Why Do I Need a Personal Branding Session?

If you’re a small business owner, or someone in the service industry, you may be wondering why a personal branding session is really necessary. After all, in the world of “influencers”, everyone has a good camera these days, and it’s pretty easy to snap a nice image in portrait mode. Why shell out money for a professional, studio quality portrait or beautiful lifestyle session? Here’s just a few reasons why:

-You can’t repeat a first impression: Your client or customer’s first glance at your photo or branding will be their first glimpse into who you are, and what you’re all about. Do you want that initial impression to be slightly blurry, out of date, or off-brand? Certainly not! A professional level photo shows that you are conscious of current trends, that you care about your brand and message, and that you pay attention to detail. It can also show off your personality as someone who is warm and inviting, and ready to help.  YOUR BRAND ISN’T JUST WHAT YOU SELL, IT’S YOU, YOUR STORY, HOW YOU GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE AND HOW THAT IS KNITTED INTO YOUR PRODUCT AND/OR SERVICE.

-A personal branding session is an investment in yourself: Whether you’re a veteran businessman or woman, a session can boost your confidence and help solidify what you’re focused on in your life. It also can do things like increasing brand visibility (with an image people will remember), customer engagement (by bringing people to your social media), and giving your message cohesiveness (by having consistent color schemes, styles, and poses). You may be putting money into every aspect of your business except for professional portraits, but don’t neglect the impact they can have on your personal self-esteem AND your customer base. People want to invest in others…..let’s show them why they should they invest in YOU!

-A personal branding session is not just a headshot: Yes, if you’re looking for a stellar headshot, we can make that happen as part of your session, but a personal branding shoot goes far beyond that. We can photograph you in your element! If you’re a realtor, let’s show you in a gorgeous home, or in a lovely office doing what you do best. If you’re a baker, we will get hands on with your cakes and creations…if you’re a photographer, we will include your camera and gear, and even some beautiful products and/or people in some of the shots. The list can go on and on, but what we want is to showcase you, your passions, and do so with a series of shots that you can use for marketing, social media, and even your business cards. We would love to hear if you have something special in mind.

-Multiple amateur photos don’t look consistent: One of the hallmarks of a great business is consistency in marketing. Even if it’s something as small as a font, a consistent style increases a client’s confidence in your ability to pay attention to the little things. With a personal branding session, you can display images of a similar style wherever a client may see them, and you’ll be easily identifiable. A gorgeous professional image stands out way above something like a Facebook snapshot, or something you asked a passerby to capture on your cell phone.