Seth Godin defines a brand as “the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another.” The best brands share these stories and develop relationships through the content on their social media platforms.

Why develop a personal brand instead of a business brand? People want to do business with people. That’s why so many companies use celebrity endorsers… and why so many celebrities start their own companies. They are “known,” and that carries clout, deserved or not. You do not have to be a big-name personality, however, to make an impact, but you’ll make a bigger impact if your ideal client knows who you are.

“If you have an online presence -- no matter if you’re a life coach, a dog trainer, a yoga instructor or you teach online marketing strategies like I do -- having professional branding and lifestyle photos can massively up-level your business, especially when you know when and where to use them.” – Amy Porterfield, Online Marketing Made Easy podcaster

People want to see who they are potentially working with, so show them your face.

But before you run off to your local family or wedding photographer, please know that Personal Brand photography differs from traditional portraiture. You’ll want to make sure you are getting what you think you are getting, some of which are deal-breakers for some photographers. For instance, I serve my branding clients by offering:

1. Full-resolution digital files – use them anywhere, at any size, for any reason.
2. No requirement for attribution/credit, and no watermark – these are designed to build YOUR business, not mine.
3. Permission to edit your photos as you wish – crop, add text, filter… whatever you need!
4. Images shot for web – e.g., with plenty of space for cropping to your preferred/needed format.
5. Images to strengthen YOUR brand – discovered as part of our consultation, we’ll identify the best way to tell your story to connect with your clients.
6. Assistance in determining when, where, and how to make the most of your custom image library.

Controlling your personal brand by telling your story your way helps differentiate you and your offer from your competitors, build trust, and create visibility.

By the way, personal branding isn’t just for business! Employers will research your online presence, too. They want to know who is potentially joining their team. Make sure they see you in your best light.

Want to know more about why developing a personal brand is important, whether you are growing a business or working for someone else? Check out articles on the topic at https://www.entrepreneur.com/topic/personal-branding.

Find out more about what I offer at www.maggietakespix.com/branding.

---

Ready for some great photographs? Let’s get to know each other over coffee (or smoothies… or milkshakes…), and talk about celebrating your life’s true beauty in images you love. You can reach me at [email protected] or (434) 226-0365. You can also schedule a consultation at https://calendly.com/maggietakespix; pick a time convenient for you, and let me know where you'd like to meet!

My Promise: Together, we will create amazing photos you’ll want to share. How do you want to be photographed?