So You Need Branding Photos - How to Get Started

It’s Your First Branding Shoot!

More and more people are wanting to build an online presence. People are starting new businesses, wanting to get websites up and running, and they need photos of themselves - Branding Photos. But, they don’t know where to begin. Let me help!

You need a profile photo.

1. Research. What I recommend first - do some digging.  Look up people that you like, who do what you do. See what their photos look like and see what resonates with you. Imagine yourself in a similar looking image and see if that projects the kind of look you want.

You need photos for your website.

2. Brand Identity. If you’re not sure what your personal brand is, start by asking yourself these questions: What do I stand for? What am I known for or what do I want to be known for? What makes me different from others? What do I believe in? What do I hope to achieve? Get an idea of who you are marketing to and then do some research on other brands that resonate with you. This doesn’t need to be a huge project. And, it should be fun. Hopefully whatever business you are trying to get started is something you are passionate about. So researching about it should inspire you. Just be careful not to get intimidated by what you see online. Remember, everyone started where you are now.

You want a photo for your email signature.

3. Your colors. If you already have a web designer, or, you are doing it yourself, try to get a good idea of what colors you want in your website. Before you invest in phtography, you should have some sort of idea of where you want to go with your website and social media in terms of the look & colors. That’s when your photographer can recommend backdrops, and clothing colors, or accessories that will help tie everything together.

Get 3-4 good photos of yourself to get started.

4. Just a few Photos. I recommend, if you are just getting started on your new business, and you just want to get something up on the web, just get a few photos of yourself. After you get your feet wet, your brand will evolve. You will then have a stronger identity and that is when you will want many more photos of yourself.

Do update your look.

5. New Clothing. Even if you are just starting out, make sure you take a little bit of time to get some new clothing for your shoot. Your photographer can help you with this. They don’t have to be expensive. Cheap, new clothing can photograph really well. When you wear your old clothing in your photoshoot, you won’t necessarily feel your best and that will show in your photos. Trust me on this. Celebrate where your are headed with your new business and make a small investment in some new clothing.

6. Find a Photographer. Last, but not least, find a branding photographer. Look for a local photographer in your local chamber directory, instagram or facebook and of course, google. See if they have a variety of looks. Personal branding photos should represent you and not look like everyone else. Check their google reviews!

To recap: 1. Do your research on what you want to look like. 2. Get an idea of what you want your brand identity to be. 3. Figure out your personal branding colors. 4. Get a few photos to start out. 5. Buy a few new clothing items. 6. Find a branding photographer.