If you’ve ever scrolled through the website or Instagram of a favorite influencer or brand, you may have noticed something that stands out: Their photos look amazing! That’s because the best brands recognize the importance of having authentic, high-quality images to represent their business.
Your brand is more than a logo or a color scheme. It's what you offer and who they will be working with if they choose to hire you.
In the case of this incredible singer-songwriter, Sharon Marie White, it was important for her to tell her story, and show that she's a serious professional who has invested in herself and comes to the table as a singer, songwriter, and talented musician.
She went through a phase of not being sure about herself.
"I am 56 years of age and I had this discussion with myself regarding: 'Am I too old?', 'Am I talented enough?', 'Am I pretty enough?'."
But, once she decided to go for it, she was all-in.
If you’ve never had a professional branding photoshoot for your business, you’re missing out! There are so many ways you can use the images to market your brand and draw in potential clients.
A common thing that I hear is that you know you need portraits of yourself for social media, but you don't have any photos of yourself that you want to share and you feel like you're not photogenic.
My specialty is photographing women of all ages and all sizes. I guide you every step of the way to capture your best angles and expressions. Almost everyone I photograph tells me that they have never loved a portrait of themselves until they met me.
Sharon said, "My fear is that my portrait will not depict my personality, and I'm afraid of being nervous and awkward during the shoot."
Sharon knew she needed to hire an expert for her branding session - someone who would work with her vision and deliver results that are not just on-brand, but that are flattering and she's proud to share them everywhere!
''I am a bit of a tomboy at heart, but when I get dressed up, put on makeup, and do my hair I feel beautiful'', she says.
Coming to my Calgary studio, where professional hair and makeup is part of the deal, is a recipe for feeling beautiful. And, that's important, because how you FEEL comes through in the images, and I wanted Sharon to feel like the most beautiful person in the world!
You only have one chance at a first impression
The world moves faster all the time, and most people won’t spend too much time browsing a brand’s social media or website before they decide if they want to work with them. If a potential client visits your website or Instagram and just sees generic stock photos or grainy images, they’re more likely to look for someone else to meet their needs.
Professional, personalized branding images not only set you apart—they tell the story of who you are and what you have to offer. The way you present yourself and your brand in your images let clients know exactly what to expect if they choose to work with you.
And if your photos are authentic and stunning, they’ll be eager to sign up for the chance to talk to you!
Demonstrate what makes you unique
The goal of personal branding photography is to show off what makes you different from everyone else.
In the case of Sharon, because she is a performer, her brand is not a product, it's HER!
Sharon has an active YouTube account with followers from all over the world. Of course, they tune in to hear the story behind the songs and watch her amazing musical performances, but they absolutely LOVE the blooper reel! Why? Because it's authentic and real.
As the face of your brand, you are the person people want to connect with.
Most visitors to your website or social media profiles are looking for the face behind the business, the person they would speak with and work with if they booked your services.
Strong brand imagery gives these potential clients a solid reason to care about your brand and what you have to offer.
By telling your story through personal branding photos, you’re inviting everyone—current and future customers alike—to be a part of that story.
Increase leads and sales
Professional photography not only makes your brand and website look better—it can also have a huge impact on your sales. Authentic imagery that tells the story of your brand can help improve your conversion rates and encourage more visitors to your website to take the next step and contact you or book your services.
Branding photography is versatile too. You can use it to update your website, but you can also use those images to boost your social media presence.
Instead of struggling to come up with photos for your Instagram posts, you’ll have a whole library of images to choose from!
By posting professional images regularly, you can increase your following on social media, expanding your audience, and letting more people know about what you offer.
Personal branding photography is an investment in you and your business—a way to let the world know that you’re serious about making a difference and providing products and services that people will love.
When you have authentic personal branding images that tell your story, more people will want to listen to what you have to say—and what you say is worth hearing!
I asked Sharon what advice she would give her younger self. She said:
"Do not worry about 'fitting in'.
Your life will lead you down many paths.
Timelines in your life will show up at different stages!
Be yourself!"
Let me tell you a bit more about Sharon, in her own words:
"I am a prairie girl at heart.
I grew up on a rural Manitoba farm/small town.
I am a wife and mother of three boys, now grown men.
My career path has meandered from sales, floral design, and owner of multiple businesses all the while juggling my passions including: singer, songwriter, musician, guitar teacher, and fine artist.
At this stage in my life, I am receiving acknowledgment for my music.
My songs are being played all over the world and I am excited and nervous to see where the next phase takes me.
After some soul searching I realized that life is too short to worry about things beyond my control and I needed to do what I love to do.
In doing this my hopes are to add enjoyment to others through my music."
To learn more about Sharon Marie White, check out her website.
My Personal Branding sessions are designed like an advertising campaign, with a strategy and a vision.
I include an in-depth Personal Brand Discovery questionnaire and planning session so that you are prepared and confident on the day of your session that we will have all the props we need and a shot list to create our vision.
I will even help you afterward with ideas on how and where to use your images.
While I encourage my Personal Branding clients to keep using fresh images, I find that most of them are able to get 2-3 years of use out of the portraits that I have taken for them.
Your investment in professional branding images will pay for itself by helping you connect and engage your audience for years to come.