There are so many photographers encouraging you to "be visible in your business" and to "be the face of your brand" so that you can "build your know like and trust factor", that it can be hard to know's going to be the right person for you.
Finding the right photographer is pretty critical when you are brand building because as highly visual beings, photography plays a significant role in attracting and calling in the right people.
How to find a personal brand photographer?
1) Decide what you want from your brand photographer
Before you start firing off emails, consider how you want to partner with your photographer.
Is this a one off or do you want a trusted partner to build a relationship with over time?
Do you have a strong idea of your brand aesthetic or need help translating your inspirations into your shoot?
As a brand designer as well as a photographer, this last one is my area of specialism and something that my clients really value - I like to think I offer a unique perspective on the best locations and styling to communicate your brand essence.
2) Start with your brand
Before you even start looking for a photographer to work with, you should consider your brand essence and the look and feel of your brand. This is the most important thing you can do for yourself. I work with my clients on brand discovery before we even start to talk about locations, clothes and accessories.
I'd encourage you to create a Pinterest board to hone your brand style before finding someone who suits that style.
3) Consider what photographic style best reflects your brand
We brand photographers all use the same equipment and lenses, but our shooting and editing style is a very personal thing and this is what makes the results vary hugely from photographer to photographer.
It's important to consider which style will complement the look and feel of your brand best, because otherwise it will be fighting with your message rather than amplifying.
My signature edit is a light, bright & airy look which works well with people who are looking to create vitality, freshness and optimism in their brand (you can take a look at my personal brand portfolio here). I like my whites to be whites and colours to pop!
Popular photography editing styles right now include:
Light & Airy
Dark & Moody
Earthy & Muted
Classic
Editorial grunge
4) Research brand photographers in your county
Start on Google to research your options and head on over to Instagram to get a quick visual look at a photographers personal branding portfolio.
If you were looking to find me for instance, you'd want to be Googling keywords such as 'branding photographer Dorset' and 'personal brand photography Dorset'. These search terms will bring back lots of leads to explore.
Be guided by your intuition. Contact the photographers that align to your brand values and style, have experience in personal branding and that you know will do an amazing job of translating your brand vision into the images that will connect with your ideal audience.
5) Don't base your decision on price alone
A photographer might be dominating in a local area or industry niche because they are the cheapest option...but that isn't a reason to book with them in itself. Consider instead how you can stand out from the crowd by working with someone else, so that you can create your own individual style.
6) Get to know your photographer before the shoot
It's really important to get to know photographer before your shoot to ensure you are a good fit, to share ideas and inspirations for the images and to discuss set-ups and locations.
The right photographer will be interested in your brand and take time to understand your business and vision rather than just applying a 'one size fits all' approach to your shoot. Check that you are feeling seen, heard and understood.
7) Trust your intuition when deciding
You should feel comfortable with your photographer and confident that they are qualified to do the best possible job for you.
You might not feel overjoyed at the prospect of having your photograph taken so make sure that you speak to your brand photographer about any reservations you may have in advance. They should quickly be able to put your mind at rest and allay any fears.
I promise you that even the most camera shy of my clients has really enjoyed our session together! I myself am not great in front of the camera...but I faced my fears just recently and it was a great experience.
If you're feeling nervous about the prospect, I'd love to chat
Here's one just to prove I did it! :)
I hope this little article sparks some ideas and helps you to find for the right brand photographer to work with.
If you're considering a personal branding shoot and think we could be a good fit for, I'd love to hear from you via my contact form.
You can also feel free to take a look at my portfolio or find out more about my personal brand photography options.
I am based in Dorset, but for the right clients I cover the South West, Hampshire, Surrey and SW London.
About Lucy:
I'm a brand designer, photographer and Wix website designer based in Dorset. I help female business owners and career changers build their brand and online presence through photography and web, brand & human design, so that they can turn their passions into the business they dream of.
Sign up to my email list to join my inner circle and for help on creating impact in your brand.
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