If content is King, then a personal branding photoshoot is Queen. Why? Because it makes photography personal. It goes far beyond any ole headshot to capture your true essence — your heart, soul, and personality.
Images shot during a personal branding session are strategically designed to tell the story behind your brand. It epitomizes the “a picture is worth a thousand words” sentiment. And in an image-forward world, these unique attributes are the perfect way to stand out with scroll-stopping allure.
While there are many reasons to fall in love with a personal branding photoshoot, here are five of my favorites.
- It humanizes your business.
No surprise here, you know I’m all about the human touch! And for good reason, people want to do business with people. And not just any people, people they can trust and relate to. In a growing digital landscape, verifying authenticity has become increasingly difficult. Not to mention the noise added across industries. While many heart-centered approaches exist to cultivate meaningful relationships and stand apart from the crowd, quality images with added flair are a fabulous start.
How does a personal branding photoshoot do this you ask? Through a collection of candids that capture your personality, work environment, unique services, personal style, favorite leisure activities, and even your fur babies. Say goodbye to stock photos and hello to enhanced visibility! By becoming the face of your business and revealing more of yourself through your brand, you’ll naturally establish yourself as an emerging leader in your industry.
- It enhances your visual identity.
Part of crafting a compelling brand is through visual identity. You want someone to be able to look at a piece of content and immediately know it’s yours. Let’s take a lesson from some of the best personal brands out there like Oprah, Marie Forleo, and Tony Robbins. I bet you can imagine the colors and fonts associated with each, right?
THIS is what it looks like to become a thought leader through personal branding. Granted we’re talking about Oprah here, but the strategy is the same…and visual identity is key! You don’t see these powerhouses relying on stock photos or generic headshots, do you? Of course not. They’re going for gold! And to do that, they’ve poured their entire heart and soul into their branding in order to reach yours. Note taken.
- It transforms your website into an experience.
We’ve all entered websites that we’ve immediately exited – either too chaotic, aggressive, or drowning in obvious DIY discombobulation. If prospective clients don’t feel welcomed or cared for upon initial entry of your website, they certainly won’t want to take the next step in doing business with you. The beautiful thing about having a library on-hand of vibrant branded photos is that they will pop your personality right off the page. This greeting is not only inviting, it’s also warm and enchanting. It sends the message that you’re invested in your community, so why wouldn’t they want to invest in you?
- It attracts your ideal clients.
Don’t underestimate love at first sight! Images are first impressions in virtual form…what do yours say about you? Maybe they aren’t exactly communicating to your ideal audience in the way you want them to be at the moment, but that’s okay! Now’s a great time to start planning for your photoshoot.
To co-create magic with your photographer, reflect on these questions to be adequately prepared. Who do you want to speak to? What do you want them to know about you? What are your core brand values? What adjectives best describe you and your brand?
- It’s FUN!
Who said business has to be boring? Personal branding shoots are a fun way to ignite charisma and fall even deeper in love with your offers. From the glam outfits to the props, and the set, there is so much possibility to unlock with your creative superpowers! Remember to enjoy the process and relax, because that exact energy will be reflected back to you!
We can’t wait to hear all about your amazing experience on set! And when your photos are ready to publish, remember to tag us (we want to see you rockin’ it!). If you need top-tier recommendations or a personal branding strategy to feel camera-ready, you know we’re here for you!
Want to learn more about this topic? Make sure to follow Melanie Borden and The Borden Group on LinkedIn™.
