Lovelyish

80% of communication is nonverbal. 

I read somewhere that impressions take about 2 seconds to form or some short time like that. Though in retrospect I generally hope people always tell themselves not to be quick to judge others, I can’t say it doesn’t happen or that I don’t do it either. Though someone that dresses edgy etc, might be a lot better at their job than someone that dresses professionally, I think most people would pick the person dressed professionally.

Like for example you need surgery. You see a grungy edgy, dark eye lined woman with piercings etc. Versus a woman with glasses, hair in a pony tail, no makeup, no dark nail polish, pant suit and scrubs. I think even you would pick the second woman versus the first to be your doctor right? 
Though I’m totally for personal style, you need to sometimes sacrifice that for your job, as style doesn’t make you money. 

I think you already know my opinion.  :P 

Yes.  Because I think you can maintain your individuality while still appearing professional.

Yeah, unfortunately if you want people’s perception of you to be better (it’s all based on first impressions), you’re going to have to change your look. It’s simple: nice clothes that don’t wrinkle and makeup that you don’t have to reapply.

However, I think you should keep your edgy style. You just have to be friendly and overcome the stereotypes people are going to categorize you with. That’s what’s going to help you the most.

Even though I tend to be a bit bohemian in style, I love the goth look so it wouldn’t bother me one bit. That said, I seem to be more the exception than the rule. I see a goth girl and I think “she’s so cute” or an extremely bohemian chic and think “she’s trying to save the world.” rather than “she is sloppy and doesn’t care” like I have heard others say. Somehow my snap judgments don’t match with others. Maybe it’s my optimistic side:). If I were you, I would try to dress over all professionally with little hints of your style. Like say very professional clothes but all in black. Or accented with a gothic style necklace. That way you stay true to your style and your profession. 

Yes, how you dress 100% makes a difference.

From personal experience: My college holds a career fair in the fall and in the spring for big name companies to recruit students for internships, coops, and full time positions. For the fall, I didn’t have any really dressy clothes, so I wore a grey pencil skirt that was too big and a navy blue top that buttoned down the center and rolled at the sleeves. I didn’t get any call backs or interviews.
In the spring, I spent a lot of money on a suit, and went out of my way to look incredibly professional. I heard back from four companies. My resume barely changed; in fact, my GPA was lower in the spring than it was in the fall, I still had no experience in the field, and I was still younger than what most companies were looking for, but because I looked incredibly professional and put together, it got me the interviews. It’s all about the first impression.
Good luck!

Honestly, yes. Looks matter whether feminists want to accept that or not.

Although I don’t understand why anyone would be so judgmental over a pet photographer.

@SincereEnthusiast@xanga - agreed

I think its just normal for people to have a different style for work. Unless you want to work in a place like Hot Topic, it should be expected to have to change your style. Sure, you may have to buy a whole new wardrobe, but you have to do what you have to do to get ahead in life. People do care about the way people look when they are doing business with them. For instance, I would like to be a doctor. I know that I can not have facial piercings or visible tattoos in that industry even if it fits with my personal style. I’ll just have to compromise and dress appropriately for work.

Well from your job choice as a photographer, i dont think the way you dress would be a problem because photography is an art which makes you an artist and artist are usually on their on page as far as thinking and dressing. So no i wouldnt look at you weird unless you looked like those kids from hottopic in plastic bracelets, tinker bell shirts and tutus. Now since there’s no photo, we don’t know what your version of ‘edgy’ is because there’s alot. I could careless what someone’s wearing as long as it fits and its not too costumey. Black nail polish and heavy eyeliner? Hmm well the nail polish is fine but if you’ve got an inch worth of black liner completely lining your eye then yeah i can see where the stares come from. You don’t HAVE to change but if you want people to take you seriously and give you business you may only want to line your upper lid and do a smokey eye to soften it.

I’m student-teaching right now and before I went in, I knew what most teachers’ perceptions would be about me coming in goth. I stopped the chokers, spikes, eyeliner and painting my nails black (although the latter was due to me having to maintain my nails). I also know that a lot of the graduate english edu majors (the ones who are having career change) I have studied with have mentioned having goth-ish styles before they started work, but most of them dress kind of “normal” now. 

I personally wouldn’t say toss out your style because that makes you you, but at least remove the eyeliner and the uber goth-y/edgy stuff if you can’t put it into a “professional” (for your work) style and just put it on during days off.

PS: I have seven piercings in my ear. I don’t take them out, but I keep the earrings in them basic, so that I don’t scare too many.

The way you dress for yourself and the way you dress for work shouldnt cross over. (Unless you generally dress professionally.) It’s okay to express yourself outwardly, but not when you are working, if anything it is a distractor from the work.

You don’t have to change it all the way! There are ways to incorporate your current style into more professionally acceptable styles. For example, when I moved to D.C., I refused to wear suits, which D.C. residents live & swear by – they made me feel too stuffy! Instead, I embraced dresses & blazers, & made them look classy with an edge. I fit in fine, but I stood out, too. Figure out how you can make your style work for the job you’re aiming for.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga - Who said anything about feminists? And who do you say it like its a dirty word?

I think that once this generation becomes the older generation, you’ll find that people will be more accepting of the way you are and the way you dress, but I think as of right now with our parents and grandparents the older generation they still expect a certain attire and attitude. You can definitely incorporate your style into whatever profession you decide to do that. Just minimize it a little bit. Like less eyeliner, maybe like a dark color nail polish that isn’t black, but maybe like navy blue or something.

I think you can compromise…I don’t think you have to go totally plain vanilla/Gap/Ann Taylor and (in my opinion) boring stuffy business-wear.  I think you can professionalize your work look while still retaining a little bit of edge and putting your own signature on it.  If you just throw in a couple of “edgy” things and keep the rest a little calmer, you can still look professional but just look like someone who is professional but has an edgy sense of style.

I am lucky enough to have found a job right now where I can wear fun punk rock stuff (within reason) and dye my hair pretty much any color I want and even get facial piercings…but that’s because I work at a music store and people are way cooler than they would be in a more “traditional” office.  But when I went in for my interview I still toned things down a LOT because I think that’s necessary to get the job.  Once you get it, you can get a sense of the “office culture” and find out how far you can go   Maybe that’s too rebellious, but oh well.  The only problem is tattoos.  You can’t hide those so they can take you or leave you if they don’t like them.  I have accepted that fact and will seek work accordingly since I have 3 that are readily visible.

Assuming all major factors (politeness, quality of work) are the same… I’d mostly likely choose the person who looks more appropriate.

I think people who believe that self-expression through their appearance is more important that making customers feel comfortable show poor judgement. So I would not trust their work.
You don’t have to lose your style… you’re not at work all the time. But while you are… best not to put customers off and make things harder on yourself.

Yea, gotta change the style up for work.  Sometimes you just have to make that choice if you want to advance professionally.  There are ways you can incorporate what you like into your professional wardrobe.  I find that putting your style into your shoes, handbags, and accessories is the way to go.  I don’t know what you like, but for example you can get heels or flats with studs and wear a simple wrap dress.  You can buy a scarf you adore and wear that with a cardigan and slacks or nice jeans…or you can tie that scarf to your handbag.  Ease up on the eyeliner and opp for a day time smokey eye maybe?

To answer your second question, I would totally bring my dog to the edgier person. 

lol you look cute! and it’s not a really serious job so i say dress however you like

I would look at the photographer’s portfolio/experience more if I brought my pet to take professional pics. the appearance wouldn’t matter as much in the photography business to me but if it was an actual office environment, I would go to the more professional looking one for customer service.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga - I don’t get why you included feminists? I’m not making this into an argument but I’m a feminist and so are most of my friends and we all acknowledge that looks matter and we care about our looks. I dress classy and professional. (Not picking a fight, I just don’t want you to get the wrong impression that all feminists run around with unshaven legs etc) 

OP, the way you present yourself matters. Yes I know it’s an art, but until you’re established, you’re more likely to attract more clients if you dress more professional. You can still make your look quirky though but just in a more approachable way. 

It really sucks but when it comes to work you have to put personal feelings aside. Even if you photograph pets, it’s still a business. You don’t have to look like a total yuppie either though. And ironically enough the most uniform color to wear IS black. Just find darker colored clothing that has a more professional design to it.

But when you’re off the job you can dress however you want so it’s not like you’re completely giving up your style. 

@stuipdthing@xanga - @SuburbanSweetheart – The majority of feminists, at least the ones I encounter, think looks don’t matter. I’m a feminist and I get bitched at constantly for “putting too much importance on how I look”.

I’m gonna say dress more professionally. You don’t have to let go of your style completely, but you should compromise it. I mean, you could maybe add accessories that still proclaim your type of style or something. You also dont have to stick to boring suits or whatever, but do realize there is a line. And any other day, you can wear whatever you want, but when you’re working, I think you should maintain dressing professionally, especially because you’re new/haven’t established your own business yet.

Where do you live? Where I’m from people who work in the arts such as photography are almost expected to dress emo/hip. You would fit right in.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga -Well, then you’re looking at the wrong feminists! There are certainly some out there who would tell you that looks don’t matter, I suppose, but the majority of feminists focus on bigger issues, & when they do focus on looks & beauty, I’d say it’s to identify & break down societal barriers that keep women from thinking they’re good enough. For example, that make women think they HAVE to dress one way or another, that they HAVE to wear makeup to be pretty, that they MUST be a size 2 to be attractive. That said, feminism is largely about giving women the power & freedom to choose what’s best for them, & that’s what appeals about it so much (to me)! @stuipdthing@xanga, would you agree?

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga - @SuburbanSweetheart - Yea I agree with Suburban, if a “feminist” is criticizing you for wearing to much  makeup then she isn’t a feminist because she’s taking away your choice.

It really does matter what you wear when you’re out in the real world because most of everyone doesn’t talk to you. This is generally because people are BUSY ALL THE TIME *cough Americans.

I feel like I don’t have time for cool stuff sometimes. lol

I wish people weren’t so inherently judgmental based on appearances alone, but unfortunately it’s how our society operates. I catch flak occasionally for my tattoos and piercings, but most of the time if I just dress a little more professionally I’m allowed a bit of leeway for those. Find a manageable medium between your personal style and what society deems “professional,” it’ll help your business but not completely negate your ability to express some personality; no one wants a photographer with no personality whatsoever, at least no one who expects decent photographs anyway!

If you are getting looks and losing clients, then maybe you should change how you dress.  I think looking professional in your field of work is important.