Show your clients who YOU are.
Why is branding you in your business important?
So many reasons! But to sum it up...it makes your business more personal. It gets your clients to see the person (or people) that is behind the scenes. It adds personality to a product. When a client gets to know you, it leaves an impression that they are less likely to forget. People long for connection! I know when I shop around, I much rather shop with those I relate to and/or admire. (And don't forget, it is a tax write off!)
So how do you brand yourself?!
I highly suggest starting with a photo session. Capture everything that makes you, YOU!
This is where you can show your individuality and set yourself apart from everyone else.
Be your authentic self. It is ok if everyone doesn't like it, you will find your people by being true to yourself.
Once you have these photos, headshots and/or personality shots, you can use them for so many things!
Business cards, social media introduction posts, Instagram reels, whatever you desire!
What should I wear?
So that depends what vibe you are going with.
For headshots, I recommend wearing something professional. For men, maybe a nice button up shirt or a suit & tie. For women, maybe a pant suit or a nice blouse with a pencil skirt.
For personality shots, I suggest wearing something that you would wear on any regular day. Wear what you are comfy in and/or that represents your personal interests. Are you a big football fan? Wear your favorite team's jersey. Do you love listening to music? Wear a tee with your favorite musician on it.
I also recommend getting photos of you in action.
Have someone take photos of you while you are working, so you can showcase what it is you do.
What should I include?
I recommend including as many props as you can!
There is only so many poses one person can do. When you start adding in different props, you can still use the same few poses, but get them to be completely different photos by using different props to change it up! Grab the tools you use the most and bring them along! A lot of people like to bring their laptops for business sessions, which is a great idea! And don't forget to bring items that are specific to your job, to set yourself apart and to make it obvious to your potential clients what it is that you do. I will have some examples listed below.
Where should I have my photos taken?
So once again, this depends what vibe you are going for.
I will say that I personally think an indoor studio, or a downtown area looks best for business sessions. Indoor studios are perfect for headshots and give a nice professional look to the photos. Although, you can accomplish a great business session outdoors as well! For an outdoor business session, I recommend getting them done downtown. Most downtown areas have lots of buildings, brick walls, and overall, a lot of different photo background options within a close by space.
Here are some examples to give you an idea....
Artist
Items you can include:
- A sketchbook
- Paint brushes
- IPAD / Electronic drawing device
Outfit ideas:
- Overalls
- Pantsuit
- Black button up shirt with black jeans
Baker
Items you can include:
- Whisk & bowl
- Rolling pin & baking sheet
- Baked goods (cookies, cake, etc.)
Outfit ideas:
- Baking Apron
- White shirt with high waisted dress pants
- Pinup styled dress
Hair Stylist
Items you can include:
- Blow-dryer, curling iron, etc.
- Hairspray
- Mixing bowl (hair dye)
Outfit ideas:
- Jumpsuit
- Black long sleeve shirt with jeans
- Fitted tee with pencil skirt
Here is a look into some branding photos I have gotten done for myself:
Logo Shirt
I made a shirt with my business logo and made sure I got a shot wearing it while holding my camera.
Wearing a shirt with your business logo on it while holding the main product you offer is a perfect business branding shot!
Band tee
Music is a huge part of my life, so I had to rock a tee from my favorite band! Pick a clothing item or a prop item that shows your personal interests, so you get to capture a more personal side of yourself. Remember, the purpose is to show off your personality....so that means it doesn't always have to do directly with your business.
Action shot
Action shots are great for showcasing your business!
Show your clients what you do, they typically see your products but not how you get them to that finished point.
Getting creative
For this shot I was trying to think outside of the box. I thought to myself...how do I show who I am in just one photo? So, I came up with an idea. I grabbed my laptop bag and started grabbing all the pins & buttons I had of my favorite things. I included my photography business logo, business logos of other businesses I work for, my favorite band, a mental health saying, and some quotes that I personally can relate to.
This shot shows off my personality without even seeing my face!
A behind the scenes action shot
Just like an action shot, except this one shows myself and my client. I love seeing the same photo subject from different angles & points of views.
Showing off my kiddos
Show your clients why you do what you do!
For me, I do everything for my kiddos. They are my best friends and who I love most in this world. And of course, we had to show off our silly sides ;) (Wearing my business shirt was an extra touch!)
A product I sell
I chose to get shots of myself handing a postcard I made to someone. My clients know I am a photographer, but they may not know I offer other products as well. Try to include anything you offer to sell to your clients in your business branding photos.
