Can Personal Branding Photography Really Help You Grow Your Business?
As more people enter the world of freelancing, the term ‘branding’ is a bigger buzz word than ever. It’s for this reason that personal branding photography has also grown in popularity. Many moons ago (back in 2004) I worked for a stock photography company and did the key wording of their image library. It was increasingly evident to me that people not only needed imagery that was in alignment with the mood and feel of their desired marketing materials, but they also wanted something that was actually REAL and in alignment with the company and its mission.
For this reason, back in 2004, after noticing that our stock photography clients weren’t absolutely thrilled with their stock images, I began offering private photography sessions that were custom designed to feature the actual people from their company and their clients. The request to me was always “can you make me a photo library of images that look like stock images, but aren’t.”, and so I began my journey into what is now called “personal branding photography”.
You might not realize it, but personal branding photography is an investment and a tool that can help you grow your small business. I mean why take a chance that people will know what your company mission and brand is all about when you can tell them yourself?
You won’t always be able to control how potential customers perceive your brand, but you can take steps to ensure that your story is as clear as possible.
Here I’ve compiled 6 ways that Personal Branding Photos Can Boost your Business in 2021:
- Add compelling images to your website
If you want to grab a website visitor’s attention in an authentic way, you’re going to need engaging photos. They don’t want to see generic stock photos either – they want to know who they might be doing business with. Copy is definitely still important, but people are also very visual, which is why quality photos matter. The photos on your site should serve a purpose and not simply be placeholders.
2. Personalize your marketing material
If you print business cards, leaflets or design any other marketing material to promote your business, it’s important to have professional images that you can incorporate. By adding photos, your brand also becomes more recognizable to clients – an important factor in building trust.
3.Create unique social media content
Social media can give your brand a lot of exposure and adding your photo to some of your posts will help boost your credibility. Social media is personal, which means existing and potential customers need to be able to relate to you. Knowing who you’re engaging with online automatically makes them more trustworthy and believable.
4. Liven up your email signature
An email signature that has a photo automatically stands out more. It also solidifies that you’re a professional who is transparent and confident in what they do. Plus, if you chat to a client over email for several weeks, it makes meeting you for the first time more comfortable and natural because they know what you look like
5. Send your photo along with guest posts
If you are a blogger for other websites, you should always be adding a professional photo to your bio. A bio photo might be small but it does help create a more consistent and trustworthy online image, especially once you start writing for multiple websites.
6. Enhance your PR efforts
Approaching publications and PR firms about publicity opportunities? Professional branding photos are a must! If you want to position yourself as an expert in your sector, a good photo goes a long way. Plus, a reputable publication or firm will always ask you to send a photo anyway. When you take your business seriously, others will too.
Personal branding photos ensure that you’re showing up professionally and consistently online. It also gives your marketing and content a personal edge that will help you stand out from competitors. A small investment can give you the boost you need to grow your business in a big way.
If you’d like to learn more about the Personal Branding Portrait Experience I offer, please check out my Personal Branding Guide which is filled with information on planning your shoot, finding alignment with your core mission values and investment pricing.