What is Branding Photography?
Branding photography is your visual representation. It tells a story about who you are, what you do, and who you help in a series of photos. It helps attract your ideal clients and then allows you to more easily sell to them. 

In fact, whether on your website, social media, or in an ad, the first thing most consumers are attracted to is an image. 

Plus, these days, consumers want to see who is behind the business they are buying from. They don't want to see stock images (or at least not all stock images). They want to be able to connect with you, and the best way to do that is through imagery. 

What is a branding photographer? 
A branding photographer is someone who specializes in a particular type of photography - it isn’t just a headshot. A branding photographer puts together a visual story of your brand by putting together the right visual plan for your business.

Your branding photoshoot is very important to the success of your design and social media marketing presence. Again, it helps attract and sell your services for you. The other reason it's so important is that your website design is essentially comprised of photos and text. So, if you don't have great photos (and enough of them) your design runs the risk of looking a little "blah" to use a technical term. That's why it is important to choose the right photographer when getting a branding photoshoot done for your business. 

Here is an example of some of my branding photos that were taken by Jeannene Matthews of JR Photography in the Triangle. 

This photoshoot was performed at my home office, my living room, and at a local coffee shop.

What should your branding photography include?
I recommend that your branding photography focus on you and your people. It should also include lifestyle shots that you're not in. As you can see above, I have a photo of a chair with my computer on a table. You want to get creative and think about what your ideal client would be attracted to.

Where can you use your branding photography?
You can use these photos on your website first and foremost. That is where your clients will most likely first visit after hearing about you or your work. You can also use them on social media, in your print materials, and for ads.

I use mine on my website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, my blog photos, and for YouTube. Using them on all your marketing channels also helps you keep brand consistency, which is very important. You want a cohesive brand look so that your potential clients can immediately spot you visually.

What are your next steps?
First of all, you need to understand if you have a brand identity at all. If not, I highly recommend working with a brand strategist to help you get clear about your branding. Then you can schedule a branding photoshoot to create your imagery. You will be glad you did!

Need some guidance or need a brand strategist?
Please feel free to reach out to me at connectwebdesignstudio@gmail.com or through our contact page. I am happy to help assist you.