Shooting For Your Brand

Last year in June, I was shooting an incredible wedding in DC. It worked out perfectly that a photographer who’s SO sweet needed headshots while we were there, too..and then even more fate set in when Jasmine Star announced her workshop dates and it fell RIGHT when we would be up there traveling! The Jasmine Star workshop was something I was so EXCITED but sooo nervous about, I was going to meet someone who to me had been a major staple in defining how I shaped my business and built so strongly so quickly. Her willingness to share share share on social media, YouTube, her blog..and I never had spent a dime to look at it…I felt it was such a good thing to invest back into her and her loving and giving heart.

I learned SO much that day, so much I was overwhelmed in a good way! Anyone who has done a mentoring session, conference, workshop etc..you know that feeling right!? Like WOW this is a lot of info and I need to not only take it in, but apply it and start making things happen! Some people experience this and unfortunately feel too overwhelmed and retreat back a little, thinking that they don’t have the time, resources or financial ability to “make it happen” right away. You guys..it’s not a race! A year later I am looking at my website finally realizing that I have taken time strategically and wisely to apply fully what I learned then and my brand is now exactly how I want it to be..and that workshop was ALL about owning your brand!

Jasmine told us it’s more than marketing, logos, website..you also have to shoot for your brand. If you are using the words classic and timeless, your images have to match the description. If you are using fun, your couples can’t ALWAYS be serious..they need to look like they are having fun…it needs to come full circle. I rebranded earlier this year to match our Outer Banks salty and sunshiny souls, what was ME and my family to the utmost degree. We are mostly in colorful clothes at all times, we love the sea, the waves mainly, and we love all elements that speak Outer Banks down to the white wash wood you see in cottages and on fences. So..I rebranded for it. My “word” was CHEERFUL…because that’s not just me, that’s the descriptor for my couples! And I LOVE that my couples hearts are so much like my own, it makes it a pure joy to be able to work with such happy people all the time!

So the other day I opened my website to take a look and something just hit me, I realized I didn’t just like my brand and images, I LOVED THEM. I 100% felt like oh my gosh this is SO ME! And my couples look so cheerful! And things are so BRIGHT and natural and this is what I’ve been striving for to come full circle for SO long! These inquiries I am getting fit my personality, they are so happy, SO excited to marry the love of their life…a dream come true for a small business owner!

The next time you go out to a shoot..think of your branding WORD or words. Try to make sure most of your images, poses and shooting style reflect that and you’ll love adding those to your website and blog to show off how awesomely your couples fit what you are striving for! It will help attract the clients you are working so hard to brand for too, and you can’t beat that! Happy Wednesday friends! :)

Below are examples of how I’ve specifically shot “for my brand” — starting with this BRIGHT blue wall! For five years I’ve been a lover of colorful walls and my heart bursts at the sight of one in good light, so I had to make this work! :)

LAUGHING! I love laughter, it’s…wait for it..branding word..SO CHEERFUL! And yes, I may say, “okay everyone laugh right at me!” when this happens but what usually happens is I wait to shoot for a second or two after the fake laughter inevitably turns into real smiles and laughter…bam! Branding image accomplished! :)

Sunshiny, glowing and warm…my brand is absolutely a reflection of these things and when I can bring the sun so perfectly into an image, it’s perfection!