Best Realtor Headshots: Tips for Female & Luxury Agents

How to Create the Best Realtor Headshots

Stacey Naglie Photography • July 8, 2024

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The Toronto real estate business is highly competitive, putting you head-to-head, or more aptly headshot-to-headshot, with some of the industry's most successful, experienced realtors. For female and luxury agents, projecting trust, likability, and professionalism "at a glance" is crucial. High-quality, professional photos are essential, serving as the face of your hard work and dedication, making a solid first impression before potential clients experience your expertise firsthand.

Headshot Tips

Here, we offer tips for female realtors and luxury agents to create the best realtor headshots for your brand.

Personal Branding Through Headshots

Your realtor headshots are the heart of your brand in an industry where first impressions are everything. People make snap judgments in about 10 seconds, so your headshot is often your first and last chance to make an impression.

As a result, you need "clickable" images that project confidence without feeling too aggressive or insincere. Since not all photographers understand branding, it's essential to hire a realtor photographer with branding experience who can capture your brand essence effortlessly.

A woman wearing a white lace top and khaki pants is standing in front of a white curtain.

Advanced Preparation Techniques

From your hair and makeup to what you wear and locations that help make your brand recognizable to lighting, advanced preparation helps create headshots that set you apart.

Preparing ahead of time includes:

Choosing the right wardrobe
Deciding on the right hair and makeup that reflects your authentic appearance in the best possible light
Trying out practice poses to find a position that feels comfortable and natural
Considering different shoot locations that help showcase your knowledge of the clients and areas you serve

From a technical standpoint, your photographer should consider the lighting to capture the most flattering images. Lighting allows photographers to achieve different results, whether softening your face, creating drama, achieving crisp lines, etc. Finding the most effective lighting often means taking advantage of natural light, right down to the best timing for location shots synched perfectly to capture the golden hour.

Choosing the Right Photographer

Realtor headshots are about authenticity, trust, professionalism, and approachability, a combination difficult to attain without an experienced photographer behind the camera. While recommendations from your network can be helpful, relying solely on them may lead to looking like everyone else, diminishing your competitive edge and brand identity.

Finding the Right Photographer

Finding a photographer who captures your specific sense of style to reflect your brand aesthetic is essential. Originality gives you an edge that helps you stand out. Searching for highly rated photographers online makes it easy to find trusted professionals with portfolios that align with your brand and the specific image you wish to project.

A woman in a black dress is sitting in a chair next to a plant.

Innovative Location Choices

Modern twin-tower building with a curved design, reflecting in a large pool under a clear blue sky.

Iconic Locations

Familiar sites help create relevance for potential clients, whether the Toronto skyline taken from the island ferry, The Toronto Light at City Hall, or the hustle and bustle of St. Lawrence Market.

Choosing the right location for your photoshoot makes it clear you have intimate knowledge of your specialty neighbourhood, whether Riverdale, the heart of downtown, or Hamilton's Corktown. Some location ideas might include local shopping hubs, an iconic café, or a popular park.

Cobblestone pathway in front of a red brick wall with green-framed windows and a small plant.

Client Lifestyles

Your high-end offices speak to your professionalism, while edgy locations like the Distillery District or Kensington Market speak to a specific lifestyle your ideal clients might lead.

Interesting architecture is also relevant in real estate, such as the distinct angles of the ROM's "crystal" façade or the white-gridded Humber Bay Arch Bridge.

Red brick row houses with green and white accents, surrounded by lush greenery and a black iron fence.

Perfect Setting

That said, if you're uncomfortable in a public setting, you might get better results in the privacy of a studio. A professional photographer will choose a setting that sees you at your best, wherever that might be.

Expressing Authenticity and Approachability

An experienced photographer specializing in branding knows the best poses, outfits, facial expressions, and body language to help you be authentic and approachable. They'll also help you feel more relaxed, so your images won't appear awkward or uncomfortable. The right position also helps you create a more approachable look, whether relaxing in an easy chair or casually leaning against your office door frame with your hand in one pocket. Finally, a natural smile that's not too toothy makes you appear trustworthy and authentic instead of fake and insincere.

Woman with wavy brown hair in a black double-breasted blazer, standing against a gray background.

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Woman with wavy blonde hair in a light pink blouse and black pants, seated on a white chair with a beige curtain in the background.

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Man with short dark hair and a beard, wearing a navy blue suit, seated by a large window with a brick wall and light curtains.

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A woman is wearing a white jacket and black pants

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Creative Ideas for Female Realtors

Female realtors can take a creative approach to help set themselves apart, such as:

Going for candid shots instead of looking directly into the camera
Having a very recognizable Toronto landmark out of focus in the background
Standing in front of a neon sign with your brand logo

Luxury Realtor Headshots

Considering the sites that resonate with Toronto's high-end clients will help set you apart and put your level of service into context. For example, consider taking your shots on location in Yorkville or the financial district. You can also think of status, such as leaning against your luxury vehicle or jet setting at Billy Bishop airport.

Expressing your sense of style in highly fashionable yet professional attire using subtle props such as Chanel sunglasses or a Chanel purse can also project the idea of elegance and luxury. However, polish and professionalism always win out regarding luxury realtor headshots.

Two women in an office, one seated in a black blazer, smiling at the standing woman in a light blazer.

Adding a Touch of Humour

Adding a touch of humour never hurts if that's part of your brand. Funny realtor headshots with a sense of irony, amusing backgrounds, or even props like holding a tiny house or the CN tower in the palm of your hand all help create a brand that people might find more relatable. Candid shots of you laughing can also be quirky, attracting prospects who want to work with someone more down-to-earth. And let's not forget that cats and dogs are always amusing to help soften up your image using the cute factor.

Post-Shoot Considerations

Consider having a few different headshots that you can use in different types of marketing. Traditional headshots work for your social media channels, business cards, e-signature, and contact pages. At the same time, you might use headshots taken on location or incorporate a little humour for different sections of your website or printed marketing pieces. The trick is to create continuity to build brand awareness without being boring.

Even if you're an extrovert who loves interacting with clients, taking photos can still be challenging. Confidence in your skin doesn't always translate to the camera; most people need guidance and direction from the right realtor photographer to appear confident, capable, and approachable.