Introduction
If you’re serious about your personal brand, you need to be taking care of all of the details that support your brand image and let potential clients know how awesome you are at what you do. A great way to accomplish this is through professional photography that highlights your strengths and gives potential clients an idea of who you are as an individual – not just as an expert in your field. Here are five tips to help ensure that your personal brand portraits look great.
Finding a Photographer
Choosing a photographer is one of the most important parts of creating professional portraits for your personal brand. It is vital that you trust whomever you hire with your professional images, as it can make or break your personal brand. When looking for a photographer, make sure they specialize in high-quality photography and ask to see examples of their work. You want someone who will be able to showcase how great you look rather than distract from it—and someone who knows how to shoot portraits so they can emphasize your best features. When looking at samples, consider their style: is it minimalist or detailed? Do they have an eye for color and composition? How do they style people? What do they include and what do they leave out? How do these decisions affect their images?
Preparing for the Shoot
When preparing for your shoot, keep in mind that personal brands often have their own identity. A personal brand is all about who you are and how you would like people to see you. Professional portraits work great for showcasing a personal brand’s personality. Make sure you have fun with it! First impressions are everything when it comes to your professional photoshoots and can be instrumental in building a positive relationship with potential clients or business partners. As with most things related to online branding, first impressions should be considered carefully, as they tend to set the tone for every future interaction.
Professional pictures of you at work, however, will make it clear that you’re approachable and credible—and can be a powerful way to enhance your personal brand. But don’t think of a professional portrait as simply a way to increase your social capital. In business today, personal branding isn’t just a tagline—it’s an investment in yourself. For example, if you want people to buy into your new health-food product line or believe in your ability to run for office, great photos can help make that happen.
Have Fun!
It’s not enough to just think about professional photographs for your personal brand; you need photos that really represent who you are. To really make an impact, focus on having fun when taking professional portraits. It might seem silly, but it will help your personality shine through—and that’s what any personal brand is all about. For example, if you love dogs (or know a dog owner), bring along your pet! Take a photo in front of a favorite landmark or famous building. Give yourself enough time and space (it doesn’t have to be super high-end) and don’t worry too much about staying in one position—move around and find something interesting!
Conclusion
Every business has a brand, and your professional portrait is an important part of what potential customers see. A professional photo may seem like an unnecessary expense, but it will be well worth it when you’re able to successfully show off your hard work, whether in person or online. Professional photos can boost confidence and make you appear more trustworthy; plus, who doesn’t want photos that look great on social media? Bottom line: professional images are worth every penny—or share—and can be invaluable for growing your business. Consider investing in a session with a photographer today.
