What You Should Know About Personal Branding Photography

Why should you care about personal branding?

When creating a new website for a business, your choice of images can’t be overlooked. As much as the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” gets overused, it’s incredibly important. People who find your page for the first time don’t want to spend too much time looking around - they immediately want to know: is this business going to provide the product/service they need.

To catch someone’s attention and maintain it, your website’s visuals need to give a clear, honest idea of what your business does. That way you can more easily capture the attention of your target audience and draw in potential customers. How do you get those visuals? Consider hiring a photographer!

Hiring a photographer isn’t just about getting pretty pictures. Having professional-looking photos can give a great first impression, but a photographer can also help guide your visual messaging and create images that provide an instant summary of what you do. Strong photography will ensure your target audience finds what they are looking for and that they can trust working with or buying from you.

Getting the right photographer is valuable, but having an idea of what to expect when hiring one makes the process less intimidating and increases the quality of the photography. Here’s how to have a successful personal branding session.

What should I do to prepare for a personal branding session?

Collaboration is key

Booking a personal branding session is a collaborative project between photographer and business, so although it’s important to trust their creative expertise, you know your business better than they do.

To create the best environment for successful collaboration, form a clear idea of how you want to represent your business and communicate that to your photographer. This can be through a mood board (Pinterest is great for this), a written style guide, or a chat with them over a call.

Visual guidelines will help the photographer understand what you need, but also gives you some parameters to look for in the delivery (i.e., number of images, image dimensions, colour palette). It may feel like you’re restricting your options, but a good collaboration needs vision, otherwise you may end up stressed for time during the session or feeling disappointed with the results.

This image includes the business owner, Megan, and one of her products. When someone lands on her website and sees this image, they should be able to understand what kind of product they can expect to find on the site and decide if that’s what they are looking for.

Come to the session with a checklist of assets

When you have a clear idea of the type of image you need on each page of your website, or a schedule of content you’d like to post, it helps the photographer hone in on compositions that best suit your needs.

For example, on a bio or about page, you’re most likely going to want a simple portrait or headshot that showcases an authentic side of you and your business. On a home page, you’ll want something that gives first-time visitors a visual summary of what you kind of products/services you offer.

There can be room to play around and try different things during the session, but have a priority in mind so you don’t miss out on key shots. The photographer should provide options to choose from, so allow time to try a couple different poses, compositions, and wardrobe changes.

This is not a performance

Being photographed can be intimidating. There’s a lot of vulnerability that comes with putting a face to any kind of project, and not everyone has experience with performing for a camera. Many people aren’t actors, models, etc., so remove the pressure to act a certain way and allow yourself to be vulnerable - you’ll come across more genuine and you’ll likely be happier with the final photos.

Don’t underestimate the power of slowing down

Taking some time to get comfortable before the shoot can make a big difference in your experience and in the final photos. First and foremost, hire someone you feel like you actually want to hang out with.

When you get to the shoot day, chat with your photographer, grab a coffee, bring up your concerns and apprehensions, and take your time easing into the session. Even if there’s a time constraint, getting comfortable before the first frame is captured relieves the pressure to perform and you’ll get photos that look more like you.

Where can I find a personal branding photographer?

Some may call it coincidence, but I happen to be available for this very thing! Check out the rest of my website or send me an inquiry through my contact page. Even if you’re not ready to book just yet, I’m happy to discuss your ideas. I am based out of Toronto, Canada, but am also willing to travel if needed.

If you found this post helpful or have any other tips for others that may be interested in personal branding photography, please leave a comment!