To smile or not?

[bloodhound31]

If you were looking for a photographer, who would you hire? A calmer but non smiling looking dude, or a happier, more personality dude?

I want to put a new photograph of myself up on my web page, but unsure which one would be best.

[leon]

Bazz, definitely the non smiley face, it looks heaps better, and more professional IMHO.

Leon

[supernova1965]

Mr Smiley

You look like you enjoy your work and will do a better job as your having fun:D. Just my honest opinion and my 2 cents worth

[that_guy]

the smiley one looks a tad bit creepy... haha LOL :lol: good luck

tony

[ballaratdragons]

Baz, put up whichever one you look like whenever you meet your clients.

Not much point putting up Mr. Smiley if they meet Mr. serious or visa -versa.

[AdrianF]

The smiley one everytime.
It makesmit look like the person actually enjoys his/her job

Adrian

[adman]

The serious one looks a little like you sat in something nasty, and the smiley one looks like someone just off-camera told you a dirty joke - so somewhere in between - less smiley, but not so serious.....

Good Luck
Adam

[bloodhound31]

Hmmm...might have to shoot it again...

[ballaratdragons]

Yep. Not smiley or serious. Just happily content. :lol:

[michaellxv]

Out of those two Not Smiley.
But, suggest you try again for a nice smiley photo. That one looks like your thinking 'hurry up and take the damn picture' which is what I usualy end up looking like :rofl:

[Steffen]

Put the serious face on your website, and on mouse-over switch to the smiling one :D

Cheers
Steffen.

[wavelandscott]

Agree 100%...

I prefer "Service Providers" that are happy and friendly...but your current smilely one looks a little strained.

Relax try to look like you are having fun!

Cheers

[Sylvain]

I'm with Michael and Scott on this one!
Maybe try to be smiling just a bit less, because I think it looks a bit overdone!

Good idea for a topic though :D

[bartman]

I voted not mr smiley......but as some of the posts above, the smiley one is just a bit ott. Something in between!
Bartman

[andrew2008]

What type of photography do you do? Both i think will work depending on who you are trying to get to hire you.

[multiweb]

Make an animated GIF file? ;)

[Suzy]

Hi Baz, I agree with what most are saying here -I prefer a smile but that smiley one of yours is too strained, do an in between one.
To me, a smile will always win out - as it's welcoming and friendly. The first one is a bit scary imo.

[wasyoungonce]

Sorry to say...looks like Bear Grylls or Abe Lincoln trying to smile..it's..just all wrong!:eyepop:

Just kidding...;)

[bloodhound31]

BAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!.....Accordi ng to the IIS honesty, I am creepy, look like I crapped myself, strained, scary, smutty, impatient and just plain wrong....looks like I better just put in a photo of one of my bugs instead. ;)

[astroron]

Baz you did ask for Honest opinions:shrug:
Just be yourself and relax:)
Cheers
PS
I didn't vote as I wasn't happy with either of them ;)

[bloodhound31]

Just having a giggle Ron, not to worry, it's all good mate!

Maybe I will think of this thread next time I try for the photo...that's sure to bring a big cheezy grin out of me! ;)

Baz.

[astroron]

:thumbsup::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
Happy Days:lol:

[gts055]

Baz, the smiley one is just a bit too happy ... like your dying to rip into some customers bank account :) The serious one is .... ummm, well, just a bit too serious, it presents to a potential customer like, this is me, a super pro photographer, and taking your pic is gonna be a really big serious deal and its not going to be fun :)
Like most have said before, try for a pic of a "contented happy Baz" with an expression between these two. "Cheese" is not the right word... ha ha
Mark

[wasyoungonce]

nah Baz...your sweet...if that's ok for me (another man) to say...I was just having a laugh....I couldn't resist!:D

[Suzy]

Baz, I have seen some great shots of you in the past, You have a good looking face, so use it (get those bugs pic out of your mind.) :)
This has been an entertaining thread (tho at your expense :help:). Much like asking a woman if her butt looks too big in an outfit. :lol:

[supernova1965]

That is one question a woman should never ask a man it's plain unfair as he can never answer it correctly:P:shrug::help:

[astroron]

Suzy
Much like asking a woman if her butt looks too big in an outfit. :lol:

No danger in answering that question as far as you are concerned Suzy;):lol::lol:

[Jen]

:screwy: well as you all know im a smiley person :rolleyes::lol:
So yep Mr Smiley all the way Baz :D

:thumbsup:

[bloodhound31]

...so......does my butt look big in this lens?.....:lol:

[Suzy]

:lol::lol:

If you can pose like this, and in this exact outfit, your butt will never look big :thumbsup:

http://teksty.net/cover/8965/Bruce-Springsteen-Born-In-The-U-S-A-Album-16512_1.jpg (http://teksty.net/Bruce-Springsteen-Born-In-The-U-S-A-Album/)

[torana68]

... second one looks like "oh sh** hope no one saw that....."
how about one with something expensive somewhere near, nice old hasslebald maybe?

[astroron]

Baggy A***:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[danielsun]

Smile or not just don't let your clients know you had a severed head in your backpack and you should be fine.:D:lol:
Seriously though either for me or maybe the not smiley.;)

Cheers Daniel.

[bloodhound31]

If you guys go to the front page of my website (http://barryarmsteadphotography.webs.com/) now, I shot it again, taking into account your wonderful, constructive and hilarious feedback. Thanks heaps folks!

Baz.

[strongmanmike]

Yeh that looks pretty good Baz...although your face looks a little squashed against the back of the camera perhaps :question:

I mean no offence and I know you are a practising Christian but just from a business perspective only I would maybe reconsider the sentence under the phone number though. The quote from Job 38:12 is cool though :)

Mike

[bloodhound31]

Thanks for the input Michael. I had a look at my sentence. I won't break forum rules and talk about that here, but I don't want to remove it as it is what I stand for. However, your prompt was great as I found a better way to word it. Thanks for that mate! :thumbsup:

I met Ken Duncan a couple of months ago and discussed that very thing when someone suggested I REMOVE my personal motto entirely from my websites! Ken suggested very adamantly that I stick to my guns. I agree entirely.

You and all my friends here at IIS have been great in this regard and never been so rude as to suggest such a thing. We are all different and I so respect that. You guys rock!

Cheers,

Baz.

[astroron]

:hi:Baz, Looks OK to me :thumbsup:
Keep your motto, and be proud of it:)
Even though I am Agnostic I think you have every right to put on your web site what you wish as long as it is not offensive.
I do enjoy your Photo's and look forward to many more :thumbsup:
Cheers

[Jen]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: looks pretty good Baz :thumbsup: But you still could have snuck in a little smiley face in there :rofl:

[bloodhound31]

I'm smiling on the inside for ya Jen!;)

[Jen]

:lol: Good on ya buddy :thumbsup:

[Suzy]

I like the new shot Baz, but I'm with Jen. :D
How about one with you smiling standing next next to your camera? We want to see your face Baz. Go on, go back and pose again.. you are a difficult subject to photograph, you are! :P:lol:

Actually, I remembered a photo that you sent in that I really liked so I went looking and found it. Now this is the kind of photo that I'm talking about. :D
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment_browse.php?a=77453

[Jen]

:lol: lol Suzy yeah i like that pic too:thumbsup: kinda looks like hes getting ready to audition for A Farmer Wants A Wife :rofl:
Hubba.... hubba... :P

and there is a grin on the side :D

[bloodhound31]

I'm kinda weirded out now cos my mum took that photo....:confuse3::scared2:

[ballaratdragons]

Actually, it is a 'Catch 22' situation.

You want a really good photo of yourself, but if it turned out to be really good, I'd want to hire the person who took it. :lol:

[Jen]

:lol::lol: ahh well now you can see where you got your skills from :lol:

[/B][/COLOR]

:lol: lol Ken true that :rofl: unless you do what Daniel done and push the timer and then make a run for it back into the posing position :rofl:

[bloodhound31]

Maybe that's why I can't smile properly cos I'm puffing hard from running back into position....:P

[strongmanmike]

I would certainly not suggest that you remove such sentiments from your personal web site, I was only suggesting it was perhaps not the most business savy idea to have it appear on a business website, that was all and I wish you well with the business. How has it been working for you so far? Have you been commercial for long?

Mike

[bloodhound31]

I know you wouldn't mate.:thumbsup:
I really don't reckon said sentiments should have any effect. If someone is scared off simply because of that, then I guess that's their call. No harm done as far as I'm concerned.:shrug:



Not long mate, no. I have quit my job and am chasing the dream in this regard.

[strongmanmike]

Only that you have lost a potential "paying" customer in this instance who may well have been perfectly good to deal with but they now perhaps think you are some sort of religious crack pot who will try and force their beliefs on them...consumers can be jugmental beings.

You know I mean no harm but in what I imagine would be a challenging specialised industry like nature photography... just being realistic.

You can still have these feelings and influences in your photography but from a business perspective (in Australia) I think it may be an unecessary addition..?

Mike

[bloodhound31]

The photograph prints themselves have nothing on them at all that speaks either way. If someone likes an image and really wants to buy it then only crackpots from the other side would not buy it on principle?:shrug:



I try to please God, so not really worried about what man thinks of me...crackpot?...I can cop that and more (been called that and worse) on the chin without a fuss. :P



I hear what you are saying mate and appreciate you are trying to help, but as important as compromise usually is with my way of working with people, compromising my faith for a buck is not on the table. Lose money because of it? So be it.:shrug:

Works for Ken Duncan, one of the most successful Photographers in Australia. He has his faith plastered all over his website.

Again, I am not trying to argue as I respect everyone's choices. Your advice is noted and appreciated Mike (I mean that).:thumbsup:

Baz.:D

[gregbradley]

Good photos Baz and I like your website. All the best with your new venture.

Greg.

[strongmanmike]

Fair enough mate, good luck with it, you do nice work so that's a start.

Mike

[bloodhound31]

I had to move to terrestrial mate, you've got me snookered on the astrophotography..:lol::lol::P;)