernues continue to go up by the same margin they have increased for the past three years).

Which I think is the purpose of this whole exercise?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 12:58pm
Msg #246727

Becca, as someone who posts sports and othere type of

"unprofessional" pictures in my profile on occasion I think that there is a place for humor in all facets of life. I usually post picture in my profile as an away item depending on what I am doing. Currently I ahve a pic of bicycling throught the redwoods which is what I am going to be doing in about half an hour. I have Marvin the Martian in my arsenal as well as Chucky and a few others. I keep a picture of my own ugly self on there most of the time but I see so few "professional" pictures in the profiles that I don't think it's an issue. By the way where is yours????

Reply by Becca_FL on 5/8/08 3:09pm
Msg #246755

Re: Becca, as someone who posts sports and othere type of

"By the way where is yours????"

I'm glad you ask, Chuck. You see, just the other night I was talking with some associates and the topic of using "dated" photos came up. In most cases, time is more forgiving for men than it is for woman and I commented about professional women that have been using the same photo in their business profiles for years. Then yesterday, when I was digging through old cards and photos trying to find Grandma's mailing address, I found what I have always thought to be the best photo I have ever had taken. I thought for a moment and considered using it in my profiles and then decided against it. After all, the picture is 15 years old and is not a true representation of me now.

I have a very nice (so I have heard from NSAs and borrowers alike) NSA just north of me that just happens to be a body builder/wrestling type. This NSA uses a 10+ year old photo of herself in character in all of her profile and on her website. What does being a pro wrestler have to do with being an NSA? I just don't get it and I think it is very tacky.

Now, to answer your question, Chuck. As I said above, time is less forgiving for us women and that is the case for me. You see, I am just too damn ugly to post a photo and I don't want to run off any potential clients. I decided to use a professional logo as opposed to using an old photo or a picture of a pretty girl out of a magazine, like others do.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/8/08 3:33pm
Msg #246757

Re: Becca, as someone who posts sports and othere type of

**I decided to use a professional logo as opposed to using an old photo or a picture of a pretty girl out of a magazine, like others do. **

LOL - amen, Becca.

Reply by John_NorCal on 5/8/08 3:45pm
Msg #246758

Re: Becca, as someone who posts sports and othere type of

I've been tempted to extol my virtues according to 2 independent labs. But all they want me to do is go into the yard and pick up the lab results. So I settle on my own picture and toot my own horn in my profile.

Reply by Becca_FL on 5/8/08 4:46pm
Msg #246764

Lab results? Too funny, John!

I thank you for posting your picture on your profile. If I were as HOT as you, I would do the same thing.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/8/08 5:02pm
Msg #246767

Becca...you are so shallow....

...to say this:

**If I were as HOT as you, I would do the same thing.**

But, you know what? I'm shallow too!

Yep, you're easy on the eyes, John. (And, we love you most of all because we know "all that" is for one Mrs. Gonzales.)

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 6:07pm
Msg #246782

Hey, I've got 2 labs that will attest to my virtues - a

chocolate and a black and they are both independent although possibly biased!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 6:04pm
Msg #246781

Ok Becca, so much for my failed attempt at getting you to

expose yourself.

"a picture of a pretty girl out of a magazine"

Now we don't really knwo anyone like that do we??? Scratches head.

Reply by DebbieT on 5/8/08 6:09pm
Msg #246783

Re: Don't let Becca fool you.

I have personally seen Becca and she is a beautiful person.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 6:19pm
Msg #246788

Re: Don't let Becca fool you.~She doesn't, I have spoken w

Becca a few times and she is very sweet and has an incredible and very wry sense of humor. Besides anyone who likes to sail the way she does is ok by me! To the Fair one from Florida I hoist a pint, I guess it should actually be a Mango-tini!

Reply by DebbieT on 5/8/08 6:33pm
Msg #246792

Re: That best thing anyone has turned me on to

Thank you Becca. Hmmm that sound really good right about now.

Reply by DebbieT on 5/8/08 6:35pm
Msg #246794

Re: With my typing you would think I have already started. n/m

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 6:51pm
Msg #246797

The sun is past the yardarm, are you trying to convince us

that you haven't???

Reply by Becca_FL on 5/8/08 6:46pm
Msg #246796

Awe shucks, thanks guys. :-) Cheers! n/m

Reply by MistarellaFL on 5/8/08 11:51pm
Msg #246842

I have seen Rebecca, and she is neither old nor ugly

But, like her, I have decided to use our logo in place of a photo, and I believe either is professionally acceptable. I have seen the wrestler-girl's profile, and I did find it non-professional.
I have seen the model-photo-in-place-of-the-NSA, and although it makes her seem pretty, I find it somewhat misleading....not that many will ever find out, mind you.
But when you do, it makes one wonder what else she has been misleading you with.
JMHO

Reply by Pat/IL on 5/9/08 12:28am
Msg #246846

Re: I have seen Rebecca, and she is neither old nor ugly

Can't we all just decide on the real eastate lady with the teal dress?

Reply by DebbieT on 5/9/08 9:40am
Msg #246876

Re: Misty who is it? PM me. I want to look. n/m

Reply by DebbieT on 5/9/08 11:51am
Msg #246893

Re: OMG I wouldnt have known if I had not seen a close up n/m

Reply by Michelle/AL on 5/8/08 4:22pm
Msg #246762

My Take On The Subject

What I've found is that what may be considered casual or inappropriate in one area of the US may be fine in other areas.

I used to attend all my appointments in a business suit - like the one in my profile. If the appointment was held at a business I fit right in and I think the suit reassured the borrower or customer that they had hired the right person. However, if the appointment was in a rural area or at a residence, my business suit seemed to make some borrowers a little ill at ease. I found that some borrowers spent time apologizing for them being dressed casually, or having their home look a little untidy. I'm serious. There were times I felt over dressed. So, after about six months I switched from business suits to wearing business casual attire: usually dress slacks/skirt and a blouse. The change was remarkable. Maybe I'm just less intimidating when I'm not wearing a suit.

I guess this is a long-winded way of saying this, "Depending on the hiring entity, a photo of me whipping up my favorite recipe in the kitchen may be just fine". There are some people who like that sort of thing. Perhaps the photo of me in a suit implies that my fees will be higher than the notary who is pictured playing catch with the dog. Personally, I think I look a whole lot better in a business suit than I do an apron so...the suit stays.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 5/8/08 6:11pm
Msg #246784

Re: My Take On The Subject ~ By jove I believe you've got it

I'll never forget being new in California from New England and showing up at the Hollywood Bowl in a suit to go to an evening Boston Pops concert. I stood out like the proverbial sore thumb, everyone else was in t-shirts and cut-offs. I've eased up a little since. I think somewhere in my closet I might even have a pair of jeans

Reply by Sir_Lawrence on 5/8/08 6:15pm
Msg #246787

Re: My Take On The Subject

My 2 cents: You pic should show some of your personality. My pic is a year old, I'm 50 and I HATE SUITS!. I dress business casual every day, so thats whats in my pic. I yam wad I yam.