Brand photography.
There, I said it!
Brand photography is the one thing that changed my business completely. And if I knew how much it would change the course of my business (and my mindset about my business), I would have invested in it much sooner. It’s why I wanted to write this blog post because I felt it skyrocketed my confidence as a new business owner. And hopefully, by sharing the knowledge I’ve learned, you’ll gain the confidence and reassurance to book your first brand shoot!
In this blog post, we’ll go over why you need brand photography, how it’s going to give you a return on your investment, and how to find a brand photographer who can capture your business in the perfect light!
So what is brand photography, anyway?
Brand photography is a customized curation of images meant to represent you and your brand visually. In essence, brand photography puts a face to your brand and allows potential clients to connect with you, and see what it’s like to work with you.
Think about the small businesses you connect with the most — is there a person or some type of character that’s the face of the business? It’s important to remember that as creative entrepreneurs, we’re not just selling our services/products — we’re selling the experience, our story, and our expertise. It’s really hard to do that without showing your face!
Why is brand photography so important?
I’ll start with the number one reason why brand photography was important for me and my business: it made me feel like a real business owner. (I know I’m not the only entrepreneur who suffers from imposter syndrome!) It wasn’t so much that I didn’t believe in myself or the business, but it’s easy at the beginning to treat your business like a side-hustle or a hobby. At times, it might even feel like a pipe dream.
But once you start to treat yourself like a real-life, badass business owner, that’s where the mindset shift happens. There’s nothing quite like seeing your first round of professional photos. It’s life-changing and solidifies the idea that your business is the real deal.
Another benefit was that it brought all the elements of my brand together — the copy, the logo, the color palette, the fonts… All those elements were great and I had an amazing team that worked hard to create this amazing brand of mine (read more here about why outsourcing is crucial for business growth), but my brand images were like the ribbon on top that tied everything together in a complete way.
Choosing the right brand photographer for you
Now, I know that hiring a good brand photographer isn’t cheap, but you will see a return on your investment, as long as you choose the right-fit brand photographer for you and your business. But how do you go about doing that?
I’ve seen a lot of business owners make the mistake of choosing just any professional photographer to do their brand shoot, but brand photography is a special niche within the photography industry. So it’s important to first, find someone who is knowledgeable and experienced in brand photoshoots.
You’ll also want to consider the style of different photographers. Each photographer has their own style and you should ensure that it resonates with you and your brand.
Third, you want to look at their website and maybe even jump on a consultation call to see if this is someone you would enjoy working with. For many people (including myself!), having photos taken can be very intimidating and stressful. That’s why it’s crucial to find a brand photographer who can put you at ease to ensure you come through as your most authentic self in your photos!
To wrap up…
Having professional brand photographs will not only make you and your business look more legit, but it can also be a great confidence boost for you too! And while it can be a steep investment, especially if you’re just starting out, it will pay back in dividends because the photos will help you nail that first impression among potential clients. Plus, it’ll make you recognizable across platforms and ensure you get off on the right foot with brand recognition and consistency.
