When do I need brand photography? How do I know if it’s the right time for a session? I’ve heard both of these questions a lot lately, so I wanted to explain a few key indicators that you’re in need of a brand photography session.
To me this one make complete sense, but let me break it down. When you rebrand or redesign your online presence, it’s often a large investment and a huge business move because you’re hiring a professional designer or strategist. Along with that, often brands raise their own prices in conjunction with this new, elevated identity. How can you justify charging more? You’re growing, you’ve got more experience, and you’re killing it!
This is the perfect time to get photography that reflects the new look/feel and helps you put your best foot forward. Customers can tell when they visit your website or social media within a few seconds if they trust you and connect with you, so help them see the new ‘you’ through up-to-date brand photography. You’re charging a new price, and you CAN because of how professional, expert, yet relatable you look.
You’re wanting to break through into the next level of your business (or you’re planning ahead and PLANNING for growth), this is such a smart idea! You want the new photos of you to reflect how much you’re grown your brand, and don’t want to feel emotionally yuck when you see that old photo of you when you were stressed, working too many hours, or overwhelmed. You’re reaching toward a new level, so make sure to elevate your photography as well!
Also, what’s worse than clicking onto an about page or seeing a bio photo of someone, and when you meet or see them you realize that’s 10 years outdated? Not that we all don’t wish we could shave off a few years, but it comes across as outdated and not relevant when you’re using an old photo of yourself — many people might wonder why you haven’t invested enough in your own business lately to even get a new headshot.
Future you deserves it (and will thank you for saving hours buying stock or DIY’ing more photo shoots).
Whether it’s a huge life change in your personal or professional life, your physical appearance, or a new mindset, you want to document this change! It doesn’t have to be a large change to all the outside world, but if it’s meaningful to you, let’s preserve it through photography. Transformed your body through exercise or nutrition? Became a wife or mother? Got that promotion or took your side passion and made it your full-time job? All excellent reasons to have a brand photography session.
If your brand is seeing big changes that don’t necessarily involve a rebrand or redesign, you still might be in a good position for brand photography if your services or products are changing. If you’re, for example, adding public speaking engagements to your resume or adding a new product line to your online shop, you’ll need new photos to promote these updates.
The best part? You can use these photos for the future as well, so you can create media/press kits, email marketing campaigns, and gain new sales down the road, too.
This goes along with the growth topic, but you can simply have a brand photography session to celebrate achieving a goal, reaching a milestone, or celebrating a business anniversary. I can’t think of a reason to NOT celebrate a big ‘win’ with some fresh imagery, and you can share them on social media and TALK about how you worked hard to crush that goal or gained more knowledge in yet another successful year of business.
Take a moment to truly celebrate the reasons why you do what you do — and while you’re at it, document this special time, too.