Things I Learned From My Own Branding Session
2022 was a pivotal year for my Connecticut and New York area photography business. I was shooting more and more branding clients. In a desire to learn and grow more in the branding realm, I enthusiastically signed up for Maddie Peschong’s Rebrand, a mastermind tailor made to help photographers pivot to and grow in their branding practices. But as last year - my fifth in business - marched on, there was one thing that was missing and it was starting to feel like a blind spot: I hadn’t scheduled a branding shoot for myself.
*Record scratch*
Not having had my own branding photos taken was starting to make me feel inauthentic, which is the LAST thing I want to be. As a photographer who’s often told I made people feel comfortable - which is a gift to hear and my top priority with every client - I knew that in putting myself in my clients’ shoes and literally doing the thing - that there were probably countless ways that I could enhance the experience for my own branding clients. So in the throes of October, the busiest month of the year for photographers, I took a moment and booked my own branding session with the wonderful Kaitlyn Casso Creations.
And here are my key takeaways from the experience:
Branding sessions require a lot of preparation
While I *knew* this, I now fully appreciate the hours spent communicating with your photographer, choosing outfits that will flatter (but not distract), finding hair and makeup artists to help you feel your best on your shoot day, and coming up with a shot list of must-have photos. If you’re booking a branding session, you’re already an incredibly busy professional, and the planning and prep work for your branding session is a LOT to take on. I get it. Now, more than ever.
You are your own worst critic
As a photographer, I’ve heard my clients say the worst things about themselves.
“I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been.”
“Can you photoshop my wrinkles?”
“I take the worst pictures.”
“You can crop me out, right?!”
Sadly, these are things I hear on a regular basis and they bum me out every time. Trust me when I say that no one is a bigger fan of you than me. I go home, import the photos of you on a giant monitor, and I never fail to talk to the screen about how beautiful, smart and awesome you are. And yet…when I booked my own branding session, I had a few of these identical thoughts. So what I'll say to that is: we’re only human and we’re hardwired to be hard on ourselves. But your photographer will be your biggest cheerleader and hype girl, and sees how beautiful you truly are. And you’re going to see what your photographer sees when you get your photos back. It’s a HUGE confidence boost.
You will doubt yourself…and then wonder why you ever did
I get it. Getting pictures of yourself can feel…indulgent. Maybe you feel like you can spend your business budget on something else (anything else) that will boost your marketing presence. Maybe you have people in your life who don’t get it. And your mind starts playing those old familiar tricks: surely no one wants to see a photo of you?
But if you commit to the process, and to utilizing your branding photos to engage with your audience, you’re going to be SO pleasantly surprised, moved and maybe even a little emotional. It takes a LOT of courage to post a picture of yourself on social media and I know this first-hand. But what I can tell you from studying my own analytics, and the analytics of every single client I work with, is that no posts on your feed ever get as much engagement as the ones of YOU. Try it and watch the magic unfold.
Branding photos are meant to be shared
This may seem obvious, but hear me out. I have no doubt that the branding session experience and the resulting images are going to be great for you. But you need to use the photos to see how beneficial they really are. Far too often, I see clients who are SO excited about their photos struggle to share them. I get it. As busy business owners and professionals, you’re wearing so many hats. So don’t hesitate to ask your photographer how to utilize them. My branding photographer had great options you can add to your package. And with my decades of experience in PR and marketing, I am now offering a few add-on services, too. Whether it’s social media content, blogging programs, or even website copy, I can customize a program that will help you match your new visual content with on-brand written content, so that you can position yourself strongly to your audience. I can also recommend other awesome professionals who can do the same. All you have to do is ask – trust me, nobody wants you to utilize your photos more than your photographer.
Remember, we’re your biggest fans!
Have questions about the branding session experience? I am always happy to have a no pressure chat! Reach out here to start the conversation.
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