Branding Photos with a Purpose | Seattle Brand Photographer Janet Lin Photography

FINE ART WASHINGTON AND DESTINATION

February 17, 2022

I often have clients who come to me knowing they need updated imagery to propel their business forward, but they are unsure about what exactly that should look like. Don’t worry, I am here to help! Here are a couple of tips to help you determine exactly what you need so you can maximize your branding photography session time and create purposeful, intentional photos.

Understand your target market.
Successful businesses know who their target market is and what they are looking for. Digging deep into the WHO behind your brand will allow you to focus your visual marketing plan more intentionally. Where is your target client shopping/looking? (That’s where you’re going to put your marketing images!) What are they wearing and drawn to? (You probably want to take this into consideration when selecting wardrobe for your session.) What do they need to see from you to feel confident in your product and expertise? These, and many other questions related to your target market can really help steer the direction of our work together.
Think about HOW and WHERE you will use your images.
Is updating your website important? Are they primarily for social media use? Will they be utilized in a magazine spread or printed advertising? Knowing this information ahead of time will allow us to create images that are properly framed and intentionally created with those specific uses in mind. For example, Instagram is going to crop your images to a square, so we will be sure to create enough negative space for that crop to look complimentary. Your website may need a wide shot for a horizontal header, and a magazine spread will require shots that are composed to compliment that binding in the middle of the spread.
Ask yourself honestly… who are you, what is your brand really about, and what do you want your clients to know?
While it is incredibly important to design a marketing plan around your target market and your business goals, none of that works if you aren’t staying true to yourself. So… what are you all about? Are you fun and lighthearted? Are you a lover of all things glam? Are you quiet and sincere? It is so important to ensure that the real, authentic YOU comes through in all of these images. Allowing your clients to see the heart behind your work, to see your face regularly, and to connect with you is imperative to building trust and rapport.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by all of this? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! My goal is for you to feel supported every step of your branding photography experience. You’ll receive a brand discovery questionnaire that will make this process easy and stress-free for you, and using your responses from the questionnaire and our collaborative conversation, I’ll put together a mood board for your session with outfit suggestions and design ideas. Ready to get started? Get in touch here to begin your branding photography experience!