Personal Branding Photography
Pauline of neom recruitment
Pauline started neom recruitment in 2020, tapping in to two decades worth of experience at a high level - oh she’d seen it all! The time had come to break out on her own and make her mark.
To cement herself as a recognised leader in her field she really needed photos to help personalise her online presence - especially since the pandemic had just hit. But she wasn’t comfortable in front of a camera, so understandably, she was worried about getting good personal branding photographs with her in.
Her new business website needed photos on the about page, to accompany her blogs, podcasts, on social media channels (for both her profile images and content), for coverage by the press & industry specific journals, and of course for networking sites etc
Knowing that “people buy from people” you have to be seen online, (and in a pandemic it’s more true now more than ever before!), but not exactly relishing the idea of getting in front of a camera to have a proper pro personal branding shoot done is a tough call.
We had various phone chats and email conversations about everything from which outfits to wear and why, to swapping locations - it meant that Pauline started to feel a little less anxious about being in front of the camera.
I totally understand how self conscious it can make people feel, but I truly believe that having your shoot should be a fun and genuinely enjoyable experience - and I’ll go out of my way to help make you feel comfortable and confident, after all, nobody will ever be a better you - than you!
The best thing is that, brilliantly, by the end of the shoot Pauline was so comfortable she was sad it was ending! Now that’s a really great result in my book!
On the day, we ran through the various shots and areas of the location we were going to use for the personal branding photos, I looked at how best to light it and got my kit and lights ready - whilst Pauline perfected her first outfit - it was time!
My aim was to get several types of images to suit this individual clients needs, but often it includes different lighting, outfits and areas to make the images appear to have been taken on completely separate days and in various locations - rather than at one or two locations in just a morning! This gives clients a genuine library of shots that can last them up to a year, captured with minimum disruption to their diary.
We breezed through a few set ups and outfit changes, and grabbed some great “spur of the moment” images too, then it was onto the “office look”. The banner was assembled in place, and we got some stunning shots.
The only downside to the morning was that it went too fast - we had an absolute blast and got some really great shots - oh and that I forgot to eat some of the fabulous pastries (did grab a bit of fruit though!) she had so kindly bought for us - cheers Pauline!
