All About Personal Branding: Is It For Me?
You keep hearing people talk about personal branding, brand your business, you are your brand… but what all does that actually mean? And is it for you?
Or maybe you know exactly why personal branding photos are so important, you understand the immense value, and are ready to find your photographer…but not sure how to get started or who to work with.
Most coaches + service providers see the importance of producing and having quality content, a professional website + email address, and brand colors or a logo…but feel confused and overwhelmed about where to start.
You’ve come to the right place.
In this blog post you will find the answers and leave with confidence that brand photography is for you + why.
Let’s start with:
What is a personal branding session?
A photoshoot (& if you’re working with a branding expert, it will likely include other important meetings) where we capture a TON of quality, on-brand, authentic content for your business. It is meant for small businesses + entrepreneurs; I specialize with Coaches + Service Providers but have worked across the board. Personal branding sessions lift the heavy weight when it comes to creating content that makes sense for your brand AND attracts your ideal clients, speaking directly to them — social media, email marketing, printed materials, your website. These are not just headshots, these are also lifestyle + behind the scenes + personal + more. They tell your business’s story, visually, and make content creation really easy.
Why do you need branding photography?
I am trying to figure out why you wouldn’t need it, as a business owner. Every single industry is over saturated with go-getters, empire builders, and boss babes. The only real way to stand out in your industry is to brand, personally. Personal branding makes you relatable, connective, and human, while also setting you up as the expert you are, showcasing how professional you are. It’s a phenomenal mix of personal professionalism. Personal branding sessions give you tons of imagery to grab + create content, offering an ease to show up consistently in all of your online spaces.
Who is personal branding sessions for?
Any business, service provider, entrepreneur with an online existence. No, seriously. If you have social media? You need it. A website? Absolutely. Email marketing? PLEASE DITCH THE STOCK PHOTOS. Stock photos are not nearly as connective as personal branding — although I do feel like my free stock photos can be helpful now and then, you should not be relying on stock images.
How often should you book a branding session?
This will depend on your business, but ideally you are booking quarterly branding sessions. As coaches + services providers you likely have specials + launches + seasonal content themes. Your content needs refreshed so it doesn’t get stale, you get hair cuts, seasonal clothing changes. Honestly, branding photos should be authentic to your life + business AND Google favors updated websites.
Can a family or boudoir or wedding photographer do my business + brand photos?
Listen: I WAS THIS PERSON. I was the photographer with no specialty, and therefore no expertise in any niche, who documented any and everyone. I said yes to some “branding sessions” before I became an expert in the field, and I thought I did a great job. I captured great portraits + headshots, but when it came to fully branding a business, I was really just throwing caution to the wind.
Now? Now I have an incredibly clear understanding of what businesses need in the way of photography. I understand marketing, photo strategy, and I get into the head of your ideal clients heads.
It’s also important to know many photographers who aren’t used to working with businesses don’t have the best contract outlining the licenses needed to protect you + them, and also might restrict your rights to alter your images which is very needed when creating social posts.
When I took on “brand photography” before I was truly a brand photographer, I did not do any real planning beforehand. Now? Now I have an entire process before and after the session itself, so that my clients head into the brand session feeling totally prepared + confident as well as walk away with their gallery feeling confident + clear.
Brand photographers understand on multiple levels what is absolutely necessary for branding photos.
What type of photos will I get? How many?
Oh my gosh, this is such a fun part, because I get my creative juices flowing! I send you a branding questionnaire and we go over that during our planning meeting. We dive deep into your brand so I can really get a feel for what type of imagery makes sense! When you book a full branding package, you receive a gallery of 150+ images, which is perfect for 6+ months. We put together DIVERSE images, so you aren’t wearing the same outfit or sitting in the same spot or doing the same thing for every photo. We do lifestyle, behind the scenes, personality, tools + supplies, special touches, the list goes on!
Be sure to download my free Brand Photo Checklist below!
Email me at photo@nataliekristeen.com or submit an inquiry through the contact form. I cannot wait to work with you, and give you the confidence you deserve.
Grab the
free Business + Brand photo checklist
Does planning a brand photoshoot OVERWHELM you? Are you unsure what types of shots you need for your brand? Download my free checklist, I did all the heavy lifting for you :)
Review from: Alana, PDX Sex Therapy
