4 Personal Brand Photos You Can Take from Home
Great photos are the heart and soul of your personal brand. Many prospective clients have expressed to me recently that they still feel uncomfortable working with a photographer in their home space because of Covid so i decided to put together this post to make suggestions of 4 different personal brand photos that you can take by yourself to keep things rolling for your social media accounts until you’re feeling more comfortable with someone else in your physical space. Please note, that you might have to get a little creative! (and also that not everyone feels this way, and I am still doing in home photoshoots for clients if they so desire!)
Here are four types of personal brand photos you can take from home. All you’ll need is a camera or iPhone, a tripod, and your winning smile.
- A WFH Shot
Show potential clients where the magic is happening these days! Are you working at your kitchen table? Your Instagram-worthy home office? On the couch, snuggled up with your dog? Set up a tripod and snap a few shots of your WFH life in action. This can include your kids fumbling around in the background, or even the giant mess on or behind your desk. For the sake of authenticity, work from home shots can be a humbling reminder of the times we’re living in, and many others will completely relate to them! WFH images also illustrate to your clients, that despite the change in office location, you are indeed still dedicated to your business and the SHOW MUST GO ON regardless of outside circumstances.
- Flatlays
The tools you use can tell a really vivid story about who you are and what you do. Gather some objects that represent you and your business, arrange them on your kitchen table, and take some photos from above. For example, if you’re a baker, get some cookies, your latest recipe book, a whisk, and your KitchenAid mixer in the shot. If you’re a graphic designer, get your laptop, your sketchbook, and a few of your favorite prints you’ve done. Flatlays and prop shots are a helpful addition to your social media library of images to choose from. They can also be used to set the vibe of what it is you do without the need for you to be in the photograph itself. If you’re like me, you might still be wearing your pajamas from several days ago as you work from home! hahaha
- Close-ups
If you are feeling spiffy (or not) maybe it’s time to get up close and personal. Take a few shots of yourself from the shoulders up. As long as you find some natural light near a window and keep the emphasis on your face, no one will ever guess you took those shots in your living room! My most popular high ranking posts as of recent have been of me working from my kitchen table with messy hair, and my morning cup of tea while editing photos as seen above~ go figure!
(Bonus if you were feeling spiffy) close-up portraits are also perfect for updating your bio & your LinkedIn profile.
- Outfit Changes
The best thing about an at-home personal brand photoshoot? You can do as many retakes and outfit changes as you want! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different looks. Take a series of full-body shots in different outfits. (This is perfect for regular social media posting, since wearing a different outfit will make it look like it was taken on a different day!)
These days, we’re all spending a lot more time at home and online than usual. If you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or working professional, there’s never been a better time to give your personal brand a much-needed visual refresh with a great at-home personal brand photoshoot. While hiring a professional personal brand photographer is the best and most efficient way to get great personal brand photos, these tips should help tide you over until you’re able to shoot with the pros again.
If you are feeling comfortable working with folks in your home again~ do feel free to reach out! I have limited availability and booking for October-December currently. In the meantime, if you’re looking for more ideas for images to build to your personal branding photo gallery, you can download my FREE PERSONAL BRANDING CHECKLIST HERE.