Personal Branding Photography

Coming to you today from sunny Gilbert, Arizona in the best coffee shop around (IMO) Peixto Coffee to talk all things Personal Branding Photography. You’re probably wondering what it is exactly and do I need it? How much does it usually cost, and what makes it different? I’m going to answer the top 7 questions about personal branding photography that I get asked while I sit here in the AC because it’s April and already 97 degrees outside- we love you AZ!

For today’s post on personal branding, I’m going to take you through the years of personal branding photoshoots with one of my favorite humans ever- Alicia Wolfe, Life and Leadership Coach of Integrate Well. Alicia is so kickass I can’t even think of enough words to describe everything that she embodies. Let’s start with the fact that she decided to quit her job, sell everything and travel full time with her husband and two little girls. If there was nothing else, that would be enough for me, but there’s so much more. I’ve never met anyone that goes after what they want so fearlessly as she does. Alicia and I met in Seattle, through a mutual friend, and I knew she was a kindred spirit from the start. I’m thankful for her continued support over the years and all the glorious hours we’ve spent together growing both of our businesses. Alicia- wherever you are in the world right now (last I checked it was Panama :) I miss your guts! Ok, let’s get to it!

1. What is Personal Branding Photography?

A personal branding photoshoot is the best way to portray to your clientele what sets you apart. People want to feel like they can get a good sense of who you are and what you stand for. Chances are, you’ve got some competition in your line of work, and personal brand photos give you the chance to showcase why they should choose you. As a personal branding photographer, my goal is to make sure the shoot is authentic first and foremost. This was the first personal brand photoshoot Alicia and I did together for her new website, as well as content for social media. She wanted the photos to express her free spirit, her love of nature and the things that ground her as a coach.

2. Who is it for?

If you’re here, I’m assuming you’re on the hunt for a personal branding photographer because you have a business you’d like to grow, or level up. I have done personal brand photoshoots for estheticians, nurses, make up artists, life coaches, bloggers, Arc’teryx, volleyball coaches, and podcast speakers. I see personal branding as a way for someone to put a face and personality to their service. When I’m scrolling through websites, the ones with aesthetically pleasing photos (of relatable content, obviously) are the sites I gravitate towards. If we can custom tailor those photos to truly express all the best parts of your business, that will make a huge impact for your business across all platforms.

This next series of photos was taken at our favorite downtown Seattle workspace called The Collective .  If you ever go to Seattle and you find yourself in need of a space to work, I highly recommend it. It has the most delicious food, coffee, private booths, so many plug-ins- that’s an absolute deal breaker for me haha. Give me a plug, or I’m outta there! Alicia was a member there and spent a lot of hours building her business in this space, so we wanted to capture her in that element. It’s so stunning, with so many local artist contributions, we knew it would be there perfect spot for our next personal branding photoshoot.

3. What to Expect

When you use me as your personal branding photographer, I will first ask you to fill out a questionnaire. I want to know what your greatest goals are for your business, the aesthetic you want to portray and are we thinking indoor, or outdoor? Among many other things. This is called personal branding for a reason- I want to get to know you! If I do my job right, photography is intimate. The best way I can assure your personality comes out in the photos is to make sure you and I have a relationship where I feel like I know who you are. We will chat a few times before the shoot and make sure we’re on the same page with what we need to get.

The day of the shoot, you can expect to be shooting for about 45 minutes, depending on how many photos you need. You can see a more detailed break down of cost and what that includes here. We’ll laugh, we’ll talk our way through it, we’ll collaborate and I’ll ask for your input along the way.

4. What is the Difference Between Personal Branding and Headshots?

The biggest difference to me is that personal branding photography feels more like lifestyle branding photography. Headshots kind of come with the old idea of really stiff photos from the shoulders up. This is NOT that. Personal brand photos are much more relaxed and candid. You’re going to move around, close your eyes, soak up the space and show me what you do! Don’t get me wrong, we will definitely get photos that you can use as professional headshots, but personal branding is way beyond that. It’s like the 5 next levels of who you are beyond your headshot!

5. Establishing a Schedule

Most people searching for personal branding photographers want to do more than one shoot. You by no means have to. We can get a lot of great content in one shoot, but alas, we’re in the age of social media. And having current content to upload on a regular basis is a game changer. We can work together to establish a schedule of reoccurring shoots, based on how quickly you need new material. I’d say the most common is every 3 months. In between shoots, we come together to discuss our next personal branding photoshoot ideas until we’ve got something nailed down. Again, the time frame and amount of branding photoshoots is custom tailored to each client.

6. How to Authentically Brand yourself as a Leader in your Field

This takes time, like anything else, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The first step is getting started! I want to help you create a presence for yourself that puts you at the top. Getting started with a foundation of content that you’re excited about will help keep your business moving forward. Keep in mind that these personal branding images can be used for everything- business cards, websites, social media content, Indeed profiles, you name it! It’s an investment that will continue to pay off time and time again. How we set up your specific personal branding photos will leave an incredible first impression for future clients.

7. Why do I need Personal Brand Photography?

Building a reputable business is hard work and you DESERVE to be represented right now, in the best way, exactly as you are. But also, they’re just a lot of fun! I promise. If the thought of stepping in front of a camera solo gives you anxiety, that’s a feeling I know well. I MUCH prefer to be on this end of the camera :) That being said, I gurantee you that before we shoot, yo'u’ll feel excited, relaxed and motivated. It’s natural to feel a little awkward, but that will go away quickly once we get started. By the end, everyone is always so surprised it’s over! If you’ve been searching “personal branding photography near me",” give it a shot and invest in yourself, you won’t regret it.

Please keep in mind, this is what personal branding looks like to me as both a business owner and a photographer. It’s going to look a little different for everyone and that’s ok! If what you’ve seen and read here sounds like it aligns with what you’re searching for in terms of a personal branding photoshoot, you can contact me here with any questions. If you want to follow Alicia’s amazing travel journey, you can check out her instagram here. Thank you for being here and thanks for reading! xoxo