When you run a business, at some point you might realise you need some photographs of your wonderful face, to help you market your business. It’s easy to assume ‘I just need some photos for my website’ and ask around for a headshot photographer. However, planning a personal brand shoot can give you much more value by allowing your potential clients and customers to connect with you emotionally. So let’s start with the basics – what is a personal brand shoot and why should you do it?
A personal brand shoot is so much more than just getting headshots for your LinkedIn profile, it’s about telling your unique story as a business owner. Personal brand images are your chance to show off your personality and what makes you different. The fact is: human beings are visual creatures, so images will always do better than words when it comes to connecting emotionally with your audience. According to research: “Visualization works from a human perspective because we respond to and process visual data better than any other type of data. In fact, the human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text, and 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual.”
Personal branding photography is going to boost your business: there are no two ways about it! So how do you plan a shoot to make the most of your investment? A good personal photographer will ask you the right questions to help you plan your shoot – I always give my clients a workbook beforehand to ensure they are well prepared. Here are some of the key questions to ask yourself:
- What do I need photos for? Where am I going to use these photos? For example: social media, website, flyers etc. Knowing their end-use will help you and your photographer understand what format the photos need to take and if you might need to consider different locations, the placement of elements in the final image and your colour palette.
- Which types of photos will best tell my business story? How many need to feature my face / just hands either writing on laptop or making/creating something?
- What props might I need to show the ‘behind the scenes’ of my business? Do I need to feature other people – as stand-in ‘clients’ or ‘customers’?
- What am I going to wear – do I have branded clothing or certain brand colours I’d like to feature? How many outfits will I need to feature?
- Where will the shoot take place? Consider indoor vs outdoor locations and the current season. Where will I feel most comfortable?
The key thing to remember about a brand shoot is to have fun! I work with lots of camera-shy entrepreneurs and I know that the more fun we can have together, the more relaxed you’ll look on camera and the more your personality will shine. Please get in touch to book an informal chat if you need personal brand photography for your business. I’d love to help you create beautiful images to tell your amazing story!
