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Why Imperfections Are Good For Business

Why Imperfections Are Good For Business

Let’s say that you get an inquiry from a high-end client.

Who wants to set up a photoshoot in the venue of your dreams. 

Woo-hoo!  You schedule an appointment for an in-person consult.  After over-ironing your favorite shirt and printing out your info sheets a few times (just in case), you head in for the big event.

And oh boy – it’s the consult of your life.  You answer questions without hesitations, you highlight your strengths, you demonstrate your flawless attention to detail and have a beautiful philosophical moment expounding upon the importance of photography.  You even crack a few jokes and the client laughs on cue.  After you’re done you shake hands and get up from the table and – it happens.

Your chair rams into the table and you slosh your cup of raspberry tea all over your freshly-ironed shirt, which ricochets off your info sheets and dribbles down onto your shoes.

Gah!  Blergh!!  Nooooo!!!

You suddenly go from chic-photographer-to-be to a flurry of napkin-wielding apologies.

And you might think that’s the end of your great impression.

Actually, this kind of “mistake” probably INCREASES the chance that you’ll get the job.

What?

Let’s back up.  In the 1960s, a psychologist named Aronson asked a group of students to rate the likeability of a “contestant” who answered a series of quiz questions.

In one condition, the contestant answered the questions outstandingly well.  In a second condition, Aronson used an identical recording of the outstanding answers, but added sound at the end to indicate that the contestant had accidentally sloshed their coffee all over at the end.  (Just like you with your raspberry tea.)

The students rated the coffee-slosher as much more likeable.

This boost in social opinion is known as the Pratfall Effect:

When someone is perceived as cool or good at what they do, a blunder actually makes them more likeable.

This makes some sense.  We like people we can relate to.  We’re not perfect, so seemingly-perfect folks can get annoying.  In fact, when we watch perfect people, we’d kinda rather see them mess up a little, so we know they’re actually not so different from us.  (Exhibit A: The entire celeb-watching industry).

A fascinating example of this is President Kennedy.  Guess when he was rated as most popular?  It wasn’t after he navigated the Cuban Missile Crisis (you know, averting global nuclear war and all), but rather – when he admitted to screwing up the Bay of Pigs invasion.

One Welsh study confirmed this on a scale closer to home – they found that if someone is already doing well in an interview process, then admitting to past mistakes boosts opinions of them far more than if they covered up past mistakes.

Apparently, when we see someone we admire show a flash of human-ness and vulnerability, it makes them even more admirable.

Now, let’s be clear:

No one is suggesting that the way to get people to like and hire you is by bumbling around and messing up all the time. 

If you look carefully, you’ll see that the Pratfall Effect has two key components:  If someone is already seen as competent/great/awesome, then the blunder makes them likeable.  You’ve got to have it together most of the time.  If a person is seen as largely incompetent, then the blunder just confirms those assumptions of incompetency.

But showing a little human-ness every now and again is one of the best things you can do for business.

I bring this up because in our industry there’s a strange confluence of pressures.  Our work is praised when it seems “real” and “genuine” and yet we’re supposed to be absolutely professional and keep everything sparkling Oxi-Clean at all times.  We are the faces of our brands, and we should connect with people on a deep and personal level, but yet keep that business-appropriate distance from our clients.

It’s a tough line to walk.  And in my non-scientific observation, a large number of photographers seem to err on the safe side of being overly-professional.

Because we do need to be absolutely professional.  We’re preserving memories or showcasing businesses or capturing once-in-a-lifetime events.  These are not trivial undertakings, and they require the absolute trust of our clients.  They deserve to hire professionals who know how to do their jobs, have technical skills, back things up in triplicate, show up on time, etc.

But.  Always portraying yourself as 110% professional may not make you as likeable, relateable, or even as trustworthy as you might think.

In fact, in the corporate world, one examination of employee blogs revealed that when posts were always positive and “our-company-rocks” in nature, the blog seemed less credible.  In contrast, by allowing a limited number of posts (the study suggested 15-20%) that challenged the company or invited controversial discussion, the blogs increased readership, engagement, and appearance of credibility.

You’re probably not a faceless corporation, so you’ve got an easier task connecting with people.  But showing a little vulnerability now and then can boost your business and blog, too.

The blog Sophistimom gives us an interesting example.  This food and lifestyle blogger, whose self-proclaimed goal to raise “well-read, well-bred, well-fed” children, could easily come off as unrelatable or distant to some readers.  After all, if you’re in the throes of raising small children, you might not always have the time or energy to teach your kids the proper way to break in a hardcover bookbinding or serve roasted shrimp with thai fusion succotash for dinner.  (Just a guess.)

Yet when I discovered her blog, I felt bowled over and instantly connected when I read posts about how reading beloved books helped her get through her divorce, or about challenges in patience with picky eaters, or how even on her picture-perfect winter picnic she still had to round up the kids with a:  “Mommy needs pictures of you—no don’t make that face.”

I wonder if she has ever hesitated to share these aspects of her life.  Whether the line “I’m supposed to be Sophistimom” runs through her mind.  Whether she worries about whether readers will judge her for pursuing this ‘perfect,’ sophisticated lifestyle while also going through challenging family situations.  If she has, I’m glad she hasn’t caved to the pressure, because I think it is precisely those moments that set the tone of her blog.

Rather than coming off as setting an impossible standard of prim and proper family life, it seems to say “look, life isn’t perfect – I know firsthand – but you can still pursue things like good manners and awesome cooking if they are fun and important to you.”

The book 101 Things I Learned in Film School (one of my latest favorites) observed:

“A flawed protagonist is more compelling than a perfect protagonist.

“Inexperienced filmmakers may fail to imbue a protagonist with undesirable traits because they want him or her to appear likable and their cause noble.  But a perfect, completely capable hero leads an audience to relax its attention: If he can handle anything, why worry? 

“Audiences are usually fascinated by contradictions and shortcomings in a film’s characters.  The idiosyncrasies and failings we all have are even more compelling in a character that is otherwise heroic.”

You are the protagonist in your business.

Your idiosyncracies – and yes, even a few failings – make you compelling.

Quick – think of a few well-known photographers, the ones whose blogs typically get heavy traffic and loads of comments.

I’ll bet many if not most of them have a healthy dose of their human side.  Sometimes they might bring up serious issues, like Tara Whitney writing about the real-life personal challenges of raising a special-needs child, or Jamie Delaine sharing her past struggles with eating and perfectionism.

Other examples are more light-hearted, like Jasmine Star’s self-effacing quest to conquer meatloaf or Joe McNally joking about “blinking in bovine amazement” at the comparative web-savviness of colleagues (still one of my favorite blog lines – ever).

Part of what makes some popular photographers popular is their ability to have it together without eliminating all traces of real life.

Of course, be judicious. 

“Human” doesn’t mean “unprofessional,” and some things are indeed unprofessional.  There’s a difference between sharing to connect and unfiltered sharing.  Whining about clients, bad-mouthing colleagues, and most forms of unedited ranting are not going to bring you closer to your audience.

But if you photograph small children, a mention of your own towering laundry pile and sticky-fingered little ones might help ease the fears of moms who hesitate to book you because their family isn’t “picture perfect” like the ones they think they see on your blog.

If you work with brides, telling a funny story about forgetting your husband’s ring on your wedding day (*cough*…I might have actually done that…) may take the pressure off and show how this beautiful, personal day can still be so even if lines are flubbed or a few details passed by.

“Real” or “vulnerable” stories don’t always have to be sad or heavy.

They can also be tiny and everyday-silly.

I had a photoshoot once with a client who had told me she didn’t feel “cool enough” to have a photoshoot.  When I got home from our session, I saw in a mirror that I had a twig sticking out of my hair, probably from chasing the kids through the forest.  I sent her a quick note to jokingly ask why she hadn’t told me about my “antler.”  She cracked up.  Some pressure seemed to melt away.

She loved her photos, and we’re still friends.

What you feel comfortable sharing is for you to decide. 

We all have different personalities, different business goals, and different target clients.  We have to figure out for ourselves what feels okay and what meshes with our business.  (For more details and suggestions, I recommend reading this post: How Do You Write Personal Blog Posts When You’re A Private Person?)

One guideline I use personally is an idea I stole from a caterer I met once:

She told me when she serves foods like brie or cheesecakes, she’ll take a knife and make a small cut into it right when it goes on the table.  “If it looks all beautiful and perfect, people will be afraid to eat it.”

The point is not to serve something that’s half-baked – the point is to make it approachable.

She doesn’t smash the cheesecake, or apologize for it, or say “nah, it didn’t turn out as good as I’d hoped.”  She just makes one slice into it, so people know it’s okay to dig in and enjoy.  And that’s the way I think about the Pratfall Effect – I’m not airing all my secret thoughts and shortcomings – I’m showing just a bit of imperfection so I stay relatable and approachable.

Whether you’re talking about past family difficulties or joking about a twig in your hair, you have to be the judge of your audience and your goals.  But if you’ve ever wondered how to attract more interest and engagement in what you do, it may not be by polishing up and scrubbing clean every post you put out there.

It may be by taking a deep breath and showing something of who you really are – even if it feels imperfect.

Have you ever done this on your blog?  Are you afraid to?  I’d love to hear about it – shoot me a comment below.

Jenika

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18 Comments

  1. Allison on January 17, 2013 at 12:04 am

    Not my blog, but I sent out an email to my email followers this morning… and realized only after I received a copy of it in my own inbox that the subject line was “Insert Your Subject Here.” I was horrified, but I wasn’t about to turn around and send ANOTHER email just because of my goof. But laughing about it online and laughingly asking who thought it was spam might be a way to address it. 😉

    • Jenika on January 17, 2013 at 2:11 am

      My email that set the record for highest open rate had the subject line “I made a mistake.” (and I had made a mistake by sending out a prior email too early). I think you handled it really well!

      • Allison on January 18, 2013 at 12:23 am

        Thanks! The response I got online was actually really funny – readers thought that I was asking them to insert their own subject line, and were coming up with some really fun ones when they commented on my confession. 😀

  2. Jaime {sophistimom} on January 17, 2013 at 1:00 am

    Wow, thank you!! You said such nice things about me. I really appreciate what you said. This was an excellent, well thought-out post from beginning to end (that totally sounds like spam, doesn’t it?). But it’s true. Thank you again!!

    Jaime

    • Jenika on January 17, 2013 at 1:54 am

      Hey Jaime! Thanks for commenting. I love your blog and drool over all your recipes, and enjoy hearing about the beautiful life you’re creating. I read your post about fiction years ago and go back and read it every once in awhile, it was really one of those “this is what blogging should be about” moments. Thanks for bringing such class and taste to mommyhood.

  3. ashley link on January 17, 2013 at 4:58 am

    this is awesome! i love all of your insightful posts! i get so discouraged sometimes, because so many photographers seem perfect and to have it all together. it’s nice to be reminded that it’s okay to be real and not flawless. i gotta remember that! thanks! 🙂

    • Jenika on January 17, 2013 at 6:10 am

      Thanks for the comment, Ashley! Agreed that the blogosphere often makes everyone seem perfect. I do think audiences reward people who add a dose of “well – it’s not always peachy keen” now and again. I hope we’ll see more of that, by way of people connecting with each other and encouraging one another 🙂

  4. Chris - Smudged Photo on January 17, 2013 at 11:37 am

    How about this for a story when I locked all my camera equipment in the boot of my car a couple of hours before the ceremony?

    http://www.smudgedphoto.co.uk/blog/2012/07/the-worsall-redemption/

    I even got a mention in the father of the brides speech as it was him that had to smash the window to get back in haha!

    • Jenika on January 17, 2013 at 4:31 pm

      Whew that’s intense! Did you get roadside assistance after that? 😉

  5. Catie Ronquillo Wood on January 17, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    This was just the post I needed to read today! When I first started out in business, I did write more personal posts – things that were real and relatable, and now that I’m a few years in, I’m having that feeling of “I can’t write that, I should have it altogether!” But reading this gave me the reassurance/permission, if you will, to write something imperfect…like how my computer crashed last week. (Working on that post, now!) 🙂

  6. Ali Peterson on January 22, 2013 at 12:02 am

    In person, I can be a bit shy at first, but ever since i started sharing personal experiences and thoughts on my blog it’s been so much easier for me to meet people. I try to write a couple personal posts every month, one is what call a “Snapshot” where I talk about what I’ve accomplished in the previous month & what my goals are for the next month. Whether things are going good or not so good, I’m open and honest with my readers. Here’s my latest Snapshot http://www.skyybluephoto.com/blog/personal/snapshot-january-2013/

  7. Janelle on January 22, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    I’m so glad to see you blogging here again! I looked at your blog just last week — it must have been the day before you posted this — and was a little sad.

    I think that Rachel Brenke does a fantastic job of relating and humanizing herself, both as a photographer, and as a business consultant.

  8. Ken Topham on January 25, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    Great post, very interesting look into the human brain.

  9. jamie on January 27, 2013 at 7:44 am

    Ohhh…this was just perfect for me this week! Sometimes its hard to remember that we dont come in little plastic photography boxes of perfection. Thanks so much for sharing!

  10. Annie on February 8, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    I majored in Psychology at UC Berkeley and now I’m a Professional Photographer, and I have to say, I LOVE your site. Thank you!

    This article rings true for me as I recently booked several shoots after a client read my blog, titled: My New Year Mistake! It really shocked me because that was a personal post with mediocre photos, but I suppose it makes me “real” and relatable. 🙂

    (http://www.annietaophotography.com/2013/01/03/east-bay-lifestyle-children-photography-new-year-mistake/)

  11. Denver Boudoir Photographer | Brooke Summer on February 13, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Human-ness is definitely relateable, and you have some very good points! IMO, authenticity is the most important part of this. Trying to bumble when that’s not you will be obvious. People buy from people, they want to relate to others, not be duped or tricked.

    I love your blog, thank you for sharing!

    • Jenika on February 13, 2013 at 5:41 pm

      I completely agree. Authenticity is important on both sides – both trying not to bumble, but if you do, not being afraid to admit it. People reward honesty.

  12. Nicole on January 4, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Applause for all imperfections, but certainly a tip of the hat to professionalism and acting appropriately. Discussing tumultuous family histories with potential clients is probably not a route I would take but I love this post and appreciate what it’s saying. Great blog!

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