If you had asked me the question ‘what is a personal branding photographer?’ a few years ago, I wouldn’t have had a clue! Personal branding photography is one of those terms that sounds way more complicated than it is… So, let’s unpack what it means.
Personal branding photography is a relatively new concept and has been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years. This is because many more of us are marketing ourselves as freelancers or creatives, promoting new a business or growing our side-hustles into full-time jobs.
And where are entrepreneurs looking to promote these businesses? Online of course! And to stand out in a crowded market, you need strong personal branding images that resonate with your ideal clients.
Professional headshots of yourself on your website can show that your business means business. The right choice of imagery builds trust and connection with potential clients and enhances the public perception of your brand.
There are also your social media channels to consider. You will need a professional headshot to use as your profile picture, plus lots of engaging content to fuel your following and draw new leads in. Cue personal branding photographers to the rescue!
What is considered personal branding?
Personal branding typically relates to freelancers, small business owners, sole-traders and creatives. This is because personal branding is related to the individual (or group of people) that are the face of the business.
When defining your personal brand, you’ll need to think about how you want to communicate your core values, your skills and experience, and your personality. What is your unique selling point that only you can do?
Personal branding is an overall impression of what you can offer your clients, and a strong personal brand will clearly communicate what to expect from you and your business. And since a picture tells a thousand words, great photography is a huge part of successful personal branding.
I’ve done a whole post about who needs personal branding photos that you should read. But put in short here: freelancers, sole-traders, business owners, creatives, influencers, content creators, students, recent graduates and side-hustlers can all benefit from professional imagery to elevate their personal brands.
What can a personal branding photographer do for me?
A great personal branding photographer will be able to provide you with professional images that clearly communicate your brand values and your unique personality.
Before you book in for a personal brand photo shoot, make sure you do your research to ensure the photographer is the right fit for you and your brand.
Here are four things a personal branding photographer can do for you:
- Help you with their expertise
An experienced photographer will be able to expertly guide you through the shoot experience, giving you plenty of advice and guidance at every step of the way.
- Turn your ideas into reality
When you approach your photographer with your brand vision, values and inspiration, they will be able to advise on how to bring your ideas to life.
- Put you at ease
Great personal branding photographers can help you to relax and enjoy your shoot by giving you lots of encouragement.
- Deliver high quality images
Headshots specialists can deliver professional quality images in high-res and low-res formats. So much better than snapping a selfie on your phone!
What I can do for you as your personal brand photographer
I can tick off all the items on the list above, plus I bring my own set of skills that I’ve learnt from being a personal brand photographer for many years. I pride myself of looking after my clients by going the extra mile.
Here are three things that I do for my clients to make sure they have a fantastic time on their personal brand shoot:
- We’ll chat lots during your shoot so that you can feel at ease. Sometimes all it takes is a silly prompt to get you smiling naturally!
- I’ll be your cheerleader by giving lots of positive affirmations and using encouraging words.
- I have a great eye for detail. I spot the random things that we might need to change up for your finished images to look perfect.
How much do personal branding photographers charge?
The costs for personal branding photography vary depending on the photographer’s level of experience, your location and what’s included in a photo shoot package. You should be looking to spend a minimum of around £300 per hour as a starting point to ensure you are getting a quality service.
Before you book in, you should ask your photographer how many images are provided after your shoot and in what format (high-res, low-res or both), and how much it will be to buy additional images. Also check if travel is included in the package price.
You can look at my personal branding photography services and rates if you’d like to see what I offer.
Good personal branding photographs are 100% worth the initial investment as you will use the images time and time again. Think of how many customers will look at your profile picture on social media. That alone is worth getting a professional headshot done. It will really set the tone for all your future interactions!
Ready to book a personal branding shoot?
If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level and elevate your marketing with a professional personal branding shoot, I would love to hear from you. You can read more about my life as a personal branding photographer in Manchester or see more of my tips and tricks for personal branding success at my blog.
When you’re ready to get in touch with me about your headshots or brand shoot, you can fill out my contact form and I will get back to you right away with my availability. Thank you so much for reading this guide and I hope I’ve helped you get to grips with what personal branding photography is! If you have any more questions I’m always open to an informal and friendly chat.
