Why invest in a brand photoshoot?
This Entrepreneur article popped into my inbox this week which references the importance of personal branding amidst the pandemic, ‘whether for your company or for yourself, it’s never been more crucial to build your personal brand’.
It reminded me to finally finish and publish this blog which was drafted earlier this year when I decided to invest in a personal brand photoshoot. A commercial decision? Absolutely. There were a few reasons which prompted my research into local photographers, namely:
Requirement for up-to-date digital assets - my website for one needed a spruce, and I wanted to better promote who am I and what I do on social media. What better way to do than with original, high resolution photos?
Tender opportunities earmarked for 2021 which required a tailored proposal
My potential customers are time-poor, so investment in quality eye-catching photography…essentially doing a better job of showcasing myself, was a no brainer. My research landed me with the brilliant Suffolk Brand Photographer aka Georgina Little and my half-day photoshoot resulted in a gallery of unique LW Marketing imagery. Hooray!
Hello, this is me! LW Marketing aka Lucy Woods - freelance marketing consultant based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Where to use your personal branding
There are plenty of ways to repurpose your brand photography (and no - using them for your dating profile isn’t a good enough reason to invest in brand photos in the first place). Put your photography to work; here are a few ideas ….
Email signature - important if you do speculative outreach
Website - great opportunity to update imagery on key pages
Social media channels - your profile picture and header image is prime real estate and essentially it’s FREE advertising. Capitalise on it and incorporate your new imagery into your post schedule.
Membership directories and groups - I’m a member of the Co-Working Club and we have a member directory promoting our respective skillsets. First impressions count, after all.
Google Business profile - if you’re a small business, chances are you’ll have one of these (if you don’t, I highly recommend getting setup) which means you can add imagery and make an improved first impression with your potential customers.
Presentation decks and proposal documents - even if it’s on the ‘Thankyou’ or ‘About’ page, it provides an opportunity to weave some personality into what can often be bland pdf documents.
Here’s some useful insight from Georgina and if I’ve managed to somewhat convince you of the benefits brand photography can bring to you and your business, take a look at Georgina’s blog ‘planning for your personal brand photoshoot’ for more advice.
When a client gets in touch with me, the majority have taken a while to get their personal brand photoshoot booked in. Why? The biggest reason is that they don't want to get in front of the camera! We all have concerns - whether it's to do with how you think you look on camera or just not knowing what to do in front of it. The main thing to remember is that a professional photographer can help ease all of these fears and also make sure you don't feel awkward posing. All of my clients finish their shoot and tell me how much they've actually enjoyed themselves! You also end up with a gallery of images you're proud to share, that work with your brand and business to make you stand out from the crowd.
