5 Reasons why hiring a personal branding photographer is a brilliant investment
Hiring a personal branding photographer might seem like a bit of an extravagance and an unnecessary expense, especially if you’re a small business owner. You’ve got a cell phone right? Or maybe a friend who’s really great at taking photos in their spare time? However, and I realise I’m a little biased, here are 5 reasons why professionally shot personal branding images are an essential investment for your business.
1. A professional photographer will be able to suggest amazing venues for your shoot that suit your personality and brand message. We choose Maboneng in Johannesburg for this shoot because Despina was after some edgy and fun portraits that were a direct contrast to her existing studio shot portraits.
2. Great lighting is fundamental for personal branding portraits and pro photographers always know their stuff when it comes to flattering angles and light. Due to tight scheduling options, this shoot took place at midday which is, in theory, the worst time ever to be out shooting. Can you tell? Of course you can’t.
3. A pro shooter works with their client to create a varied set of images in one shoot that can be used for different purposes. Understanding that entrepreneurs often need images with space for text (if you’re promoting a webinar for instance) means framing images up off centre and not cropping too tightly. Your photographer of choice should ask you what you need before the shoot, it’s an important discussion to have.
4. Your personal branding shoot should allow for several outfit changes, several location options and a variety of close up and full body poses in each set. Images from one personal branding shoot will last you at least a year if you choose a photographer who’s able to create a collection of ‘looks’. This means you can change your profile pictures on your website and social platforms whenever you want without having to do a whole new shoot.
5. A personal branding shoot should be an enjoyable experience. It’s important to choose a photographer that you like (as a person not just their work) and who you feel comfortable with. The more at ease you feel with the photographer you work with, the better your photographs will look.
Remember that you’re paying for the expertise of a personal branding photographer to make you look as fabulous as possible, feel comfortable and relaxed and edit your images professionally and in a timely manner. The upfront investment of a really good photographer might seem a bit daunting, however you really do get what you pay for when it comes to personal branding imagery.
Thanks to my lovely client Despina Senatore for a brilliant shoot in Maboneng. You can find out more about Despina’s coaching business here.
For more information about booking your own personal branding photography session, please get in touch with me here.