As a business person, you have to rely on some level of marketing in order to be successful. Marketing feeds new clients and customers into your business. It keeps you visible, which positively impacts your reputation. 

And for most of us, it totally stresses you out.

That’s often because you’ve been told (and probably believe) that there’s a certain “right” way to market yourself online. Online gurus invest a lot of money in marketing they target you with, and most of it is designed to make you feel inadequate and totally lost. That’s how they sell you their programs, many of which teach techniques that might work for some people but won’t work for everyone.

#1: “You have a great camera, which is why you take such great photos.” 

This is the one I probably hear the most often. I honestly don’t think people realize this can come across as an insult, so I try to say jokingly, “...and Babe Ruth had a great bat!” Some get it, and some don’t. 

One of the best parts about having a professional branding photoshoot is the fact that you end up with lots of great photos of yourself. My clients may walk into their shoots with me nervous about how their photos will come out, but because of my proven process, they are always excited about the results. I do a pre-branding session so we can customize their session and get key images they know they need. We also figure out if there are any props the client wants to include to help tell their brand story. 

I also love that these parties bring together the coolest small business owners and entrepreneurs in Richmond (or wherever I’m doing them), and that they’re an awesome networking opportunity. Even though the appointments are 30 minutes apart, you still get to interact with the other participants, creating a fun and supportive atmosphere.

lI ove what I do, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I can take great photos of anyone. You may not believe that. You may be saying, “Anyone but me. I’m not photogenic, and I hate having my picture taken.” And you’re not alone. I hear this all the time. I even wrote a blog post last year about photoshoot insecurity. I’m always looking for ways to change your paradigm about having your picture taken.

We’ve lived in our RV for more than two years. We have a Grand Design Solitude 390RK. While we love almost everything about it and will keep doing this awesome adventure, just like everything, there are drawbacks to our RV lifestyle. I thought I’d outline a few for you here so you get an idea of what our life is like on the daily: 

talk a lot about how important great, branded headshots are for your business. It’s one of the most important business assets you have. Professional photographs are also expensive, so making sure you’re getting the most out of your investment is crucial. 

Here are my top three tips for making your headshot work for you.

A photoshoot is a bit like a dance between me and my subject. When we first start out, we’re learning how to dance together, and we need time to warm up to each other. I hardly ever take a great portrait with the first shot (or even the first several shots). My client needs time to relax, and I need time to check the back of my camera, look at the first several shots, and adjust either my client or something in the background. 

Here are four questions I have my clients answer that might support you before your next brand photo shoot.

As a brand photographer, clients ask me for guidance regarding when to get new brand photos and which ones they need to capture. These aren’t black-or-white questions; my answers always depend on specific details about each client’s needs. 

Here are four questions I have my clients answer that might support you before your next brand photo shoot.

I’m not an online dating expert by any means, but I know that pictures are essential in dating profiles, and the best online dating profile photos have a lot in common with great business branding photos. They need to communicate with the viewer and share who you are at your core. They need to be current and engender a “know, like, and trust” feeling in the person who’s looking at them. And, of course, you need to feel great about them so you’ll exude confidence. 

Here are five locations that would be perfect for YOUR next branding photo shoot. I’ve broken them down into interior and exterior options so we can choose the perfect “space” for your unique branding needs.

Branding for your business (no matter how big or small it is) has never been more important than it is today. That’s because the online world, where we do most of our promotions, is so visual. Just “any old photo” won’t work anymore. Having great, branded photos is the key to your success.

Here are five compelling reasons why you must have several great, up-to-date brand photos at your disposal for promoting yourself or your business online:

My greatest honor as a photographer is when clients trust me enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable and step in front of my camera. It’s something I never take lightly. I know that my job is to ensure that my clients feel safe and nurtured in that space so that they feel beautiful and confident. Sometimes that’s a huge leap of faith. Often it means working with them to help them overcome a lifetime of limiting beliefs (just like I did). 

As an entrepreneur, you probably hear how important your “personal brand” is all the time. Having a personal brand that allows you to stand out has many benefits, from helping you connect with your ideal clients and people who need what you’re offering to help to build your reputation in your industry. A great personal branding photograph can communicate who you are, and what you stand for, and help you truly stand out from your competitors.

There’s a lot to think about as an entrepreneur. People often push “branded photos for my business” to the bottom of their “to-do” list simply because they’re too busy to think about them. While I realize that business photos may not be something you’ve been told you need as an entrepreneur and as a branding photographer, I know they are absolutely essential.

One of my clients' most significant obstacles is not feeling good about their appearance. It can keep them from wanting to have their picture taken and impact how they show up if they do decide to get brave and schedule a professional photoshoot. Maybe you can relate. I know I can.

A few months ago, a Wall Street Journal article generated quite a bit of buzz in my LinkedIn feed, and I truly enjoyed reading not only the article, but all the different opinions about it in the comments.

The article was titled, “The Perfect Professional Headshot is Worth $1,000, and Maybe Even a Job.” Many professionals in my LinkedIn network shared it and put in their two cents around it. Here’s an excerpt from the article that basically sums up what it was saying:

Lots of photographers say they can do headshots. It’s the most basic type of photo any photographer takes. So it should be easy to choose any photographer to help you create a great headshot, right?

I thought I’d share what I’ve learned since making this choice about two years ago for this final installment. Just like with anything, there’s good and bad, and it’s all there to teach me.