I remember years ago, when I first decided to pursue photography as my career and business, staring into the vast blankness of every possibility, avenue and opportunity in front of me. Everything I was about to do was fresh, excited and would be specially crafted by me. It was thrilling and I lived every moment invigorated by the decisions and even the mistakes. It was a precious time that now, as a branding photographer, I get to live with each of the new businesses I work with. It’s so wonderful to see a new business at the start, forming its existence and intent and finding its place in the world.
With so many places to go, it’s pertinent that a new business and I are on the same page when it comes to their branding - and there’s a lot of work that goes into doing so!
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the fruits of our labor and collaboration for Mama Mpenzi Doula.
“It’s our differences that make us better as a whole.”
After the heartache of finding myself surrounded by negative company too often in the past, I absolutely love and am grateful for now being surrounded by women who honestly want to see each other succeed. There are no ulterior motives, no people talking behind each others' backs - just women stepping in to share their knowledge and skill for the betterment of others.
Branding Portrait for marketing coach, Mallory Schlabach. | Winston-Salem On location Brand Photography | Jasper & Fern
One of my favorite parts about my job is the opportunity to build community and support another small businesses' success. It's about more than creating pretty pictures. It's learning your needs, getting to see where you're going and be involved in your vision. It's stepping into the world you're passionate about and connecting with your heart.
I've always said that each person has been created with unique gifts with which they can use to impact their community. It's our differences that make us better as a whole. It's our choice to use those gifts for the betterment of those around us.
Your headshot gives people a first impression of your personality before they have the chance to meet you. It's important for your audience to see you as authentic to who you are and relevant to what you do. A quality headshot is a simple way to be noticed by those around you in your professional communities. It can also attract the right kind of attention from potential clients and employers.
It makes sense that you’d want to prepare as much as possible to assure a winning headshot then, right?
Here’s the list of top tips we provide our clients so they are ready and prepared for their headshot session.
1. Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to your session. Well hydrated skin brings out your vibrancy and will help you feel more energetic.
2. Set out your outfits ahead of time. Having your outfits - accessories, makeup and all - will help you feel more confident walking into your session. No need to worry about forgetting something!
3. Get a good night's rest. You'll feel better and won't have to worry about looking tired!
4. Plan a cushion into your schedule. Life happens. Having a little extra time before and after your session can give you room to breathe if something in your day goes awry.
Our presence, the way we brand ourselves, the content we put out there and the professionalism we portray makes a difference. Using an honest, quality portrait that represents you well on your professional sites is important to how other professionals and your target audience will perceive you. We hope these tips help you feel best prepared for your headshot session!
“How can pictures help my business?”
I frequently get asked “how can pictures help my business?” This question is exactly why we like to dig into your needs, your vision, your business structure and your branding. Every business’s needs are different. Where you can amplify your business with imagery is dependent on the nature of what you do and what you’re looking to achieve. That’s why we’ve started the Branding Your Business series. Our Branding Your Business series will help you understand what brand photography is, what it can do for you, and will provide examples of what it’s done for our previous clients.
We’ll be sharing insider perspectives from our Service based, Product based, large scale, Corporate, solopreneurial and entrepreneurial clients. From determining their vision and purpose to creating an action plan, we’ll provide you with a peek behind the curtains to see how their branding photography was used and even the results they’ve seen from using their new imagery.
If you’re already curious about what you can do to amplify your business with branding photography, click the link below to schedule your free Brand Assessment.
Exerpt from our Brand Photography session with Blackburn Consulting, a session done with a focus on cultivating and portraying her brand identity, brand personality, and brand presence. The photographs photographs are to be used on her Instagram to keep her feed consistent and on her website to refresh her brand appearance. All photography done by the Jasper & Fern team located in Winston-Salem, NC.