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Personal branding photos are like 24/7 salespeople working on your behalf.

They’re your business’s shop window and the first impression most of your clients will have of you. 

That’s why you need to make them count.

In this blog, I’ll explain how you can do that and delve deeper into why personal branding photography is an invaluable investment.

 How does personal branding photography benefit business owners?

It makes people and their businesses relatable, fun, and desirable.

Depending on your industry, there may be many other people who provide a similar service to you, and you may find yourself fighting a lot of noise. So, the visual element of your business could set you apart in a saturated market.

As I’ve said many times, people buy they know, like, and trust.

Prospective clients should be able to resonate with you on a personal level if they're looking to invest in your skills.

That's why I always look to capture and evoke a wide range of emotions in my personal branding photos.

More people want to see a real live shot nowadays, and I think that discovering someone for the first time when they’re laughing or animated is really powerful.

 It makes your potential clients stop and take notice and shows you in a three-dimensional capacity.

 Personal branding photography and first impressions

It’s so important that you know what your ideal client looks like before you invest in personal branding photography. Otherwise, you could end up with shots that don’t resonate with your intended audience.

 The younger generations tend to like the ‘bloopers’ and ‘behind the scenes’ content and seeing the raw depiction of someone’s everyday life.

However, other clients of a certain age may value quality control. For example, the well-lit, high-res, conventionally ‘professional’ imagery.

The dynamic, ‘shoot from the hip’ approach can be really effective, but it won’t resonate with everybody. That’s why you need to cater to your dream client, whatever they look like. 

You also need to consider how the quality of your brand photos aligns with your core offering.

If you’re targeting higher-ticket clients but using photos from an iPhone, this may not be the best idea. There’s a time and place for iPhone photography—it’s ok for Instagram stories and reels, but it can only do so much in capturing the human behind a business.

However, if you use a Sony camera to capture your brand, the resulting photos may sell your brand better and give you a greater chance of achieving your desired outcome.

How business owners can promote their personal branding photographs

 Once you’ve got your photos and are happy with them, you can use them to promote your brand in so many different ways.

As well as uploading them to your website, you can share them across social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

LinkedIn is a particularly great platform if you offer a B2B service. You could include your new photos in a post outlining your expertise in a specific area or how you can solve the problems your clients face. Doing this not only positions you as an expert in your field—it adds a face to your business and brings it to life that bit more.

You could share your new photos in email newsletters or press releases if you work with a PR agency or regularly interact with journalists. You may want to include them in advertising banners and any physical marketing material you intend to give people, such as brochures and business cards.

The possibilities are endless!

 It’s also worth bearing in mind that your personal branding photos are not just a ‘one and done’ exercise.

 They’re long-term assets to your business that you can use on multiple platforms over multiple months.

 It is absolutely ok to repurpose the same content again and again.

 As long as the photos are true to the product or service you’re selling today, share them to your heart’s content.

 They’re an investment into attracting your ideal client, after all.

 How personal branding photographers shape people’s self-perceptions

 When you see your new photos for the first time, you’ll most likely feel a combination of surprise, pride, and excitement.

 Many of my clients have said words to the effect of, ‘Oh my God. Look what we did! Look at my business!’  

 Another common response is, ‘I can’t believe I look this good! I didn’t know I could look this good.’

 My approach to personal branding photography

 I'm a really informal, people-oriented photographer. I treat people as equals to myself and do everything I can to make them feel at ease.

 I understand it takes a lot to give up control and let somebody else see you in a certain light, especially if you’ve not done a personal branding shoot before.

 It's like a group trust exercise. When you work with a personal branding photographer, you’re essentially saying, ‘I trust you to portray me’. Likewise, I’m trusting you to let go of your inhibitions and tell me you’re ok with letting them go.

 This mutual trust is essential for allowing us to work together so that we both do what we do well. If you trust your photographer to portray you honestly and authentically, then you're winning. This is the recipe for success.

 Reach out to me for your personal branding photographs 

I will honour your trust in me by giving you high-quality images that you'll be proud of.

 You'll like and enjoy what you're looking at and see your business in a completely new light.

 If you’re ready to give your brand a facelift with fresh new imagery, fill out this short form, and I’ll be in touch.