How it can help Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs connect with their audiences and grow their business
As a small business owner, sole trader or entrepreneur, personal branding is more important than ever before in this digital world. The UK is experiencing a rapid growth of self-employment in the labour market and the pressure to attract and convert ideal clients through social media and a professional website is paramount.
How can you connect with your audience?
You only have seconds to get a viewer’s attention when they visit your website or social media page. Attraction and engagement is key. The quickest and easiest way to do this is with high-quality, authentic images that make your brand stand out from the crowd and tell a narrative about you and your brand.
People are naturally curious and will be attracted to your genuine stories and images. They will get to know you and like you and your brand if you’re using consistent and authentic images. When you personalise your social media and website, with photography and stories about you, this helps to build a relationship with your audience based on trust.
People are naturally curious and will be attracted to your genuine stories and images.
As the vast majority of communications are visual, having a portfolio of authentic, on brand images for all your communication channels (website, social media, promotion materials and profile images) will help to connect with your audience and establish yourself as an expert in your market. In turn, your audience will grow and your brand awareness will increase.
What will I gain from a professional personal branding shoot?
- Attract an audience with stunning, professional photos including profile lifestyle images, profile photos and flatlays
- Build trust through authentic images
- Demonstrate that you’re professional and value quality
- Save time and stress of searching through off brand stock images or blurry, poorly lite smartphone images
- Feel confident and proud to share stunning, on brand, consistent photos across your communication channels
- Benefit from the convenience of ready to use images for your website, social media platforms and print promotion to use images for your website, social media platforms and print promotion
How does it work?
Once you’ve decided that it’s time to invest in a professional shoot, the first step is to find a photographer. Ask for recommendations from your friends, clients, local networking groups and forums and search online for a personal branding photographer. Create a shortlist and the photographers to learn more and get to know each other.
As a photographer, I’m always keen to talk to potential clients before they commit to ensure that we’re a good fit and they are getting the correct service to match their needs.
If you choose to work with me, here’s an idea of what you can expect:
Your brand is a visual story of you. To best work out how we’re going to present this, I’ll ask you to complete a questionnaire that is all about you, what you want to achieve from the photoshoot and in which communication channels you intend to use the photos. This is one time when size definitely matters. Banner images for your website will not work with portrait images for Pinterest.
Next, we’ll build a mood board on Pinterest to share ideas of the types and styles of images that you’re after including colours, themes and possible locations. We’ll meet in person or online to brainstorm ideas for the shoot, talk about locations, wardrobe and props and start to develop the plan and the shotlist. When it’s time for the shoot, it will be fun, stress-free and smooth running because it’s been well-planned in advance.
What if you’re not comfortable in front of the camera?
By the time we get to the actual shoot, we’ll have planned it out so well that you’ll forget the camera is even there. Also, I’m a very relaxed and approachable person who will make you feel at ease and comfortable. Besides, we’re going to be capturing you in your natural environment, doing the things you enjoy and sharing your passions.
If you’d like to learn more about a personal branding and see Tricia’s work, please visit www.portrayedphotography.co.uk .