Personal branding photography is a collection of professional brand photographs for entrepreneurs and business owners.
They effectively tell your story, reflect your brand and builds trust with your audience.
If you have an online presence, i.e. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or LinkedIn, you have a personal brand, and you must make the right first impression.
Your personal branding photography is your visual voice. It’s how your brand looks, feels, and speaks to people.
What’s your brand stand?
Once you pinpoint which your ideal client is, you can dig deep into who they are, their pain-points and how you can connect with them.
I used to be clueless about how to “be seen” and build a strong digital image of my business. When I was starting out, I thought it would be enough to just throw up a website with some details about my services.
Well, I put that website up, and you know what happened?
Yep, not much! It sat there on the internet for a long, long time without getting me any results. No traffic, no inquiries, no clients, no joy.
This was the problem: My website was very pretty, and it was packed with info about my work, but nowhere was I expressing why it mattered to a potential client.
Benefits of personal branding photography
- First impressions count. Nothing is more important than a first impression. Your sense of competence, professionalism and demeanour is a large part of a potential client’s decision to do business with you. Your branding photos tell your brand story the way you want it to tell it.
- Show your personality. Your professional branding images showcase your unique personality. You can use them a variety of ways throughout your website, social media and marketing efforts.
- Builds trust and credibility. By showing your potential clients your brand story and what makes you unique, your audience will feel like they know and trust you.
- Creates a connection with your clients. It’s a way to connect with your audience, show your personality and stand out from your competition. It allows you to create an experience that encourages your followers to engage with you.
- It’s more than just a headshot. Your personal brand images help to visually show your creative process. You could also show your workspace and what it would be like to work with you.
You are your brand
Whether you have a product or service-based business, you are the brand. You created this business based on what you love doing and what you care about. So if you’re not showing up as the face of your brand, you’re seriously hurting your small business.
Do you want your professional brand to come across as cold, lifeless with one monotone voice? Of course not!
By making sure that you’re posting photos and videos of yourself is an important step in solidifying a personality-infused brand.
It may feel strange at first, particularly if you’re not used to jumping in front of the camera, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel.
Your personal branding photographs isn’t about what you look like or what kind of house you live in; it’s about your values and what your brand stands for.
They will help to familiarise yourself with your audience while building trust and credibility into your small business.
What’s your brand stand?
You’re giving your them the opportunity to get to know you, what you stand for and what it would be like to work with you.
If people feel as though they know like and trust you, they’re 10 times more likely to buy into what you’re offering and choose you over anyone else.
As a branding expert and photographer, I have teamed up with Jessica Munro, to offer you a complete service from brand strategy, design and photography.
Not only can you have a professionally designed logo and website, but you’ll get a library of beautiful branded images too.
To begin creating your compelling brand that really represents you, your personality and your business, download my free branding workbook.
Triple your Instagram engagement with your brand photos
Trust me; I get the fact you probably don’t like having your photograph taken. If I’m honest, I would rather pull my teeth out!
I used to be painfully shy getting in front of the camera so I would do anything to avoid it. It wasn’t until I start showing my face on my website and social media profiles that I started to get a lot more engagement in my posts.
As a business owner, I have found that when I post images of myself on social media platforms, I get almost triple, the amount of engagement on my posts.
Once I figured out that my audience just wanted to get to know me more, everything changed, and everything got so much easier.
It’s all about finding the right photographer, who will guide you through the whole process.
They should help you find the right locations, talk through your outfit choices and guide you through each pose, so you feel more relaxed in front of the camera.
Share the behind the scenes of your small business
You can use your personal branding photography to reveal the behind the scenes of your business. Show your audience what it would be like for them to work with you.
If you run a service-based business, you can show each process of your business and walk them through each stage so they would know what to expect if they booked in with you.
If you have a product-based business, you could show how you make your product and why it is different from other similar products or brands on the market.
People still buy from people, so give your brand a face and connect with your customers.
You’ll give more credibility to your brand, and your audience will feel like they are buying from a real person rather than a faceless brand.
Find out more ways to use your personal branding photography in your small business.
Empower your brand with stylish and purposeful branding photos.
If I could only give one tip on how to create a successful small business, it would be to take a few hours to really think about what it is you do, what value you can offer and pinpoint your ideal client.
My free branding workbook will help you get clear on your brand personality and how you want to visually tell your story.
I’ve broken each stage into small sections so it should be easy to work through and you can dip in and out depending on what you need for your business.
Getting crystal clear on what you can offer and who your dream client is will help you to create content that is truly aligned to your brand and attract your ideal clients.
What does a personal branding photoshoot include?
If you decide to book a personal branding session with me, your branding shoot will include a brand identity consultation, wardrobe styling, location planning, posing and direction.
It also includes a personalised Lightroom preset so you can take and edit your photos that will look consistent with the images I have taken of you.
I have broken down each part of the branding package, so you know what to expect when you book a brand photoshoot with me.
Brand Photoshoot Packages
- Pre-shoot questionnaire. Your personal branding questionnaire will help you get clear on your ideal client, target market, visual identity and branding, so we know what kind of images will attract your dream customers.
- Concept & style consultation. Before your branding shoot, together, we’ll create a Pinterest mood board of ideas to help us visualise and plan your photoshoot.
- Personal branding style guide. You’ll receive a PDF personal style guide to help you plan and prepare for your shoot.
- Photoshoot. I can photograph you at my photography studio in Bedfordshire or a location of your choice. I’ll guide you throughout the entire shoot along with posing and direction, so you don’t need to worry about anything.
- Online gallery. Your images will be uploaded to a private online gallery for you to view your brand photos.
- Download your images. Your brand images will be provided in both print and website and social formats, so they are ready to use immediately. I will send you a WeTransfer link so you can download your personal brand photos straight to your phone or computer.
- Personalised Lightroom preset. You’ll also receive a personalised preset that will allow you to take your own photos and apply the preset so your images will look consistent throughout your brand.
- Optional extras. If you need a hair & makeup artist, location or prop hire, please get in touch.
Personal branding pricing and packages
I have created two branding packages to give you flexibility depending on how much time you have and what your budget can allow for.
My personal brand photography packages start at £650. This includes everything from brand strategy, concept and styling, location planning, a visual mood board, a pdf personal style guide, brand photoshoot.
After your photoshoot, you will receive your online viewing gallery, your fully edited digital images as well as a personalised Lightroom preset so you can take your own photos that will look consistent with your brand photos.
Ready to book your personal branding photography session?
Curious to find out more about working together, or ready to book in your branding shoot? Apply for your personal branding clarity call, or email me at kate@katesharp.co.uk.
Once you’re booked, I’ll send you my branding questionnaire, and we’ll schedule a visual identity and branding strategy session.
This will help you get clear on your ideal client and what kind of brand statement you want to make.
I’ll bring my branding expertise to the table so we can plan a shoot that will capture your personal style and brand message
Once we have a date in mind, we’ll schedule a personal style and wardrobe consultation, so you have all the information and advice on what you need to bring and how to prepare for your photoshoot.
You can visit my studio based in Bedfordshire, or we can arrange a Skype/phone call. After your consultation, you will take home a personal style guide that is packed full of information.
It includes useful advice on how to dress for your body shape, colours that will complement your branding, beauty tips and a checklist, so you don’t forget anything.
Make the decision to start today.
By now, whether you’re a start-up or a seasoned entrepreneur, you should understand why personal branding photography is so important for your business.
Your brand is something that creates an emotional connection between you, your business and your ideal client.
Your branding images can be the difference between not only looking professional but feeling professional – the secret remedy for success.
Not only will you have a library of images to pull from at any given moment, but it will also save you time and money in the long run.
Because let’s face it, that LinkedIn headshot your Husband took of you sitting by the pool with the cropped out cocktail; probably isn’t making the kind of statement you want.
