Your website Bio... 1st or 3rd person?

I've noticed that the photographers in my area have written their

webiste bios in the 3rd person... perhaps to make the business seem

larger than it is? This is one theory I've heard, with sentences like

"we can accomodate blah blah..." when really it's just the photographer.

My husband says I should write mine in the 1st person, as to seem

personable and approachable.

What are your thoughts on this? I'd appreciate the insight, as I'm

preparing to launch my site!

Thanks

I use the 3rd person. The use of "we" is second person as I understand it and I think it does have a "we are larger than we really are" feel to it.

Michael thinks, that If your name was George Costanza ,that you should talk about yourself in the 3rd Person. Michael also thinks that the "WE" should be reserved for only the Queen, who is speaking in the Royal "WE" of Herself and God.Michael agrees with your husband ,although he is sure that most of the time, it is you, that is correct.

"We" is first person plural. The use of 3rd person singular is very common, sounding either business-like or academic according to taste. Lynch is in the habit of writing about himself in the third person for blurbs, but on his website he writes about himself in first person singular as it's a bit more personable.

I agree with first person being more personable. Also, just wondered could "we" mean an assistant included?

If you write it in 3rd person then the reader will see your name throughout your bio-Jennifer Kirk this and that. If you use 1st person then the reader will be reading alot of "I this I that"

 

I sometimes find 3rd person more interesting to read. If I were doing a bio I would choose 3rd person but not to use the "we" inflating the business factor, rather so the reader can see my name a few times.

I have sometimes written narratives using 3rd person, I just like the tone of it.

Do not annoy your readers, write in the 1st person otherwise it will come across as an obvious farce; as you have already observed. Save the third person for academic writing.

hi Jennifer,

I personally prefer writing in the first person about myself, esp. since it IS just me (usually.) And I like reading about people in the 1st person too, because it DOES seem more personal to me.

 

Sometimes it seems kind of phony or snooty if someone writes about themselves in the 3rd person when they don't have a large business. (But not always! And I don't mean this to disrespect the folks here who just said they prefer third!)

 

And I LOVE Michael's reply to your question. It gave me a good chuckle this morning! :) I wanted to be witty, but just couldn't match it.

 

Jennifer

And remember Bob Dole a few elections ago? Talking about himself in speeches and

interviews using the third person...

"I" and "We" = 1st person<br>"You" = 2nd person<br>"He, she, they, (or actual names)" = 3rd person.<p>Either form of first person reads well to me, as if the photographer(s) is(are) speaking directly to me.<p>Bios written in third person ("<i>Photo Joe's</i> experience spans 3 decades, <i>He</i> has been published in blah, blah...) just remind me of Bob Dole referring to himself by name when speaking.<p>Third person usage in the context of review quotes from known sources would be another story.

The use of the word 'I' is personal and can seem difficult for some people in business. I would use it on a site but that's just 'me'.

 

Cheers.

I'm glad you asked this Jennifer, this question was one of my next questions! I was just working on mine last night. I was describing my session for portrait work. As of now it says: I, at Kari Douma Photography, will... It first said: We will.... but I didn't like it, because there was no we! I really didn't like it to say: I will... I figure now I will have to write (or have someone else write for me) my bio in first person also. But, like I said, I'll have to see what others say! I never imagined a website would be so difficult!

Just the way I observe the world:

<p>

First-person singular on a business website is bottom of the barrel. "Thank you for visiting my website. I hope you enjoy your visit." It's acceptable for a personal website or personal blog. But it is not business-like. It does not matter if you employ nobody, or you are GE. Now you can make it a personal like a Message From The CEO. "I'm happy you found our website. In it, you will find photographic evidence that Uncle Joe's Photo is second-to-none."

<p>

Third-person singular is acceptable, but dangerous. It should not read simply, "Joe Talbolt has been a photographer since he was four years old and has aspirations of photographing for National Geographic and Playboy Magazine." A better alternative would be more like a press release, "Joe Talbolt has been a photographer since he was four years old. 'I've been published in Spokane Trader and Bend Wheels & Deels,' according to Joe, and has aspirations of shooting for National Geographic and Playboy Magazine." If this is the route taking, hire a PR firm to write it!

<p>

I personally prefer the first person plural. The <i>we factor</i>. The element of a poorly written press release is avoided, and yes, it gives the illusion of grandeur. Whether you're GE or a husband & wife team operating a coffee shop.

<p>

This is business, and this is marketing. There are certain realities of marketing. That picture of a Big Mac you see on TV or on display at your favorite McD's does not even come close to resembling what you pull our of that paper bag. In fact, the image is not even real food. Not all of it anyway. Each and every sesame seed is painstakingly adhered to the "bun" by a design specialist. That picture of ice cream you see in ads and displays? It's really lard.

<p>

The consumer has already been adequately prepped by the Styx song <i>Grand Illusion</i>. It's okay.

<p>

I'm not outright saying that using first-person singular is wrong. It ultimately has to be what works best for you. If your business model and marketing model and marketplace niche is about being personable, then it will work. But if you are going for business-like credibility and a personal touch, in my opinion, first-person singular will not cut it. Borders on <i>amateurish</i>.

<p>

Consider this: It's about credibility, right? Let's say you are giving a presentation at a seminar. You have an unfamiliar name. The audience is curious because of the topic, and not because it is you speaking. What is the better way of gaining credibility? Do you introduce yourself and talk up your expertise and history? Or would it be better to be introduced by a "third person" talking up your experiences and accolades?

Lex Jenkins wrote his artist's statement in third person limited omniscient mode but gradually began to feel so detached from himself that he was no longer certain whether he existed. Eventually he disappeared altogether like a character in a plaintive Bruce Springsteen lament about stolen cars driven at night on the edge of town.

 

Oops, 'scuse me.

 

First person is better unless someone else is actually writing your bio, in which case that person should sign it and assume the blame.

<i>I really didn't like it to say: I will</i>

<p>

Kari, the issue you are facing here is not just first-person/third-person, but tense also. Yours is presented in future tense. Better to lay it down in present tense.

<p>

Then we get into conjugation:

<p>

Instead of

<br>

"I will be spontaneous with the camera."

<br>

try

<br>

"I am spontaneous with the camera."

<br>

"We are spontaneous with the camera."

<br>

"Kari is spontaneous with the camera," according to sources agreeing to leak this information to the press on conditions of anonymity.

<i>First person is better unless someone else is actually writing your bio, in which case that person should sign it and assume the blame.</i>

<p>

Yes and no.

<p>

The bio is a biography, not an autobiography.

<p>

When you read the bio of an author of a book on the last page or on the sleeve, we do not know who wrote that. It could have been the author, since, after all, he is an author, and a writer. Or it could have been the publisher. Either way, it is written in third person.

<p>

Because a PR firm writes the press release does not mean the PR firm signs it and assumes responsibility.

<p>

It is after all, a bio, not a testimonial.

<p>

Which reminds me of other ways of approaching this:

<p>

Instead of calling it a bio, call it your autobiography (autobio?) and prepare it in the first person.

<p>

And, I have seen instead of a bio, one can talk about their personal philosophy in first person. This too seems credible.

Another thing you can do is make it "a note from Jenifer". On my wedding brochure I have "a note from Kari". It isn't really a bio, but it is a personal note from me, saying how I want to help them preserve their wedding for years to come...ect... While I was laying out my website, "a note from Kari" was a little long, so I titled it "for the bride" on my menu. I guess it is only 3 characters shorter, but it seamed shorter. You could write in 3rd person, and include a short note from the photographer to make it personal. But then again, what do I know? i am in the same boat as you!

"I am an extremely experienced wedding photographer"

 

"The photographer is extremely experienced in wedding photography"

 

Which sounds more professional and less like I am shooting my mouth off? I know that Gary Fong's blog winds me up in his abject worship of himself as a wedding photographer and all round genius. I would hate to sound like that on my own site.

Some people write in the third person in order to make their page more friendly for search

engines. Try doing a google search for your name and see what you find!

Read <a href="http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/mcnally/anthem/"><u>Anthem</u></a>...you'll never use "we" again.<br><br>although mine isn't a business website, I use "I".

I would suggest it depends on the 'style'. If it's written in an informal dialog type style, first person can work. If it's written like what you use for a resume (formal), third person makes more sense.

 

So, I guess my observation would be to fit the style of the bio to the style you want to convey in your website (and your professional style).

 

Then, print it out, hand it to a couple of friends and ASK THEIR UNEDITED OPINIONS. Asking about 3 people will quickly let you know whether you're on-target or not (and likely they'll also find some amusing typos for you). When getting their opinions, try to get inside your customers heads and anticipate how they're likely to interpret what you're saying...because people WILL read things in ways you don't anticipate, and for most people 'perception = reality'...

Thanks a bunch to everybody so far!!!

And thanks for the clarification on 1st, 2nd 3rd person -It's been a long time since English class ;)

It seems we are rather divided on the topic...

I may decide to go 1st person... since I am trying to appeal to brides who are going to pay me to follow them around all day. I will take both formats to a few friends first though.

I've enjoyed reading all the responses so far!!

My bio is written in the 3rd person because I didn't write it. I found it extremely difficult to write. I tried several versions but was never happy with it, so I had a marketing consultant write it. On my contact page, I wrote a more personal note in the first person.

<p>I agree that Michael Ging's response was quite funny. Jon Jacobson, has a nice summary. Sandeha Lynch's <em>"We" is first person plural.</em> is accurate and leads me to discuss why it might be important to use "We" vs. "I".

 

<p>Context, or content, must be considered. What are you trying to say? If you talk about your services, and that equates to you as a corporate entity "We" is important I think because it says you're taking responsibility for everyone under your charge or direction and that may be 3rd party developers, printers, binders, Harry's daughter next door doing mounting, etc. OK so you can take pictures, but can you organize and manage the project and deliver the product.

 

<p>If the Bio concentrates on credentials, personal vision, and background, then "I" is probably appropriate and sounds sincere. You can have a section on your website that discusses your services and has a link to your own personal bio, and maybe to any of your partners, or testimonials from customers.

 

<p>I also really liked the <em>Anthem/Ayn Rand</em> reference on several levels since generally I think she has many things worth thinking about; whether you agree with her analysis or not. The use of 'We' in that work however can get just a little on one's nerves. Of course that is probably what she intended, so the reader would personalize it or just be a little less at ease. I love that someone would come up with that reference, even if it shows that any 'device' can be over used.

 

<p>Remember the nice thing about photography, is you can literally <b>show</b> them your credentials, and how you manifest your vision. The writing can be sparse.

bio's are written in third person, info and f&q pages can be either first or third. decide which you like and lable the page accordingly.

 

Jon Jacobson is right. there's things we like and don't like and often emotions get in the way of how things should be done in basic marketing. beleive me, none of your clients are going to sit and ponder this.