A Fix for Broken Record Marketing

There they are, the same couple of images staring back at you like a broken record. On your website. On your social. In your emails. You love them, yes, but now? Now they just feel... overused. And let's be honest, their repetitiveness in your marketing is probably starting to wear down your enthusiasm to share.

As female business owners, we know the importance of visual storytelling in our marketing efforts. We understand that our brand images are the first impression that potential clients have of us, and we want to make sure that impression is a positive one. But when we're constantly recycling the same brand photos, it's hard to keep that spark alive. We begin to lose our excitement about sharing what we love and we know, deep down, that if we feel our excitement dwindling, our clients are soon to sense it too.


It’s the dreaded image fatigue.

You start to feel like you're stuck in a rut, using the same tired visuals to represent your brand day in and day out. You worry that your audience is getting bored, that they're tuning out because they've seen it all before. And worst of all, you start to doubt yourself and your ability to stand out in a crowded marketplace.


You’ve stretched the life of these few images as far as you can. You’ve done
- different crops
- with text and without text
- turned the image black and white
- removed the background
- changed the color of the background
- made GIFs with rotating backgrounds or text

You’ve made the most of these couple of images you still love, but are worn out by.

But what now?

You don't have to settle for mediocrity or resign yourself to using the same tired images forever. There is a way out of this cycle of image fatigue, and it starts with investing in fresh, authentic brand photography.

As a branding and headshot photographer, I've had the privilege of working with countless incredible women who were feeling the same way you are right now. They were tired of feeling stuck, tired of feeling like their brand visuals weren't doing justice to the amazing work they were doing in the world.

And let me tell you, seeing the transformation that happens when we create new, authentic images together? It's nothing short of empowering!

So if you're feeling trapped in the cycle of image fatigue, I want you to know that there is hope. You deserve to have brand images that reflect the vibrant, dynamic woman behind the business. You deserve to stand out in a sea of sameness and capture the attention of your ideal clients with visuals that speak to their hearts.


Let's break free from image fatigue together. Let's create a visual story that's as unique and vibrant as you are. Reach out to me today, and let's start the conversation about how we can breathe new life into your brand through stunning, authentic brand photography.

Alyson LawtonComment
Noah's Headshot Photoshoot | Winston Salem Headshot Photographer

Studio headshot for Noah, a banker in Winston Salem NC.

At a recent Clemmons Chamber meeting, I had the pleasure of connecting with Noah, a banker. He was in need of a professional headshot that was not only suitable for his LinkedIn profile but also helped poise him favorably for potential promotions within the company. Noah's request for a headshot wasn't just about looking professional either —it was about capturing a friendly and approachable demeanor that resonates with clients and colleagues alike.

While he wanted a traditional background that was more industry acceptable, he didn’t want to come across stiff. His wardrobe choices helped this balance beautifully. He brought a charcoal grey suit paired with a classic white button-down, and for a touch of personal flair, he also included a blue button-down with a lovely textured brown houndstooth jacket. This particular combination had a vibe that was undeniably sophisticated yet inviting.

Noah's inspiration for his portrait came from an unexpected yet delightful source—Bill Evans, the legendary jazz pianist. This choice hinted at Noah’s appreciation for timeless elegance and a certain understated confidence. Interestingly, as we worked through the session, I couldn’t help but notice how Noah’s sophisticated styling and sparkling blue eyes behind round-rimmed glasses evoked a sense of Marvel lead—Chris Evans. This added a layer of charisma to his professional look, making the photos even more captivating.

On the day of his headshot session, Noah’s easy-going nature made the time together a breeze. We worked together to capturing the essence of his friendliness and approachable personality. The final headshots were a true reflection of Noah’s vision. The traditional background provided a minimalistic professional canvas for his natural charm and friendly demeanor to be the focal point.

Working with Noah was a delightful experience. His headshot session session was a perfect blend of professionalism and personality. Whether you're a banker, an entrepreneur, or any professional looking to elevate your branding, it’s essential to show up as your true self. Authenticity and a touch of personal style can make all the difference in how you connect with your audience.

Studio headshot for Noah, a banker in Winston Salem NC.

A young man in his 30's smiles, his blue eyes framed by rounded glasses. He wears a sophisticated brown houndstooth professor's suit coat with a light blue button down that highlights his eyes.

Studio headshot for Noah, a banker in Winston Salem NC.

Alyson LawtonComment
Brand Photography for Career Coach Carolyn Couch | Winston Salem Brand Photographer

Carolyn, a seasoned career coach who’s been transforming careers for over a decade came to us when she was ready to refresh her website and brand’s online presence. Deciding it was time for her website and Google profile, among other online platforms. to be more engaging and reflective of her vibrant and approachable nature, Carolyn reached out with a direct vision. “I want people to feel happy and excited about possibilities when they look at my website.”

Not thrilled with her current website, which she found to be too busy and overloaded with text, Carolyn was seeking a clean and simple design, with a professional look that didn’t scream corporate. A significant element to her refresh was replacing the outdated, impersonal stock photos with fresh, intentional images that showed her and would tell her story.

For Carolyn’s brand photoshoot, we created an inviting office setup in one of our studios. We matched the staging to her brand aesthetic, incorporating specific colors and textures to evoke her brand atmosphere. We asked Carolyn to bring personal elements to make the space her own, adding a touch of warmth and personality to the visual context of the brand photos.

She even decided to bring her adorable dog, who we were ever-so-excited to incorporate into her photoshoot!

One of the best parts of this project was our collaboration with The Girlboss Agency, who did Carolyn’s website redesign. Working together alongside a web designer ensured that all elements of Carolyn’s brand were cohesive and aligned and that her written content was supported by her visual content. This holistic approach enhanced the overall impact of her branding and marketing efforts, creating a unified and powerful online presence.

Each element we incorporated into Carolyn session, from her dog to her framed degrees, helped us create a wide variety of magnetic brand photographs for her. Which, as you know, i today’s digital world, having a robust web presence with intentional content is crucial. For female business owners, like us, visibility is key. Clients tend to buy from people they know, like, and trust. By showing up authentically in her brand photos, Carolyn can now build a stronger connection with her audience. This visibility fosters trust and makes her more relatable, helping potential clients feel comfortable and confident in her services.

Quality brand photography is more than just taking pretty pictures; it’s about creating photographs that are intentional and strategic, capturing the essence of your brand and resonating with your audience. For Carolyn, these photographs were crucial in presenting a professional yet approachable image, reinforcing her brand’s message and values.

Carolyn’s brand photoshoot is a perfect example of how intentional, strategic and creative brand photography can elevate your online presence. By refreshing her website with quality visuals and collaborating with experts, she’s created a powerful and cohesive brand that will attract and convert potential clients.


As a business owner, investing in your visual storytelling is a step towards building trust, enhancing your online presence, and ultimately growing your business.

If you’re ready to elevate your brand and make a lasting impression, consider how strategic brand photography can transform your marketing efforts. Together, we can create visuals that not only look beautiful but also tell your unique story in a compelling way.


This brand photograph for career coach Carolyn is a closeup of her hand holding a pen as she writes notes on a paper resume.

Detail brand photographs help create an atmosphere and show your business’s audience what type of services you provide. These types of photographs can help set a tone for what it’s like for your customer to work with you. | Brand Photography for Career Coach

This brand photograph of career coach Carolyn shows her sitting at her desk, surrounded by notebooks and her laptop. She smiles through narrow glasses, holding her little short haired dog in her lap.

Incorporating pets is one of our favorite things to do for personal branding sessions! If your animals are a significant part of your work life, we get it and want to include them. Not only does this make your brand session extra fun for you, but it allows you to make a more personal connection with your audience | Brand Photography for Career Coach

Traditional headshot for career coach Carolyn. She smiles softly, confidently looking at her audience through the camera lens. The colors around her are soft so that her face is the focus of the brand photograph.

A professional headshot that is also friendly and approachable can be used in a plethora of ways! A headshot is great for an About Me page, media publications, business cards, presentations, email signatures, resumes and much more. It’s one of the most versatile photographs any professional or business owner can use to introduce themselves | Brand Photography for Career Coach

In this brand photograph for career coach Carolyn, we wanted to depict how she coached her clients and some of the processes navigates with them. We incorporated a white board to implicate the teaching side of her coaching business.| Brand Photography for Career Coach

Surrounded by Carolyn's laptop and notebooks, Carolyn's long haired pup stands in her chair with its paws on her desk, the look on its small face very business-like, helping build a playful atmosphere for her career coach brand photoshoot.

Recognizing how essential Carolyn’s dog was to her working atmosphere, we encouraged her pup to sit at Carolyn’s desk. This playful moment created an engaging brand photograph that is unique to Carolyn and her coaching business. | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

A laptop sits open on career coach Carolyn's desk. A LinkedIn profile is on the screen. Carolyn's hands can be seen taking notes on the LinkedIn profile in this brand photograph.

Since a large part of Carolyn’s business as a career coach is helping people with their LinkedIn profiles, we curated brand photography depicting several of the LinkedIn profiles she helped create as well as her note-taking process for helping people improve their online presence on LinkedIn | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

Career coach Carolyn stands smiling confidently and joyously, holding out her ACRW certification.

Career coach Carolyn strongly encourages showcasing your accomplishments and accolades. Since she encourages her clients to be proud of their accomplishments and she has impressive accomplishments herself, we created several brand photographs that featured her degrees and certifications during her brand photoshoot | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

In this brand photograph, career coach Carolyn stands at an open window. One hand is in the pocket of her cozy knit sweater while the other holds her cellphone to her ear during a client call.

While career coach Carolyn doesn’t spend a lot of time on the phone with her clients, as she much prefers Zoom, there are occasions she will take calls. She also wanted to her clients to know she is accessible. So, depicting multiple forms of communication was strategic in the planning of her brand photoshoot. | Career Coach Brand Photography

This brand photograph for career coach Carolyn shows a stack of her recommended books, "Don't waste Your Talent" by Bob McDonald, "Your First Leadership Job," "What color is your parachute? for teens," The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the workplace

Including faceless photographs into your brand session allows for versatility in your content. These detail brand photographs help build your brand atmosphere and showcase your personality, ultimately, attracting your ideal client to you. If they see what they like, or elements of your brand that resonates with them, they will begin to build a trusting relationship with your business. | Career Coach Brand Photography

In this contemporary headshot taken for career coach Carolyn during her brand photoshoot, she sits on a cozy velvet armchair. She leans forward with engaged body language through her shoulders. Her hands are folded with patience and she smiles kindly

Contemporary headshots are a great way to bridge the gap of “needing a headshot” and not wanting to feel stodgy and too corporate. While, yes, we did capture a traditional headshot for career coach Carolyn during her branding session, we also wanted to make sure she had a few less formal options to market her business in a fresh light. | Career Coach Brand Photography

Close up of career coach Carolyn's hands as she scans a resume, making notes. This brand photograph highlights her resume services.

Showcasing your business services to your clients is essential. If they don’t know what you do, then they won’t know they can hire you. Career coach Carolyn provides resume services through her coaching business. So, when we were planning her brand photoshoot, we made sure to incorporate multiple perspectives on her resume work. | Brand Photoshoot for Career Coach

In this brand photograph for career coach Carolyn, her hands are shown on her desk. She is writing notes on a paper notebook while her headset, laptop and favorite mug await her use.

Detail photographs that can work as website banners, section dividers or footer images are great to incorporate into any brand photoshoot. These photographs build an business’s atmosphere and provide an opportunity to infuse brand personality | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

This brand photograph of career coach Carolyn shows her sitting at her desk, surrounded by notebooks, her laptop, plants, books and her certificates. She wears a headset with a small mic, smiling at her computer as if she's in a Zoom meeting.

Getting to know how you work with your clients is essential for any brand photographer. This will help them create nuanced brand photographs for your business. In this image, career coach Carolyn works with a client over a Zoom call. Carolyn typically wears a headset with a mic, so we made certain to include those elements into her session. This helps set client expectation and share the client experience. Because this is a unique way that Carolyn conducts her business, it also provides a personalized touch to her session, giving her brand photographs that aren’t cookie cutter. | Brand Photography for Career Coach

A closeup of career coach Carolyn's hands as they hold a whiteboard marker. The body language in her hands is patient.

Wanting to create some detail brand photographs lending towards the idea that Carolyn’s coaching style feels like teaching, we made sure to photograph her holding white board markers with patient body language. Brand photographs like these allow for a personal touch, without business owners feeling like their face is in every photograph. | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

This brand photograph shows career coach Carolyn sitting at her desk in her office. The wide view shows her desk setup, fireplace and mantle adorned with her favorite books and certificates. Her office is bright and welcoming.

This image is a prime example of how impactful it is for your brand photographer and web designer (or graphic designer or marketer) to be in communication. This brand photograph was strategically composed and planned to be the header image on career coach Carolyn’s website home page. There needed to be room on the left side of the image for text, while Carolyn would still be the main attention of the image. | Career Coach Brand Photoshoot

Alyson LawtonComment
Building Company Culture : The Power of Professional Headshots

In today's competitive job market, attracting top talent goes beyond just offering competitive salaries and benefits. Potential employees are looking for more; they want to be part of a company that values its people, fosters a positive company culture, and presents a professional image to the world. In short, they want to find an employer that values their time and talents and is willing to commit to them. Professional staff headshots are an effective method of communicating how you value your staff.

Professional staff headshot for a Freese & Nichols new-hire. Photographed on location in Charlotte, NC by Jasper & Fern team.

Through our experience working with esteemed companies like Truist, Edward Jones, Freese & Nichols and Omega Construction, we've seen firsthand the impact that professional headshots can have on attracting and retaining top talent that is enthusiastic about their role at the company and who are willing to invest in long-term careers. Professional staff headshots speak volumes about your company's values and commitment to its employees. When your team presents a unified and polished appearance through high-quality headshots, it instills confidence in potential hires that you are willing to invest in them as people and sets the tone for a positive working environment.

At Jasper & Fern, we go beyond simply taking photographs. We integrate your company's mission, vision, and values into each staff member’s headshot session to ensure that each employee feels seen and every image aligns with your brand's messaging. Our tailored consultation process allows us to understand your company's unique needs and deliver headshots that perfectly match your brand and reinforce your values.

For marketing departments and project managers, working with us means having a partner who understands the nuances of branding and marketing. Our process is designed to integrate smoothly into your everyday operations, offering flexibility in scheduling and accommodating special requests to meet your needs. We believe that strong relationships with your employees are the foundation of a successful business. By choosing us, you're not just hiring a photographer; you're partnering with a team dedicated to helping you enhance your company's internal culture and external reputation.

Professional headshots are powerful tools in attracting the talent you want and building a strong company culture. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and discover how we can help you attract and retain the best and brightest talent while showcasing your company's values and culture to the world.