Headshots have a place but does it really convey you, your business, or your art? A personal branding session may be more useful & create a better connection with your potential clients.
Personal Branding has become a bit of a buzz-phrase over the last few years, but what exactly is Personal Branding? The definition by Wikipedia is 'Personal branding is the practice of people marketing themselves and their careers as brands. While previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal-branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging'. Understand that? No, I don't blame you! Basically, choosing personal branding over a headshot means you are telling the viewer exactly what you do or what you stand for in your photo shoot by either doing said profession or sharing where you work/study/live etc. For example, if you are a chef then you would conduct your photo shoot in your kitchen preparing meals. You could then also share one of your creations, to further present 'your brand' or ethos. Only two or three of the images captured may feature the 'physical' you in them, but all are a representation of your Personal Brand. And they all help your present and future clients connect with you.
A headshot is a great way of showcasing who you are physically and sometimes emotionally, but personal branding takes it one step further and showcases you as an all round person and helps to tell the story of exactly who you are. It's not for everyone, but can be really effective especially if you work within a medium that lends itself to the theatrics of photography. However, even if you work in an office everyday you can set the scene for where you do business while also subtly bringing in personal elements such as your loves, ambitions and hobbies.
When planning your shoot, think about your brand identity, logos and colours. You want the look and feel of your images to be consistent across your social media & website etc. I'd recommend creating a mood-board (this can be digital or on paper). Pull out references of images that you are drawn to, that speak about who you are as a person. Notice what colours and themes you are drawn to and work towards them.
So how do you decide if you need Personal Branding images, or if a simple headshot will suffice. Think about where you will be using your images. Do you work for a corporate company and just need a great new profile for LinkedIn or the company website? Chances are, a headshot/portrait session will be enough for you. Read my top tips for business headshot here. But if you would like to incorporate different elements of your business into your social media and website, then a Personal Branding shoot is for you.
A Personal Branding session is perfect for individuals who are looking for the full works and have a flexible budget to accommodate a higher service level with image evaluation, as well as a style & concept conversation. You may like multiple wardrobe changes, and potentially a professional hair & make up service. You want to elevate your brand with a variety of photographs to better relate to multiple audiences with a consistent brand message.
Personal branding photography is used for social media profile photos, social media posts, headers and banners, your website, email signatures, newsletters, marketing, printed media such as newspaper articles, magazines - you name it! So getting it right is key to your business getting out there and being recognised. I have worked with a multitude of companies across the UK, and they all have benefited from my attention to detail and relaxed attitude, an aspect of my approach that is vital in order to get the best out of and for my clients.
Be it professional headshots or personal branding you are looking for please feel free to get in touch any time using the details below, I would love to work with you!