Meet Patrice Sinclair

Meet Patrice Sinclair

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to meet all sorts of great people throughout the community here in Rochester. I love sharing the stories of my fellow small business owners — there’s so much we can learn from one another.

Today’s post is all about my friend Patrice Sinclair. She runs the Sinclair Wealth Management Group of Raymond James in Auburn Hills. She and her amazing colleagues Drew and Priscilla are so dedicated to their clients that it was tough to pull them away from phones during our photoshoot.

Scott Lawrence: Tell me about a time when you saved a client from making a huge mistake.

Patrice Sinclair: My mind goes back to a couple of bear market periods but specifically to the most recent financial “meltdown” of Oct. 2007-March 2009. I was in communication with my clients constantly during that time period, more to hold their hands and keep them from crawling out on the ledge than anything. I recall one specific conversation where we had been in this midst of declining markets and subsequent declines of account values when a very concerned retired client said to me, “Patrice, if you tell me to hold on and not sell, I won’t sell.” I responded, “Selling now is the worst thing you can do. Hold tight and breathe. You will get through this.” That’s exactly what he did. He held on, didn’t react and recovered his losses in a very short time frame. Times like that solidify client relationships and this client and I have worked together for over 25 years now.

SL: What do you do when you’re not talking people off ledges?

Patrice: We are a full-service financial planning team that helps individuals and families simplify their financial plan. That might include assisting with your 401k choices;  planning for college funding; protecting your heirs/estate in case of an unforeseen event; reviewing your estate plan; investment portfolio reviews; or assisting you in the decision to buy or lease a car, airplane or medical equipment. Whatever your need is, we’re your financial coaches that help to guide you in the direction that makes sense for you.

SL: What’s unique about how you do what you do?

Patrice: Our unique quality is experience and access. We have combined experience of over 45 years. We’ve seen how exuberant markets can blow up and we’ve seen how various financial crashes recover. We’re conservative but goal-oriented. There’s always a reason people will choose to NOT invest, but we help them to see that it’s important to block out the noise of our day to day lives and focus on their objectives. We seek to provide regular and consistent education to our clients so they can make informed decisions, and we seek to always be available for their questions and/or concerns. We feel it’s an honor to be chosen by our clients and we never take it for granted. That said, we have many clients that have continued to seek our counsel for over 25 years.   

SL: What’s one thing most people don’t know about your industry but should?

Patrice: We educate our clients on fees that aren’t always transparent in our industry. We understand that finance isn’t the most simple or comfortable topic in many of our clients’ lives so we seek to explain everything in a way that they can comprehend.

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If you have more questions for Patrice, give her a call at 248-276-2828 or send her a note. 

If you’d like to set up a headshot session for your office, drop me a note.

Got Questions About Headshot Photography?

Got Questions?

If you follow the blog, you know it’s a great general resource on headshot photography. You’ll learn about the people and businesses around Rochester. But, as with any headshot session, it’s a not a one size fits all solution. Sometimes, there’s just a specific nagging question that you need answered.

Introducing Office Hours

That’s right, today, I’m happy to announce office hours — an opportunity to schedule time directly with me. If you have questions about anything photography & marketing related, I’d love to chat.

If you’re considering a session, this is a great way to get started. In about 20 minutes, we will:

• Discuss where the new images will take you
• Review any current images you plan to replace
• Walk through the headshot process and address any lingering questions

Do you run a business?

Then let’s talk marketing too! We can discuss your web, print and social media presence and how we can up your branding game. 

Not in Detroit? No problem. These slots are open to anyone. I can’t wait to chat. Book a time here and we’ll talk soon!

How Often Should I Update my Headshot?

How Often Should I Update my Headshot?

Great headshot? Check.

Up-to-date headshot? Ummm….

For maximum impact, it’s important to refresh your headshot regularly. Your headshot must be an honest representation of you. That means today you, not eight-years-ago you! You're not the same person you were eight years ago.

The Coffee Shop Test

How do you know it’s time for an update? Try the coffee shop test.

Ask yourself: if someone is coming to meet you in a coffee shop, would they be able to pick you out of the crowd based only on your headshot?

If you’re not so sure, it’s defintely time for an upgrade.
 

Milestones

The Coffee Shop Test is my go-to, but the fact is that you should be updating your headshot regularly. it’s also great to think about updating your headshot at major professional milestones.

• Earning a big promotion
• Moving into management
• Starting a job search
• Switching industries
• Launching a side hustle / passion project
• Jumpstarting your freelance or consulting work

A big change in industry or seniority can mean it’s time for a different look. Moving to the west coast to work in tech? Let’s ditch the suit. Moving into management? Time to add a tie.

I'm sure you've heard the phrase, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." The same idea applies here. Your headshot projects where you're going, not where you've been. The right headshot will get you in the door — it's up to you to close the deal.

Out with the old

I know it can be tough to let go of a favorite image — especially if you look at it and see a few less wrinkles or a little more hair than you see in the mirror today.

Don’t worry. We’ll have you looking better than ever. This is what I do. With the right professional lighting and smart posing techniques, you'll look your absolute best. We’ll make eight-years-ago you jealous.

Let’s chat

If your business depends on networking and meeting new people every day, then a regular headshot update is essential. Don’t hesitate to give me a call for a quick consult. We can talk about that next big career step. And I’d love to hear how your professional journey is unfolding. If you’ve worked with me in the past, you’re eligible for special returning client rate.

And if you live around Rochester, I'd love to meet for coffee! My favorite two spots are the Bean and Leaf and Dessert Oasis. 
 

Meet David Blair

Meet Dave Blair

There's a saying when talking about computer backups. If the data doesn't exist in at least three places across two physical locations, then it doesn't really exist. If your computer crashed tomorrow, could you simply grab the backup and resume your work? If you have any hesitation, you'll definitely want to meet Dave Blair of CV Tech. He stopped in the photography studio for a new professional headshot and social media images. Take it away Dave!

Scott Lawrence: Tell us about your business.

IT help is just a phone call away. Contact CV Tech.

Dave Blair: CV Tech is a technology company in Rochester, MI, offering a wide range of IT services including PC and server support, network installations and managed services. We specialize in small business support; these businesses have unique challenges, and we’ve developed some powerful solutions for these customers! We also provide field service to larger organizations requiring local field service.

SL: What’s unique about how you do what you do?

Dave: We think and act like an IT department, not a vendor. This means we're advocates for your business goals and objectives. Even better, our team listens and communicates in familiar terms, not technical language you don’t understand. We specialize in finding creative solutions to technical problems, solutions that improve reliability, reduce cost, and add value.

SL: What’s the one thing most people don’t know about your business or industry, but should?

Dave: The performance and reliability of most business computer networks can be dramatically improved with just a few small tweaks or upgrades. Sometimes we completely overhaul customer networks, rebuilding everything from the ground up to deliver a top-notch network with fantastic performance. Just as often though, we just change a few settings or components to deliver significant improvements at a fraction of the cost.

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Be sure to visit CV Tech or follow them on Facebook.

Interested in updating your headshot? Drop me a note.

What Jewelry Should I Wear In My Headshot

What Jewelry Should I Wear In My Headshot?

Less (bling) is more as far as your headshot session is concerned. Jewelry is designed to catch attention. It’s your day to sparkle; keep the focus on you. As an example, take a look at this headshot below. Are you at all bothered by the lack of jewelry? Did you even notice?

Before the session starts, we’ll do a quick jewelry check and offer specific suggestions based on what you bring. But in general, don’t stress about picking the perfect chain or pendants. Your final headshot image will be cropped pretty tight anyway, so only a tiny bit of the chain will show. This can distract viewers by making them wonder what was hanging there. It’s the details that matter in your headshot.

Earrings are fine, but avoid anything big or dangly. You don’t want a prospective contact to start admiring your earrings and forget why they wanted to contact you!

Have a specific question? Drop me note.

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Watch these videos for a few more headshot session tips!