What is the value of professional photography for my brand?
I know that booking a branding shoot can feel a little bit... vulnerable. A little bit of a leap and a little bit "who do I think I am" - and that's totally normal.
And if you’re anything like most of the lovely humans I work with, you’ve probably said at least one of these:
- “I hate having my photo taken”
- “I’ll do it when I feel more confident”
- “I just need to lose half a stone first” (you don’t, by the way)
But the thing is - your photos are doing a job long before you ever speak to a client. And they are either working for you, or maybe against you.
That’s why a branding shoot can be so powerful for your brand.
So… what actually is branding photography?
Branding photography is about telling your story, your way. It can mean a number of things and actually... anything you like (see my post about Natalie here).
It's about visuals that tell that story without you having to speak, it's about how your brand feels and about speaking to the people you want to work with and building trust.
People pick up on how established and professional your brand feels through your images - which is where working with a Kent based branding photographer (me!) comes in.
We start with a chat - what you need, what your values are and what you'd like your photos to say. I use my expertise as a branding photogrpaher to create a mood board and shoot plan for your bradn - with a versatile set of images that will work hard for you - not just posed portriats (and nothing awkward, I promise), but process shots, images that show your messaging and creative photos that make you stand out. I have a striong background in social media and content so have an immediate sense of the messages you could put out into the world to attract your dream clients and make sure your shot list reflects that.
We figure out:
- what your business actually needs (not just what looks pretty)
- how you want people to feel when they land on your page
- where these images are going to live (website, Instagram, emails…)
You also recieve a PDF shoot guide and planning call with me before the session to go through all of those thoughts that pop into your head like:
"What should I wear?!"
"What do I do with my hands?"
On the day I gently guide you through - we don't do anything that makes you feel awkward, and you are never left second guessing - we chat and have fun and cpature the passion behind what you do.
Can I just do them myself?
A lot of people manage really well with DIY photos - they are great of you are starting out and absolutely have a place for those candid, day to day and behind the scenes moments that poeple love to see. But as your brand grows, your images need a consistency that shows how established you are. Professional photographs bring credability, consistency and a brand identity that makes you stand out.
When someone lands on your website they aren't thinking "They are pretty photos" they are thinking "Is this someone who knows what they are doing?" "Do I turst her?" "Do they make me feel comfortable".
Not everything needs to be perfect
People oftne tell me they don;t feel ready to book a branding shoot and this is very much a myth I'd like to bust.
Being ready is a myth!
Most people know they need something more, that they have outgrown the photos they are using or are feeling stuck when it comes to email marketing, applications and social media because their images don't reflect where their business is now.
You also don;t need to feel confident to book a professional branding shoot - that's where I come in. The confidence usually happens during and after the shoot when you relaise how far you have come and how much you have already achiveed with your business. By putting you at ease and understanding what your brand needs, I support you during the session to have the confidence you need on the day.
So many business owners tell me they hate having their photo taken and I get it. It’s a different kind of pressure when it’s tied to your work, your business, and how you’re showing up in the world and it's not something you do every day so it's bound to feel odd at first!
The truth is, very few people feel naturally at ease in front of a camera. It’s not something most of us are used to, and it can feel a bit exposing at first.
But personal branding photography isn’t about standing there trying to get it “right” or turning into a version of yourself that isn't you. It’s much more about being gently guided, having space to relax into it, and being photographed in a way that actually feels like you.
And more often than not, people come away saying the same thing - that it was far easier than they expected, and that once they settled into it, they actually enjoyed it.
What's the real impact?
Much like your branding photos will get across how it feels to work with you to prospective dream clients, having that bank of versatile images for your brand will give you:
Confidence to show up wherever you need to
Headpsace to create the content you need
No second guessing whether you have the "right" image
Credability to go for the clients and opportunities you want to
So if you think you are ready to move away from the selfie or to have images that really match how your business has grown, then drop me a message to find out more about booking a personal branding photography session in Kent.
Or check the website for the next mini branding day in Kent which I run a few times a year with a handful of spaces to give you relaxed natural images to use wherever you need (in just 30 minutes!). The next date is Tuesday 5th May - see below for examples from the last set of sessions or book below.
Either way, I would love to help you tell the story of your brand through a relaxed personal branding photography session in Kent.
Laura