Posts in Portrait Session
The Count of Three | Winston-Salem Photographer | Jasper & Fern

The sun was just creeping behind the trees and it was cold, very cold. It was the kind of cold that seeped from the concrete and reverberated on the metal siding surrounding us, trying to reach our bones. None-the-less, we persisted. Our excited energy crackled through the crisp air like static, chasing along the grooves and rust of the old mill structures surrounding us. We knew this would be worth it.

“On the count of three,” I said. We’d run through this multiple times, each laying out our tasks and patterning them into rhythms. Once we hit zero, we had to act together, synchronized like a well oiled machine.

“THREE!” My call rang out.

There was a flash, billowing colors and fluttering material and it was magnificent.

Okay, it almost went like that. Truly, on that third count, there were about ten odd seconds of anticipation and laughter as our grenade pin decided it wanted to stay right where it was and not listen to Bre’s insistent pulling. When it finally released, however, it was magnificent.

Kay, owner of local Winston-Salem dance studio Juxtaposition, directed her dancer seamlessly. Amber, Kay’s dancer and our subject, moved gracefully while managing to listen to the alternating advice of Kay and myself. Meanwhile, Bre was on smoke and light patrol keeping each element directed as much as they could be.

Juxtaposition Studios dancer dancing for a branding photograph to promote the studio’s upcoming showcase. | Photography by Jasper & Fern |

Juxtaposition Studios dancer dancing for a branding photograph to promote the studio’s upcoming showcase. | Photography by Jasper & Fern |

We’ve worked with Juxtaposition before, photographing their dancers and helping them create marketing material. This time we wanted to capture the essence of “Beauty Within,” the theme of their showcase.

We love collaborations like this that help businesses and brands cultivate an authentic brand experience with scroll stopping imagery. Our clients are people who value relationships. We desire for you to be successful and for your current and potential clients into your brand story through photographs.

Natalie's Branding Session for Updog Wellness | Winston Salem Photographer Jasper & Fern

The glow was tangible, radiating off our faces. She said EXACTLY what we love to hear - no smoke screens or faking it. She wanted life to be REAL.

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

As a newly wed mom and small business owner running a health and wellness business focusing on virtual personal training, yoga teacher training, yoga classes and nutrition, Natalie knew she needed to buckle down even more in her business to support her family. She’d already been working with a web designer and marketer and quickly found that branding photographs were her next logical step to enhancing her brand’s messaging and building a genuine connection with her audience.

I want to be relatable and show people that I AM them, that I’ve BEEN them.
— Natalie, owner of Updog Wellness

Put-off by brands that too often showed the glamour and left out the grit, she didn’t want her photographs to be the typical clean-cut shots. She wanted to balance the minimalistic life she sought after while also showing the mess that can happen. Having her clients recognize that she’s just as human as them was key - an aspect of her personality we greatly admire.

With a focus on incorporating real life into her photographs, Natalie also wanted to show her clients what they could become. The day of her session, she called out her own body - slightly bloated and fuller than usual - and asked that it not be photoshopped. She needed her clients to see that it is okay to be who they are, start where they are and that even the professionals have very human bodies.

(Can we just take a moment to admire this sentiment here?? How amazing is her vulnerability and willingness to show her 100% human body, curves, bumps and all….??? It’s so UPLIFTING! - Okay, I had to get that admiration out on the table. Pressing on.)

Making sure to incorporate all the elements of her workspace while balancing the real-life aspect and a clean enough look to not be distracting, we made sure to infuse Natalie’s personality and the authenticity she wanted to portray into each shot. We even made a point to work together in capturing her RBF (as she put it) because she’s not the “peppy” trainer type. In all, we love how her photographs turned out and have enjoyed seeing her use them on her new website and social media accounts.

Step into our Winston-Salem studio for a glimpse behind the scenes of what a Personal Branding Session looks like. Whether you're a local small business or a firm looking to grow, we love getting to know who you are and what you stand for so that we can create scroll stopping imagery that engages your clients in your authentic brand experience.

Here’s a small peek at some of our favorite photos from Natalie’s branding session.

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Product Photography | Layflat Ideas | Pinterest Business Photo | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Product Photography | Layflat Ideas | Pinterest Business Photo | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Product Photography | Layflat Ideas | Pinterest Business Photo | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

Branding Photograph for wellness coach and fitness trainer Natalie - owner of Updog Wellness | Branding Photography for small businesses | Product Photography | Layflat Ideas | Pinterest Business Photo | Women Owned Business | Jasper & Fern

A Gentle Fog | Rave Beauty's Branding Session

She was soft spoken, like a gentle fog in the quiet of a meadow morning; her presence adding an ethereal intrigue and calm to the atmosphere. A warm invitation for relaxation and comfort sits behind her every smile. It only makes sense that she’d choose to own the type of business she does.

Camouflaged in the humdrum of red bricks and fluorescent hallways, there’s an open door to another world. The moment you cross the threshold, stress falls off your shoulders and a coziness wraps around you. It’s a welcome disruption to a busy day.

In this little mini-vacation, Janine is your host. She’s cultured a calming ambiance of petite plants, salt rock lamps, snuggly blankets and room for a clear headspace. This is her passion-project, her home away from home where she gets to help people feel and look their best.

Taking in the heart and atmosphere of your business is what we love - which is why people who aim to make a difference are our favorite type of people, just like Janine. We loved capturing different elements of her business that showcase who she is, help her market her services to her clients and showcase the atmosphere of her brand to help reach her target market.

Step into the quiet, coziness of Rave Beauty. Relish in the calm atmosphere and greet Janine in the summary of her branding photography session below.

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography with products for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography with products for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Headshot and Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Headshot and Branding Photography for Winston-Salem Spa, Rave Beauty | Photographs that Market to Your Target Client | Winston-Salem Business and Branding Photographer Jasper & Fern

Josh’s Headshots and branding portraits | Winston Salem Photographer Jasper & Fern

He cocked his head forward slightly and raised an eyebrow. The intensity and inquisitiveness in his eyes grew.  “This is GREAT! I’ve had all these thoughts in my head but have never bounced them back and forth with someone who understands” he said excitedly.I smiled. Brainstorming and vision planning is one of my favorite parts.

Behind the Scenes with Jasper & Fern | Headshots and branding portraits for musician Josh Shelton to help market his business | Winston Salem Photographer Jasper & Fern

His shoulders shifted as he sat thinking, his linen blazer folded softly with each movement. Sweeping his tight curls back from his face and minutely adjusting his glasses, he shook his wrist. His mother’s bracelet caught my eye. It was jeweled and shaped with intricate gold patterns. Unique, I mused to myself, and it suits him well

Josh continued to answer my question and flow with his train of thought. I always find it important to let people think things out for themselves. I also like to observe people thinking. When we are caught up in our thoughts, we relax our guard and little nuances and uniquenesses begin to show through in our mannerisms and facial expressions. “It’s important that I’m a personality. I want to look approachable but be just out of reach - like an icon you like and relate to but can’t get close to.” He continued, “there’s the teacher appeal where mothers need to trust me to teach their kids and the rockstar aspect where the dads want to live vicariously through me.”

Josh’s last request was for the images to have the potential to be graphicized. His business plan included being able to market and advertise himself with stickers, t-shirts and other celebrity musician propaganda. 

Talking through the rest of his marketing plan, we finalized the details of his session and got to work creating a storyboard for his brand. 

Guitar in each hand, a glasses case full of a variety of eye-ware and his natural linen blazer donned, the day of his session, Josh was ready to go. To help shake out a few nerves, I asked Josh to play a little bit of music. Happily, he obliged knowing it would help him focus and calm. Getting further into his session, I work with Josh to get an authentic inquisitive head tilt as it not only lent to his attentiveness but postured his shoulders to translate more like an artist. Here’s a behind the scenes sneak peek at his mini headshot and branding session!