Are you looking for real estate agent headshot ideas that will help your marketing materials stand out?
In this quick article, we’re covering five attention-grabbing headshot ideas. We’re also going to answer some of your headshot FAQs and show you how to get FREE real estate headshots!
5 Stand-Out Real Estate Agent Headshot Ideas
These tips will help you gain recognition in your market and will make your brand more memorable.
1. Tailor Your Headshot to Your Brand and Your Niche
Friendly reminder: You don’t have to appeal to everyone to be a wildly successful agent. In fact, by choosing a strategic real estate niche, you can actually improve your conversation ratio of leads to clients. You can also get a better bang for your marketing buck by tailoring your message to your chosen niche.
For example, if you’re a luxury real estate agent, your headshots should be sophisticated. If your niche is investors, stick with a traditional, no-fuss headshot. If you’re known for selling vacation homes, you can go more casual.
Luxury agent headshot courtesy of valentinasadiul.com
Fun agent headshot courtesy of yasminleonard.com
2. Get Out of the Photo Studio
As an agent, you’re constantly out in the field. So why have your photos taken in a stuffy portrait studio?
Instead, try using your office, a staged home (with the owner’s permission, of course), or even areas around town.
Skyline headshot courtesy of jpmrealestatephotography.com
Outdoor headshot courtesy of atlantaphotosessions.com
Office headshot courtesy of kellymcmullin.com
3. Have Multiple Outfits and Tasteful Props Ready
Your clothing doesn’t always look the same through a camera lens as it does in person. So an outfit you love might not translate as you’d hoped. This is why savvy agents bring a few changes of clothes. If you don’t like the outfit you thought you would, you have backups.
Props can be used to help you look more natural in wider-angle shots. If you don’t know what to do with your hands, for example, try holding your real estate agent mug or cradling your laptop.
Multiple outfits for headshots courtesy of krosephoto.com
Using props in your headshot courtesy of yasminleonard.com
4. Use Photofeeler to Objectively Choose Your Best Photo
It’s difficult to judge our own appearance objectively. We simply bring too much baggage into evaluating our own photos. Instead, let a random group of strangers provide unbiased feedback.
When you post your photos on Photofeeler, other users can rate your photos to help you choose the one(s) that are most likely to resonate with your target market.
Photofeeler for objective feedback on your headshots
5. Think Outside the Headshot
Headshots are a necessity. They’ll represent you on your business cards and most marketing materials. But your photoshoot can produce so much more than a headshot.
Try getting some “lifestyle” snaps that you can use on your website and in other marketing materials that require additional photos (like your listing presentation or in your Buyer’s Guide).
Lifestyle shots courtesy of afocusedlifephotography.com
How to Get FREE Real Estate Agent Headshots
Getting headshots can be an expensive proposition. New real estate agents on a budget may struggle to find the money for a professional photoshoot. And experienced agents may be tired of spending the money for a fresh shoot every three to five years.
I have an interesting solution for you: AI headshots. That’s right; today’s tech allows you to upload your candid selfies, which can be used to create headshots that look like they came from a professional shoot.
Remini is an AI headshots generator that I’ve been playing around with. And, because it offers a free one-week trial, you can generate your headshot, and then cancel your subscription before you’re billed if you’re not going to continue using it. Free headshot!
I’ll be honest; the results are hit-and-miss. This is fairly new tech, so it’s not perfect. You may need to generate a dozen photos before you find one you love. But some of the resulting photos are impressive. In fact, after realizing that my own online profile photos were nearly 8 years old (how?!), I replaced them with my Remini-generated headshot. Check it out:
My new AI-generated profile photo
For those of you who don’t know me, this is an accurate representation of what I look like on a “good day” when I’ve had a chance to actually do my hair and makeup.
But it took several misfires to get this generated image.
Here are some of the AI headshot generator mistakes I found while testing the software:
Wonky Clothing Issues
Check to see that the clothing makes sense. Watch for extra buttons, weird flaps, and gaps in the fabric. See how my thumb is coming through the fabric of the blazer? The forearm on that same side also looks off.
So Many Problems With Hands
AI is notoriously bad at creating human hands. Just look…
Hair Mistakes
Hair might cut off unexpectedly or come out of nowhere. Here you can see my hair coming unnaturally from under my collar.
Photos that Don’t Actually Look Like You
Thanks, AI, but I’m not this blonde, this tanned, or this thin…
Should Real Estate Agents Use AI-Generated Headshots?
There is no right or wrong answer. Some agents love this budget-friendly option. Others feel that AI-generated images are disingenuous.
My personal feeling is that in-person headshots are better if you can comfortably afford them. But AI-generated headshots give agents on a budget a chance to have a competitive headshot without the expense.
As for being disingenuous, all professional photos are edited to help you show your best. As long as the image is an accurate representation of what you look like on a good day, I don’t see how this is any shadier than wearing lots of makeup and having your headshots photoshopped to make you look like the best version of yourself.
How to Use AI to Get Real Estate Headshots
You can try AI-generated headshots today. Here’s how:
- Sign up with an AI headshots generator. I used Remini because it offers a free 2-week trial, but a google search will return other options as well.
- Choose your model. Most generators have you choose from a selection of models, which will help guide the setting and wardrobe for the photos.
- Upload a few sample photos of yourself. Remini requested eight sample photos to see my face and frame.
- Wait 5-10 minutes. The AI takes a little time to generate the initial images.
- Save the images you like and repeat. You should be able to generate as many images as you’d like until you find one you’re 100% satisfied with.
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Real Estate Agent Headshot Ideas – FAQs
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about real estate agent headshot ideas.
Do real estate agents need professional headshots?
Yes. In an industry as competitive as real estate, a selfie or a candid snap doesn’t project the professionalism you need. Your headshot should inspire confidence in your ability to represent buyers and sellers, and that means presenting yourself as a pro.
What are real estate agent headshots used for?
Your headshots can be used for digital and printed marketing materials, including:
- Business cards
- Signage
- Newsletters
- Brochures
- Flyers
- Your buyer’s guide
- Your listing presentation
- Market reports
- Social media profiles
- Ads
- Your website
How much do real estate agent headshots cost?
Professional headshots can easily cost over $100. If you’re getting additional lifestyle shots or “action shots” of you touring homes, prepping for an open house, making calls, etc., plan to invest around $300-$500.
What should real estate agents wear in headshots?
Wear professional clothing in flattering colors. Everything should fit well. Keep accessories minimal. Because patterns can be distorted by the camera, you may want to stick with solid colors rather than patterns.
How often should real estate agents get new headshots?
You should get a new headshot at least every five years. If your appearance changes (through things like weight loss or a dramatically different hairstyle), you may want to update your headshots before the five-year mark.
Now a Question for You…
Would you ever consider using an AI-generated headshot?
Let us know in the comments!
