Organize + Energize: 4 Reasons Why I don’t Post Before & After Pictures
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Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Kristin MacRae, GoLocalWorcester Organizing Expert
Many people will ask me why I don’t post before and after pictures of my client’s spaces. If you take a look at my website, you won’t find any of these types of pictures. Sometimes, you’ll see me occasionally post on social media, but sometimes it’s of my home or of clients that requested for me to take a picture.
Honestly, it makes me a little uncomfortable and I’m going to tell you the 4 reasons why I don’t post them.
It’s not the first thing on my mind. When I enter a new client’s home, taking before pics is the last thing on my mind. Actually, it’s never on my mind. My job is to get to know my client, put them at ease and chat with them about where they’re struggling and how we’re going to approach tackling their project.
My clients are under distress. My clients are stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious. The last thing I want to do as we walk through their space is ask, “Hey, I know you were hesitant about hiring help, but can I take a picture of this?” It’s just not appropriate and it’s actually insensitive of anybody to even think to ask that. It’s not who I am, and I believe that my clients appreciate me for that.
Put yourself in their shoes. I know everybody wants to see jaw dropping photos, but for one minute, put yourself in my client’s shoes. Sometimes my clients don’t even want their friends in their home because their embarrassed. Imagine how you’d feel if you were in that situation. Would you want me to come into your home and start taking pictures?
The magic happens in between the pics. Anybody can take a picture of a disorganized space, move the stuff out of the way and snap a pic. The magic happens during the process. It’s the conversations that take place, it’s talking about what’s going on in their lives and talking about how they want to function going forward. It’s the entire process of getting them from chaos to control. That’s what matters, not a before or after pic.
I offer a very personalized service. All organizers have their own style, energy, and personality. Your experience with me will be very different from other organizers. You may be a potential client that wants to see my work, but honestly, it’s not about the pictures. Give me a call and I’ll talk to you about the process. I have testimonials on my website, and if you’d like, I’ll let you talk to some of my clients. It’s not all about the pictures. It’s truly about the experience and what happens in between the before and after pictures. I’d really love to take pictures of my client’s faces when we’re through! Those pictures are worth a thousand words!
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Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, is an organizing & efficiency expert and owner of Organizing in RI. Kristin teaches her clients that living an organized lifestyle will save them time and money, decrease their stress levels and help them become more efficient and productive. Her articles have been published in local and national magazines. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to begin. She is also available for organizing workshops.
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Kristin MacRae
Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. She has appeared on air on Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio and her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. Kristin's CD, Organizing Basics, is a 1-hour guide for the person who wants to get organized but doesn't know where to start. She is also available for organizing workshops. Tune into her weekly radio show, Organize, Energize! on Mondays at 8:30am on www.talkstreamradio.com.
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