Projecting the right appearance - what every candidate needs to know.
by: Maurice L Bonamigo, February 2006
Keep clean and looking neat.
Candidates don't need to be beautiful or stylish to win elections, but they should present themselves properly. Always be well groomed and presented at all times. Remember, bathing regularly at making sure you never chance having body odor or bad breath.
Be sure to carry fresh clothes, deodorant, mouthwash, and dental floss with you at all times. If you're a male, be careful while shaving in the morning. You don't want to risk nicks and cuts that may bleed and scab.
Don't wear noticeably expensive jewelry.
There is nothing wrong with a candidate wearing nice things. But you don't want to be obviously overdone with valuable jewelry and accessories.
Need to lose weight? Start before you begin your campaign.
If you think your heavy in real life, always remember that the camera puts on 10 pounds, and the camera never lies!
Candidates should always wash their hands after meeting and greeting lots of people.
Keep in mind, there are always lots of unnecessary germs to be carried around.
Never ever wear your own campaign lapel buttons!
Get enough rest.
You need to think straight and look good at all times.
Ten minutes before your introduced, excuse yourself and go to the restroom.
Take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror. Make sure everything is the way it's supposed to be.
When you deliver a speech, make sure you have a glass of water standing by.
When speaking into a microphone, point the microphone at your chin and not at your mouth.
Never wear sunglasses when campaigning.
People want to look and see your eyes. If you're wearing sunglasses, you look like your hiding something.
Wear clothes that look professional.
Always remember to be yourself. You don't want to dress down to look like you're one of the people. That being said, you also do not want to put on airs to make yourself look too important.
A good candidate needs a few good garments that can go anywhere at any time and adapt to many situations. As I always stress, it is important to have good fabrics, a classic look, and be well tailored.
Always wear makeup when you are being taped for TV, interviews, or professional photos.
Have a professional apply it.
Every candidate needs to have five essential photographs: don't skimp, do whatever is necessary to get those great photo shots. Hire a first-rate photographer with experience doing either news or fashion formats. Bear in mind, a good photographer needs to shoot somewhere between 50 to 100 exposures for each of the five essential photographs to make sure he gets the correct picture for each category.
1. The portrait shot.
This will require a straightforward full face posed at the beginning to newspapers and a variety of other publications.
2. The picture that says everything. This photograph should project everything you want to say about yourself.
3. The people shot.
Candidates need to be surrounded and photographed by average people. You must be shown relating to them in a populist way. This whole shot should be filled with humanity. You should be photographed within a friendly, natural atmosphere.
4. Up on the job shot.
This photograph needs to show a candidate at work on something specific related to the office that is being sought.
5. The family shot.
If a candidate has a spouse and or children, they must be photographed. Should the candidate not be married or is childless, you need to substitute with parents, siblings, or other forms of the extended family. This shot always needs to be in a casual format and showing a happy home life and a smiling family.
