So, you’re a business owner that keeps hearing something about this “brand photography”. You’re not totally sure what it’s all about or why it’s something you even need. I got you friend. Pull up a seat for my tiny TED Talk covering your burning questions like, “What is brand photography anyway?” and “Why do I need more than the cropped out headshots of myself from my last family photoshoot?”
I’ll begin with my long winded answer: Brand photography is an all-encompassing term that describes an image library filled with photos that are specifically curated to show the visual style and story of a person or business. These photos help shape what your potential clients think of you, including who you are, what you do, and how you do it. Phew. Okay, now let’s dive in a little more!
What Brand Photography Is and Isn’t
When some people think of brand photos, they simply think of arms folded, stuffy-posed headshots. I’m happy to tell you that is absolutely not what brand photography is about! It also isn’t just random photos of you that are taken without intention. And it’s way more than just a handful of images that you’ll use up quickly.
Now that we’ve thrown out those false thoughts, let me tell you what brand photography really is:
- A strategic variety of comfortably posed and candid headshots (remember, not stuffy ones!)
- Group headshots of your team that allow individual personalities and the collective feel of your business shine
- Curated stock images that are unique to you and your business
- A progression of photos that tell the story of what you do and show what it’s like to work with you
In short, it’s a curated library of images that showcase who you are. Take Katie Bates for example – she’s a luxury real estate agent who loves a good book, a glass of celebratory champagne, and enjoys the occasional yoga class. Here’s one of my favorites from our brand shoot!
Why Brand Photography Is Important
You might love the idea of brand photography, but still aren’t sure why it’s important when you can just take photos yourself with your brand new iPhone. I mean I understand the phone cameras these days are absolutely insane, but let me paint a bit of a picture for you… Imagine you’re getting ready to invest in a specific service and it’s a big deal to you as the customer. You’re choosing between two businesses: one has a beautiful website, great visual branding, and high-quality professional photos throughout their website and social media. The other seems to have DIY-ed most of their website and has low-quality photos that seem to have no intention behind them. Which are you more likely to choose?
Being viewed as the go-to professional in your niche requires work and investment in yourself. I know how difficult it is to spend money on yourself, especially when the investment seems like a lot! But I promise, the ROI will blow your mind.
When You Should Book A Brand Shoot
I have a few integral times for when you should consider booking a brand shoot:
- When you initially launch your brand! There’s nothing like launching your brand and having a huge image library full of content to use throughout your website, social media, and marketing materials. Get your face out there and get noticed quickly! You can take a peek at Joy Warren Creative’s half-day brand shoot to see what we captured for her business launch.
- When you add new team members. For many businesses, your clients will be working with a few different members of your team. Introducing new faces is a great reason to book my Brand Refresh shoot (check out the details on that here on my services page!) so your entire team is showcased in the best light, both figuratively and literally.
- If you decide to rebrand. Whether you’re simply changing your brand’s visual identity or you’re completely shifting your niche, updating your brand photography is pivotal in being able to attract the eye of your ideal client base.
- You’re launching something new. If you’re pushing out a new product or service, having professional photos showcasing your new launch is the best investment. Use these photos for ads, social media, and on your website! One of my favorite product launches I’ve photographed was for Aarti Sequeira’s Recipe Journal – read more about it here.
Where to Use Your Brand Photos
Are you wondering where to even use these professional images once you receive them? Here are some ideas:
- Populate your website. You have a beautiful website, now it’s time to fill it with high-quality images!
- Curate your social media. Use your photos to uplevel your social media profiles!
- Use in marketing materials. When creating ads, business cards, and other digital or physical marketing materials, use your photos to catch the eye of your potential clients.
- In publications. If you’re being praised in a publication, you absolutely need to have professional photos of yourself! Put your best face forward to show off how great you are.
- Throughout blog posts and on Pinterest. When writing blog posts, shower them with your brand photos. Then create pins on Pinterest to drive traffic back to your site and get in front of your dream clients!
Ready to Book A Brand Photography Shoot?
If I’ve done my job so far, I’ve shown you that brand photography is crucial to any and every business. Whether you’re a small or large business, branded imagery is absolutely necessary. Now if you feel like you’re ready to book and you’ve concluded that I’m the photographer you’d like to work with, there’s just one simple step you need to take: get in touch with me! I’d love to get to know you and your business, and help you show it all off. Let’s get you the images you deserve.
