How to Make Your Personal Brand Photos Really Stand Out

How to Make Your Personal Brand Photos Really Stand Out

Creating a personal brand is all about setting yourself apart from the competition. Your personal brand is what makes you and your business unique -- it’s what makes you a relatable, authentic, go-to professional instead of just blending in with everyone else in your field. While putting together your personal brand involves a lot of different parts -- from how your website looks to your logo to the words you use to tell your story -- your personal brand photos can really make or break your entire image. So how can you make sure your personal brand photos really pop? Here are a few things to consider before getting in front of the camera.

1. Look your best Put your best face forward for your personal brand photoshoot by hiring a professional hair/makeup artist. Makeup never looks as vibrant behind the camera as it does in real life -- a professional will know exactly how much makeup to put on to make you really shine. Plus, a pro will be able to make your vision come to life better than you can, whether you want a look that will make you look fun, young, sophisticated, or somewhere in between! Here at Hendersonville Headshots, we have an amazing hair and makeup professional named Tia from that makes our clients feel and look amazing for the camera.
   

2. Choose your wardrobe carefully Wear something that makes you feel confident and that tells your audience about who you are. Most photographers allow for an outfit change or two as part of their personal brand photography package, which is a great way to try out a few looks if you can’t decide!
   

3. Use props

Try using a few props to better tell the story of who you are and what you do. If you’re a blogger, get a shot of you writing at your desk. If you’re a florist, ask your photographer to snap a few shots of you arranging some blooms. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with it!

Remember: your personal brand should be an accurate reflection of you. As long as you’re sharing your authentic self with the world, your intended audience will eat it up. Your personal brand photoshoot shouldn’t be about trying to be something you’re not -- it’s about making sure you present the absolute best and most confident version of yourself to the world. So embrace those qualities that make you uniquely you!

5 Tips for Improving Your Personal Brand

A personal brand is a combination of skills, expertise, and personality and how you present them on different platforms is important. For entrepreneurs, a personal brand is everything, but how do you know if you’re doing enough?

Here are a few ways that you can boost your personal brand.

1. Get Specific

To really make your personal brand stand out, you need to define it. Jot down what you’re passionate about, what you are known for and what your areas of expertise are. Be as specific as possible. For example, saying that you’re good at baking is too general. Having a niche focus will ensure that people truly believe that you know what you’re talking about.

2. Keep Your Profiles Consistent

If you are present on several different online platforms, it’s important to make sure that your profiles are consistent. Use the same photo, bio, and graphics across all of your profiles so that people will instantly recognize you. If you have made a point of creating profiles on social media, be active on a consistent basis as this will show that you’re trustworthy and reliable.

3. Share Your Knowledge

Seek out opportunities to write and share your expertise. Finding industry related websites and newsletters that you can contribute to will not only spread the word about what you have to offer but showcase your knowledge on a particular topic too. If you don’t already, it may also be a good idea to create your own blog that you can write for on a weekly basis.

4. Engage with Your Audience

Networking is a crucial part of growing your personal brand, which is why engaging with people both online and offline on a regular basis is a must. Whether you participate in discussions on forums or attend networking events, you will be showing people that you are out there, interested, and engaged. The more you connect with people in an authentic way, the more quickly they will recommend you to others.

5. Speak at Events

If you feel confident enough to speak in front of an audience, keep an eye out for speaking engagements in your area. Speaking at events will help you build rapport with your audience and give you the opportunity to network afterward too. Just be sure that you have a professional headshot and branded photos to send with your bio and that your website is looking good before you start sending traffic there.

5 Things to Look For In a Personal Branding Photographer

So you’ve started marketing yourself and your career in your own unique way. You want your personal brand to come across as exciting, engaging, and different from the rest of your competition. You want to put the task of capturing your image and your essence into the hands of a capable, professional personal branding photographer. But how can you tell whether a photographer is a good fit for that daunting task? Here are four things you should keep an eye out for as you’re trying to find a good match.

1. Portfolio Every photographer has a unique aesthetic and style. Are you looking for classic and sophisticated personal branding photos? Or is your look more bright and colorful? While any good photographer will be able to listen to your vision and try to capture it, it’s best to choose a photographer whose previous work resonates with you.

2. Specialization A fantastic wedding photographer or family portrait photographer isn’t necessarily a fantastic personal branding photographer. Look for an experienced photographer who specializes in personal brand photography.

3. What’s included? To have a successful personal brand photoshoot, there’s usually a lot more elements that go into it than just you, your photographer, and the camera. Find out whether your photographer offers a brand story consult, styling or wardrobe advice, professional hair and makeup, or studio space as part of their personal brand photoshoot package. If not, consider those potential extra costs when working out your budget.

4. Connection During your consultation, focus on how your photographer makes you feel. Do you feel confident in yourself and his or her ability to make you look your best? Do you feel comfortable and relaxed? Do you feel like he or she understands you and your vision? If so, it’ll definitely show in your photos!

5. Think about the future As you and your business evolve, you’ll want to update your personal brand photos to best reflect your new look. To keep your brand looking fresh, ask whether your potential photographer offers a monthly or quarterly photoshoot package to regularly update your photos.

When it comes to choosing a personal branding photographer, look for a photographer who knows how to tell a story with the camera, one that will make any future potential clients of yours want to know more. For something as important as your personal brand, you can’t just look for someone who will get the job done for the lowest price -- you need an experienced professional who can assist you in representing your unique persona and vision.