One thing I love about being a photographer is being able to work with and serve other small businesses in my area! My favorite way of doing this is by offering Branding Sessions.
So many of us have a business or brand these days. Whether you’re the owner of boutique or salon, an author or fitness instructor, there is a face that represents the brand. You can replace the word brand with the word reputation. They are essentially the same concept. Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not around, and branding is what you do about it.
Today our whole lives are online. We work online, date online, socialize online, and take meetings online. Did I mention shop online too? Knowing the WHO behind the brand is critical for business to Having a positive online presence is critical for business to flourish.
There is a new way of doing headshots and my industry call it Personal Branding. These sessions come with multiple outfit changes, different backdrops or locations and lighting scenarios and sometimes include lifestyle images. The biggest key of having a successful branding session for your business is being strategic in your planning and prepping for your session in advance. Branding sessions are all about capturing your brand’s personality in a visual way while relating to and reaching your ideal clients.
Why you may need a Personal Branding Session:
1. Your headshot is 10 years old, taken by a friend at a wedding or party or possibly a selfie.
People are meeting your brand for the first time online, so you need to look like your headshot. We all come up with their own reasons as to why it’s not updated, and majority of the time it’s because you feel insecure about your appearance.
First impressions stick even after they meet you in person and that goes with the first impression from your headshot too. Just as clothing goes in and out of style, so does photography. You don’t want a dated photo as you don’t want to wear clothes that is no longer “in style”. It could come across as you don’t care about your career and you don’t take your professional life seriously.
I see a lot of headshots being used that were cropped from an event or were taken as a selfie. Don’t get me wrong, iPhones have come a long way when it comes to quality images but a professional photographer can bring out your personality, confidence and approachability. A professional photographer also knows the right lighting and posing so that you get the most gorgeous images that represent who you are today and giving you a lasting first impression.
Ultimately, the purpose of your photos is to make your audience trust you. For that to happen, they should look at your photo and feel like you’re in the room with them.
In real-life, we trust and connect with people who make eye contact with us and show confident body language; the same is true of photos.
A high-quality photo that focuses on your face and shows you looking directly into the camera builds a close relationship with the person viewing it, making them more likely to trust you.
2. You need a library of photos to stay in front of your ideal audience.
Initially, most people are only looking for a new headshot they can use to update their social media profile pictures or add to their website. But this is just the beginning! When you book a photo branding session, you’ll leave with an entire portfolio of images showing you in various poses and sporting several expressions.
Here’s a handful of ways you can put your photos to good use:
Post them on social media with insightful captions related to you or your business
If you have a website, add them on different pages instead of using stock photos
Put one in your email signature
Rotate between different profile pictures to freshen things up
Use them in articles, newsletters or blogs you write
Submit them to features or articles about you or your company
Add them to marketing materials
You might be concerned that plastering pictures of yourself everywhere will make you seem vain, but this is just a common misconception. Most people like to know who they’re talking to or buying from — more photos signals greater legitimacy and puts people at ease.
3. Take your photos to the next level.
These days, everyone thinks they’re a photographer. If you have a phone camera with lots of megapixels (or maybe even a mirrorless/DSLR camera) and friends that offer to help out, you might think it’s not worth hiring a professional.
Truth is, it takes years of trial and error to master the art of portraits. You need technical mastery of your camera, an understanding of how light works, the ability to put the subject at ease — and far, far more.
Trust me — every single one of my clients has been shocked at the difference in quality between their photos and mine after finishing their session. Show the best version of yourself. No matter how awkward you feel in front of the camera, a photographer will put you at ease and ensure you look relaxed and confident in your pictures.
Having the right equipment and knowing how to use it makes a phenomenal difference in bringing out the best in you. Let someone else worry about your best angles, getting the light perfect, and telling you how to pose.
Even if you’ve been perfecting the art of the selfie for years and know your most flattering side (or at least, you think you do), a professional photographer will go one step further.
Are you ready to book your Personal Branding Session?
Tips to help you prepare for your personal branding session can be found here: Tips Before your Branding Session.
Be the first to comment