Brand photography is about creating images infused with your personality, so people remember you.
My recent client, Brittany Hodak, might even say it helps to convert customers into super fans!
She’s a keynote speaker and just published her first book, Creating Superfans. So she knows a thing or two (and lots of psychology) behind the importance of creating brand awareness and brand consistency.
Ready to learn how to hook your customers with brand photography? Let’s dive in!
Brand Photography: Messaging and Consistency
My first call with Brittany was amazing! I’m sure you can tell from her photos, but her personality is exactly what you’d expect – bubbly, excited, and full of energy! We both knew right away that we were a perfect fit for a custom brand photography session and got to planning!
Brittany wanted to create brand photos for her keynote speaking events and upcoming book launch, and she had one primary objective: to create consistency.
We live in a world that has become highly visual. With consistent branding, including brand photos, your brand becomes instantly recognizable to your audience.
I’m willing to bet you can see a Nike swoosh symbol or an Apple icon and know the brand immediately, right? That’s the magic behind consistent, repetitive marketing and messaging.
For Brittany’s session, we planned to infuse her high-energy personality and bold brand colors so everything would be on brand for all platforms: website, author book photos, press releases, speaking engagements, and social media.
Consistency is what she wanted, and I think we nailed it!
Why You Need Brand Photography As An Author or Keynote Speaker
As an author, having high-quality brand photography is essential. It shows potential readers, book retailers, and literary agents that you’re a professional who takes your career seriously.
And as a keynote speaker, branding yourself with great photos is even more critical. After all, you’re selling your expertise, and potential clients need to see that you’re the real deal!
But don’t just take my word for it – research has shown that people are more likely to trust someone who looks like an expert in their field. So if you want to be seen as the go-to resource for your service or product, make sure your branding photos are top-notch.
Great photos get you noticed, and your business is no exception.
Shoot With Purpose
When planning your brand photoshoot, list where you’ll use your new images and share that with your photographer. Hopefully, that’ll be me if you’re in the local Nashville, TN area.
If you need specific sizes or orientations, plan that out accordingly. Trust me; this step will save you time later as your marketing all comes together!
Once you know where to use your photos, you can start thinking about storytelling, props, backgrounds, and wardrobe options.
Brittany’s upcoming book, Creating Superfans, will be released in January 2023. And she’s also launching a Podcast called CX, centered around creating an amazing customer experience! Keep your eyes peeled for all of her goodies!
A prop that helped convey her book message and energy was a number 1 foam hand. How fun, right?!
These photos are jam-packed with personality and relate to her brand! Her audience will probably get a giggle out of these too. But the important part – is they’re creating brand recognition.
(*Disclaimer – the link for her book in this blog is an affiliate link. But I only share what I’m truly passionate about and love. I can’t wait to get my own copy of her book!)
Create Storytelling Brand Photography
To ensure your photos are compelling, start by thinking about what story you want to tell with them.
What do you want readers to take away from the images? How will they feel when they see them?
Is your brand known for being high-energy and enthusiastic? Showcase those characteristics! That’s exactly what Brittany’s brand is about, so we captured that energy throughout her photos.
Do you want to give your readers a glimpse into the typical day of an author? Capturing photos of you writing or typing on your computer would visually tell this story!
Is there something you want to show about being a keynote speaker? Photos of you preparing slides for an upcoming keynote speech could demonstrate that beautifully. You get the idea.
Infuse your brand photos with personality and a glimpse behind the curtain. Your audience will appreciate it.
Recognize Your Team Members
We all love to see the ins and outs of businesses. For me, it’s interesting to see how many businesses can be similar and yet so different.
One way to create a sense of community and insider knowledge is to recognize your team members.
For Brittany’s shoot, she wanted to include her assistant, Alix, because she played a pivotal role in the creation of her book. Now Alix has updated headshots, and the photos provide additional options for their marketing! Win/Win!
How To Use Your Brand Photography to Promote Your Book
There are three main ways to use your images for marketing: online, offline, and print.
Online: This one seems like the most obvious place to start. Update your social profiles, website, and marketing outlets specific to your book, speaking engagements, or brand.
Offline: Display your photos at speaking events, conferences, workshops, or other gatherings.
Print: The most important image you’ll probably start with for an author is your book cover. You may also use them in printed business cards, posters, flyers, etc.
Need some inspiration to start planning your personal branding photoshoot? I’ve got ya!
Grab a copy of my Ultimate Branding Photoshoot Checklist! It’s FREE and packed full of great info to help you plan out your shoot.
And you might want to read and save this blog about 20 ways to use your branding photos!
Brittany has already implemented using the png files on her website, which you can check out here! She has free resources, a blog, and so much more! Definitely give her a follow. You won’t be disappointed!
Branded photography is an essential marketing tool for authors and keynote speakers who want to stand out from the crowd.
Not an author or keynote speaker? No problem! I help many different types of business owners and employees who want a professional online presence.
If you’re tired of trying to take the perfect selfie and pass it off as a professional photo, let me help. I’ll create unique images representing who you are as a person, brand, and business owner.
Fill out this inquiry form to get started!
And if you’re not quite ready to get started, I’d love to see you on my socials. Come over and say hello!
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