QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY AS A RESOURCE IN PERSONAL BRANDING
A HUGE PART OF PERSONAL BRANDING IS THE VISUAL IMPACT. WITH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY YOU CAN MAKE AN EVEN PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS AND CUSTOMERS
Are you interested in learning more about personal branding? Developing a memorable and visually-engaging personal brand is critical to the success of you or your organization. And a big part of building a solid brand rests in the quality of the photography you use.
Quality photographs are an easy way to hook an audience, so creating and choosing the right images should be a priority. If you’re ready to learn more about how photography can elevate your personal brand, keep reading!
WHAT IS PERSONAL BRANDING?
Personal branding is how you market yourself to the outside world. If you’re a blogger, a musician, an entrepreneur, or simply an individual looking for career advancement, a professional brand can fast-track your success. And photography is an excellent tool to help package an image for your brand.
What does building a personal brand mean? With personal branding, you have to think about how you will sell yourself. By using strong imagery along with well-chosen words, you can convey your brand across lots of social media platforms.
BE AWARE OF YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
One of the first aspects of building a brand that you should be thinking about is your target audience. What clients do you hope to pick up? What demographic will be interested in what you offer?
Once you have determined this information, you can begin crafting your brand. If you’re hoping to convey a classy and sophisticated brand because you sell upscale clothing, for instance, you might want photography that features clean compositions and muted colors. You might even want to keep things black and white.
On the other hand, if you’re trying to reach a family-friendly audience with your parenting blog, you want to communicate an upbeat and friendly vibe. In that instance, using photography that highlights playful expressions, bright colors, and cozy interior spaces can get the job done.
Make a list of some of the phrases or words that come to mind when you’re developing your brand. You can share these with your photographer to help shape your session.
KNOW WHAT LOOK YOU’RE GOING FOR WITH PERSONAL BRANDING
Before you get too deep into a branding campaign, step back, and consider what it is that you’re going for. Know what tone you want to set and the quality you want to exude. Be clear on this, because an unfocused brand will only serve to confuse people or turn away potential clients.
What are other individuals in your field doing, and how can use your imagery to distinguish yourself? What are your longterm goals, and how can potent imagery help you reach them?
These are all fair questions to ask your photographer as you prepare for a personal branding photo session. Do some research to see what already exists, and then make your brand better and more original.
SCHEDULE A BRANDING SESSION
Photography is key to crafting your brand. If you’re a school administrator, crisp photography can help showcase the beauty of your campus or the approachability of your personnel. If you’re an actor, photography has the power to showcase your best features and professional range.
Scheduling a headshot session or documenting an event can go a long way toward communicating a sense of professionalism and dedication. Make sure that your photographer is experienced, communicative, and excited to help you!
Since you want to look your best for a photoshoot, take a few steps to prepare in the days or weeks ahead of your shoot. You’ll have a more productive session if you show up ready to go.
Make sure to hydrate enough so that your skin looks radiant. If you want to include your hands in the imagery, get a manicure and moisturize.
And think about your hair and wardrobe. Time your next haircut so that you have the perfect style for your session. Find a wardrobe color scheme that will complement the backdrop you choose.
Most importantly, talk with your photographer. They’ll have good suggestions to ensure that your session is effective and targeted. They’ll also have the experience to help you understand how photography truly can be an asset to your personal branding goals.
MARKET YOUR BRAND EFFECTIVELY
Part of marketing effectively is marketing consistently — and telling a story. A good narrative can hold someone’s attention, so your photos should be inviting an audience to learn more about what you have to offer.
Consider how the setting, expressions, and photographic style can craft the right message. What environments suit your brand? Should you be serious and demure or casual and engaging?
If your photos are all upbeat and highly saturated, it would be confusing to switch to muted, back and white shots for your next Instagram post. You need to maintain a consistent public image through your photography.
MAINTAIN A DIGITAL DATABASE
Once you have some high-quality photographs, it’s important to take the time to organize them. After all, you may want to parcel out your images over time. Your future self will be thankful if everything is categorized and easy to access!
When you maintain a database of digital imagery, you’ll have a selection of quality photographs at your fingertips. This is an invaluable resource when you’re putting together your next pamphlet, invitation, brochure, or social media post.
THE BOTTOM LINE
When it comes to personal branding, the key is knowing what you want — and working with professional photographers who can help you realize your goals. Be flexible during the process and know that a photographer can help you shape an effective and clear brand.
If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out and we’ll help you make it happen!