The importance of taking control of your initial impression

I was at a networking event recently where we each had an opportunity to talk about our business – I showed some examples of my work as large prints. I still love the look of a printed photo – there’s something about seeing it printed on paper that evokes a stronger emotion vs. seeing the same photo on a computer monitor – there’s a depth, richness that just draws you in.

During the mingle portion of the event, a marketing consultant mentioned that it looked like I only shoot on darker backgrounds – which isn’t true, but the work I showed mainly reflected that. I actually shoot a variety of backgrounds, but I definitely lean towards the medium/dark greys as I think people contrast better (vs. white), particularly for people with fair skin. I’ve included some examples below of white and other backgrounds I’ve used below.

But this reminded me of how important initial impressions are, and that we need to be very mindful of how we present ourselves, including what we say – both in the digital and real world. How we dress, the colors we wear, our hair, our expression when we walk into a room and when we’re talking with someone all send signals and create impressions. And those impressions are powerful – they serve as a filter that influences how people perceive you and what you say.

Imagine you were looking for a financial advisor, and you happen to meet 2 at a networking event – the first was well dressed but not overly so, spoke clearly, had a warm inviting smile, and showed a genuine interest in you. The second person was wearing something that didn’t fit well, their hair was a real mess (not naturally – they looked like they just rolled out of bed), and talked primarily about themselves. Moreover, when you subsequently visited their LinkedIn profile, the first person had a professionally done image and their profile was very comprehensive. The second person’s LinkedIn profile image looks like it was taken in their living room with other people, and their profile is pretty sparse.

Obviously these are extreme examples but the point is whether we like it or not how we “put ourselves out there” plays a huge role in how we’re perceived. Think about that the next time you network, or look at your digital footprint. I’m already planning to include more variety of backgrounds I’ve shot for my next meeting.

How have you taken control of how you’re perceived and what changes have you made that have been successful?