Why I manage photo shoots for my clients
I tell all my clients to get professional branding photos because it’s a no-brainer way to look professional and feel more confident.
But I haven’t always been a great role model.
I got my first design job with a photography portfolio and shot the brand photos for a handful of my clients myself.
I understand the importance of good photography. But for YEARS, I was over here with my iPhone and tripod, pretending my selfies were good enough for my own brand 🙄
Thankfully, last year, I finally saw the error of my ways and decided to get proper photos with my friend Lila Smyth, a brilliant brand photographer here in the Bay Area. The whole experience was so much fun, and I’m thrilled with how the photos turned out.
Bonus: now I have more of a leg to stand on when I recommend professional photos to my clients.
You won’t do this alone
The photos on your website are the first opportunity for a prospective client to connect with you through the screen.
It’s important.
So when new photos are part of a rebrand, I want to make sure your photos are right, and that the process is easy.
During your Branding Roadmap, we figure out exactly how you want to be perceived. And then I translate that into a creative brief and mood board for the photographer — vibe, poses, setting ideas — so you show up to your shoot knowing exactly what you're there to get.
This should be fun, not stressful.
And when your great new photos come together with emotionally-resonant copy and a distinctive design, you’ll have a website that looks like you, sounds like you, and makes the right people think, “I need to work with her.”
I have some tips!
Since I've been on both sides of the camera, here are my tips for standout brand photos:
✓ Find a photographer you connect with. Being photographed is vulnerable and you need to feel comfortable sharing a bit of yourself with the person behind the camera.
✓ Consider your setting thoughtfully. You don't have to stick with a traditional studio setup if that doesn't feel like you. Think about locations that showcase your personality—your workspace, in front of a cool wall outdoors, or even a beautiful studio if that aligns with your brand.
✓ Wear clothing you actually wear. Don't think about how you should look to project a certain image. What would you wear to meet your clients? What makes you feel like you? What feels physically comfortable on your body?
✓ Update regularly. Your headshot and brand photos should look like you on your best day, but they should also represent how you look now.
My favorite brand photographers
These are photographers I’ve worked with personally who specialize in brand photography for women. I love and wholeheartedly recommend all of them.
Lila Smyth | SF Bay Area
Nicole Seguin | SF Bay Area
Angela Acosta | New Jersey/New York City
Julia Rohrbach | Charlotte, NC
Julie Harmsen | Seattle
Goodies Just For You
WHAT I’M THINKING ABOUT: I really enjoyed The Wedding People, a novel by Alison Espach. It’s a rom com, but really it’s about grief, friendship, and a woman’s relationship with herself. The story could easily have been cheesy — it’s full of personal growth — but it was just funny and poignant enough to avoid the cheese. It’s one of those laughing and crying situations that I love.
WHAT I’M BAKING: Chez Panisse Blueberry Cobbler: I discovered this recipe during quarantine. I baked the fuck out of it (because baking and eating nachos was all I was doing for a few months). And then I put it aside for a while because of the covid associations. But this summer I’m bringing it back, baby! It’s easy and just the most delicious thing. The perfect summer dessert.
