My Corporate Photo Shoot: No Make-up Artists, No Hairdressers, No Stylists! It's time to Create a Real & Authentic Brand

Let’s talk about authenticity and brand (self & corporate).

Last week I had a photoshoot for my business/brand in NYC on location in the village. That was no accident. It’s a place where I lived for 10 years & reflects my authentic self. I decided NO make-up artists, NO stylists, NO hairdressers, NO new outfits. It consisted of yoga/rock t-shirts and my typical all black attire. Why? I wanted it to reflect me, my personality and what I wear mostly everyday to work.  Because I am tired of the double standard - seeing acceptable images of male CEO's in sweat jackets and t-shirts but only see female CEO's in typical conservative corporate attire reflective from the early 2000's. Because I am bored looking at images & messaging of fellow entrepreneurs trying to paint a perfect picture (when it's not). I am bored viewing entrepreneurs posting  shallow, misleading, fake and phony imagery/messaging just to sinisterly trying to attract vulnerable clients.

You can argue it’s not about you it’s about the customer. It’s true. It’s always about the customer. Whether the customer is buying your service or product they are also buying your brand. But if your brand is not authentic, then you are misleading your customer. Therefore the messaging and images should be honest. If a company is hiring (“buying”) a candidate, I don’t believe a candidate should "fake" who they are to get a job but to present their true self-brand. I have seen candidates compromise who they are to get a job. They never end up being happy in the job long term.

But what if we also show a vulnerability? A realism? The self that doesn't quite fit into Corporate America? That reflects the true you. We all have it but don't dare to show it.  No way. I cant show that to the outside world. They wont like me. They won't want to buy from me. They won't want to hire me. Trust me, there is enough people in the world that will. We just don't know it yet because everyone is too fearful of the perceived ramifications of being "real".

The day of the outside photoshoot was hot, humid and rainy. Of course, it made for a horrible hair and make-up day. I had no glam posse with me to help fix it. Oh, no. My pictures won’t be perfect. I was upset for 5 seconds. Then I embraced it. It was my big “So What” for the day. It was liberating to have a photoshoot that symbolized challenge and unpredictably.  Life is not perfect but it surely can be challenging and unpredictable - reflective of my clients plight. Probably most everyone's plight. Our lives can’t be photo shopped like our photos.

Let’s start focusing on what is important. It’s not the pictures of the Bentley (unless you are selling it), it’s not the jet, it’s not the beautiful people selling your products - it’s about how you can make your customers lives better while they get to see relatable and honest images/messaging. You can argue sex, perfection, youth, wealth and beauty sells. That's what the public wants. Maybe that's true. But maybe we are giving the public no other options. Maybe I am the na?ve one, to think we need realism with optimism. That you can brand without being obnoxiously ostentatious (self brands) while being humble and confident. If you are selling me wrinkle cream, I don't want Kendall Jenner (21 years old) selling it to me, I want Julia Roberts (49 years old). Better yet, I want a 50 year old non model/actress selling the wrinkle cream to me.

And candidate branding: it’s about companies hiring you - yes you, for who you are. If they don’t like it, you don’t want to work for them anyway. You want to work for someone who respects and appreciates who you are. 

Everyday I coach candidates/leadership that feel stifled by the noises of the outside world. Their self brand is a mix of other people's voices but not of themselves. They don't even know who they truly are. It’s time to start living and not allowing other opinions to shape who you are. They are not living your life, you are. You do you. Share your true inner voice. Be comfortable with who you are. By creating an authentic brand and self, you will start attracting customers/clients/companies that get you, that resonate with you, that want to do business with you, that want to hire you. That will be loyal to you. Isn't that refreshing?

As for me, I am sticking to my realist, non-conformist inner gothic DNA that was outwardly evident in my early 20's. There is no other way for me. My life is too short for BS. The picture above is a sneak peak of my photo shoot. I look forward to sharing the remainder of my 50-year-old imperfect and "real" pictures that will be utilized for my corporate brand in all platforms. What about you? What is your brand? What is your true voice? What does your "real" photo look like? It's never too late to get real. 

Gail Tolstoi-Miller is an award-winning entrepreneur, CEO, Career Coach and Staffing Strategist. Her companies, Consultnetworx and Speednetworx are focused on connecting people for mutual fit and success. Gail’s first book, Networking Karma was awarded 2016 Best Business Book by IndieReader. The firms’ new division Careernetworx, coaches career professionals and job seekers to land their dream job. So What Revolution is a spin off of her TEDx Talk on Unconscious Bias in the Workplace. Its about living a life that is meaningful. Career Car Confessions is unedited career/life/entrepreneur advice on Gail's YouTube channel.