March 2024: The month I finally had a brand photoshoot
March was a busy month with the second half of a digital marketing bootcamp to deliver, and getting as much work as possible crammed in and completedbefore the Easter holidays. Anyone who’s self-employed will understand why holidays are a double edged sword; much needed after a long slog, but also unpaid so there’s a tendency to want to work extra hard before (and after) to plug the gap.
The key event in my March diary was something I’d put off for a very long time – my own brand photoshoot.
After seven years as a self-employed digital marketing trainer and consultant, I finally decided to sort out my online presence and develop my own website. Whilst I have focused most of my energy on LinkedIn, I wanted to have my own website presence rather than be over-reliant on one platform. Essentially, it was time to practice what I preach. With this in mind, rather than do what I’ve done in the past and cobble together holiday photos and double-chinned selfies I decided to invest in having a professional brand photoshoot. To say this was putting myself out of my comfort zone is an understatement. I am the most unnatural person in front of a camera with an uncanny ability to be captured in the most unflattering positions, so this was not something I undertook lightly, but nothing worthwhile ever comes from sitting in your comfort zone.
I used social media to source photographers whose approach and brand felt like a good fit, and on LinkedIn I came across Alice Slee; I knew when we met on Zoom she was the right photographer for me.
What really impressed me about Alice was her commitment to understanding my brand identity right from the start, so that when photoshoot day arrived we were on the same wavelength. Once I confirmed, Alice sent out a welcome brochure which set out what to expect from the photoshoot and included tips on appearance, choosing outfits and thinking about props and accessories.
The next step was a bit of homework for me; to complete a brand photography workbook, this was a really useful activity that got me thinking more strategically about my brand. I talk about brand development, tone-of-voice and personality all the time with clients and learners, but it’s a different matter when you’re doing it for yourself. Completing the workbook was a really useful exercise as it forced me to get down on paper what I wanted to achieve from the brand shoot as well as my business goals. The next step was to create a Pinterest board filled with the types of images I had in mind. All of this preparation work gave Alice a really good understanding of what my brand is all about so that, on the day, she was able to capture images that reflected it.
About a week before the big day we had a Pre-Shoot Consultation on zoom to discuss the shots, locations, outfits, props and accessories. Alice was really helpful in helping me to decide on outfit choices advising what would work well with my brand colours and personality.
Alice then sent over a timeline for the day, which although a rough guide was good to have so that I knew what to expect and made sure we had time for the different locations and types of shot.
I was surprised how nervous I felt when the day of the shoot arrived. I know it will surprise those who see me delivering training sessions, but I don’t like being the centre of attention and I felt pretty vulnerable.
I needn’t have worried, when Alice arrived she put me at ease and without further ado the photography began. I’m not going to pretend otherwise, at the start I was pretty tense, however after a bit I relaxed into it and even had a bit of a giggle. I work from home in a pretty awkward space which allowed Alice to demonstrate her contortionist skills as well as her photographic ones. In addition to my workspace, we used the kitchen and the living room.
Alice had lots of ideas for shots that I wouldn’t have considered, she has a real eye for detail to ensure shots are consistent with your brand. I hadn’t thought about getting extra shots of details and props in my brand colours, and already their proving useful for my online content.
All of this has resulted in me now having a great selection of photos to choose from. My favourite pictures are the bright, colourful shots we got in the kitchen, as is probably evident from this website. In addition to website photos, I needed a new headshot for LinkedIn and I’m so pleased with the result.
I have to say I’m very glad I never need to see the outtakes, I’m still terrible at posing for the camera!
Key Takeaways From My Brand Photoshoot:
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Preparation, Preparation, Preparation!
I didn’t realise how many things there were to consider before I booked my shoot - outfits, props, location, having all this in place will help the day go smoothly. -
Trust your photographer
They're the professional - just like anything, communication is key, plus you need to feel comfortable with who you’re working with. -
I still can’t pose
Standing with my arms folded just didn’t feel natural, I felt like I was about to start cossack dancing, my best shots were when I wasn’t feeling like I was having my photo taken. -
Have Fun!
I learned that it is possible to enjoy the process. A positive attitude and a few laughs can lead to more natural and engaging photos.
Thank you to Alice for all your patience with me, I can’t imagine I was the easiest ‘model’ to work with. If you’re looking for brand photography, I have no hesitation in recommending Alice, check out her brand photography website.
