Brand Photography: 6 Surprising Indicators that Tell You When to Hire a Pro
As an entrepreneur, creative, or consultant you are looking forward to batch creating your on-brand business photography every month. You have all the gear and photographic know-how; your selfies look just gorgeous and you feel proud and excited to share them online. Well, congratulations – you are doing great!
Could always use a few surprising tips from a pro? Learn “8 Secret Hacks to Rock Your DIY Photo Shoot” HERE)
For the rest of us, the decision when to hire a personal brand photographer may be a little more complex.
Here is what my clients tell me: this is how they knew they needed to stop bootstrapping and invest in quality marketing images for their business.
You just don’t have the time to hunt for photos
As an author, artist, or interior designer, you have your zone of genius – and it’s probably not photography. You know that the time spent on trying to find or create custom business portraits is just not time well spent.
You waste hours
- scrambling for stock photos that are on-brand, beautiful, and support your message
- trying to figure out what kind of images your brand needs
- getting all dolled up every time you are trying to take flattering images of yourself
2. You have been in business For more than 2 years
For most entrepreneurs 2 years in business is typically a point where they have tried out a few things, know who their customers are and what aspect of their business they want to focus on. With the basics of branding in place, this is often a great time to make the whole enterprise look a lot more professional and legitimate with the help of professional business and social media photography
(Learn how to connect to your dream customers with lifestyle branding photography HERE)
3. You don’t know which photos your brand needs
This is a big reason to go with a professional branding photographer: chances are you are showing haphazard pieces of your business without much of a strategy. A pro will help you to assess your brand and strategically plan to take photos of what your dream customers need to see before they are ready to contact you
(If you are not sure what to show, learn what the 3 Must-Have-Shots are HERE)
4. You have a hard time taking good photos of yourself
It is really tough to be the photographer and the model at the same time. I know this from taking my own branding photos. A professional business portrait photographer can make a huge difference here: they see if the light flatters the skin. They also have a good eye for guiding you into poses that work well for your body type. Working with a pro is just a way more fun experience that usually gives you better expressions and a variety of looks that bring out that gorgeous you.
(Think you are not photogenic? Think again! Learn “How to look gorgeous in Photos” HERE)
5. You are planning a rebrand or Website refresh
A typical situation when clients invest in brand photography is when they are ready to rebrand, or they are having their first professional website designed.
When you are working with a brand designer at the same time as a brand photographer and strategist, these two specialists can work to gather and create the cohesive, ultra-strategic, beautiful website of your dreams.
(If you are not really sure about what brand vibe attracts your people, learn more HERE)
6. You look different now
Maybe your last brand photos were taken a few years back and you look quite different now. Did you decide to cut off the luscious locks in favor of a pixie cut? Do you live in a very different place now with a different vibe? Did you get new tattoos and that look is part of your brand?
When you’re appearance has changed significantly, it is important to get new branding images so your dream clients know exactly what to expect when they meet you for the first time.
Do any of these situations sound like where you are now? If the answer is YES! send me an email at Oriana at Purplesquidphotography.com and we will set up a quick call so I can learn all about your vision and help turn it into reality.
There you have it, folks – 6 signs that you are ready to book a brand photoshoot. If you are still unsure about if you’re ready to invest in brand photography, feel free to email at Oriana (at) Purplesquidphotography.com and we will chat about it!
I’m Oriana von Specht, a published personal branding photographer and brand strategist. I love working with small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Seattle area, helping them to push past their fears of being seen, and teaching them how to create the photos and brands they imagine. My mission is to give you an online image makeover that boosts your confidence—and your sales!
Contact me at oriana (at) purplesquidphotography.com to make your vision a reality!