Brand your way to greatness.. learn to understand the truth and strength that can lead to a powerful brand, which will attract your ideal clients. No more wondering if this is right or wrong, clear branding strategies to help you build a better, stronger and on trend business for 2018. I can help you with brand development, from the inside out, so that your confidence will boom forward like the turbo of a car.
This weekend has been nothing short of amazing! I attended the Flourish for women's conference 2017, in Birmingham. I was one of the 4 keynote speakers, who were there to empower and inspire women.
My talk was titled " How to create a authentic personal brand"
Speaking about your ideas and beliefs can be daunting. But, as a brand my beliefs are core to how I deliver and provide my services to each and every client. As a Personal Branding Photographer I want to deliver a product that goes beyond the final product, goes beyond the professional makeover, it sits within the core of each of my clients, as their confidence transforms how they see themselves and their business.
Avoid the common mistakes of business owners. Learn how to avoid being competitor focused, and how you can change this around and drive a more customer focused business. Build you brand, and make the right impressions for the right reasons.
Brand your way to greatness.. learn to understand the truth and strength that can lead to a powerful brand, which will attract your ideal clients. No more wondering if this is right or wrong, clear branding strategies to help you build a better, stronger and on trend business for 2018. I can help you with brand development, from the inside out, so that your confidence will boom forward like the turbo of a car.
This weekend has been nothing short of amazing! I attended the Flourish for women's conference 2017, in Birmingham. I was one of the 4 keynote speakers, who were there to empower and inspire women.
My talk was titled " How to create a authentic personal brand"
Speaking about your ideas and beliefs can be daunting. But, as a brand my beliefs are core to how I deliver and provide my services to each and every client. As a Personal Branding Photographer I want to deliver a product that goes beyond the final product, goes beyond the professional makeover, it sits within the core of each of my clients, as their confidence transforms how they see themselves and their business.
Stop Missing The Spot And Create A Stunning Personal Brand Using These 5 Starting Tips On Why You Are The Best Story Teller Of Your Business!
A book without a cover, is like a blog with no soul. I love books, and seeing a beautiful cover not only tells me about the content of this story in one snap view, it builds a feeling of excitement, enticing me to have to read more, because I’ve become invested in the characters… I must know the outcome, in fact I have finished books and felt bereaved when they have ended. I know it’s sad, but we all want to escape, inspire and aspire to be like the characters we read and see. I look at other business and marvel and their imagery and words. I find such joy in others doing so well, when they are producing great personal marketing, even more so when I see how their audience connect with them. If you think it’s impossible, watch others to see how they apply their selves into their business.
After finishing another book, I started thinking about how long it takes for my interest to be fully involved in the story. The usual indicator is when my hubby says, what’s for tea? And I answer with beans on toast, knowing he can cook it himself. He he… 😊
On average, it usually takes me about 5 chapters to be totally immersed into the story, sometimes its longer with some books. but if the synopsis is good enough I will trudge it out a little longer.
Then I started to think about how I decide a book is worth the read? What really draws me in? Well its usually the book cover and title… because it builds my hope up, that a book whose cover is well crafted, must be invested in its visual appetizer. Because it has a clear understanding of how they see their story. I don’t want to know everything I just want a hint of what’s to come, and that its potentially good.
Which reminds me have you ever started reading a book that’s not that great? Finding yourself flicking back to the cover for that visual stimulation, trying to keep you’re interested peaked as the characters build, or as the verbal scenery grows? Otherwise I get lost in all the un-essential crap and the 20 pages they have used to describe trees, the sky the warmth of the day. It sets the scene, but has no real value to the story. Yawn! I know I’m boring myself now, but you know I’m right!
Anyway, I will stop dragging that out and get to the point I’m trying to make, which is… that you can make the same mistake with your personal branding.
Be careful not to put all your energy and imagination into the front identity, make sure that everything has a consistent train of thought from your first impression all the way through to your content marketing. A well-designed story plan, which understands who you are? what you want to achieve? how you benefit your customers to how you want to tell your story? All play a major part in how each of the chapters is understood by your target audience.
Here are some research tips to help you create your stunning business identity
1. Create a business vision board.
2. Colours that reflect you
3. Logos that dazzle you
4. Blogs you aspire to
5. Write your business pitch, 1 paragraph
These tips will help you define your business and understand how you want to be seen on a visual level. In fact, these tips are greatly explained in my latest webinar.
Why not attend my upcoming webinar where I have put together a great resource under one webinar? I wanted to share with you the 3 secrets to “How to Create A Powerful Brand That Attracts Your Target Audience & Increases Your Presence & Growth
Before you say it “It’s not as easy as it looks?” I agree!
But here is how you can take control of what you put into the mix! Using my 3 fundamental tips on to putting more of you into your branding.
When questions such as: - How much is too much? and how little is to little? The answer, moderation is key everything. With social media becoming a bigger part of our everyday business, it’s essential that we are not afraid to step away from our perfect bubble in order to relate to our clients more.
Don’t let this hover through your thoughts for too long, let me help you create clarify this for you, while explaining why allowing you to step forward is essential to how your business will keep growing.
Bringing yourself to the table is essential to your business growth!
You see, being you makes you unique, and it’s what makes what you do and the choices you make different to that of others in your industry. Do you get the point I’m making? For example, you could be a female wellness coach, in a group of male wellness coaches. Everything you guys are putting out there might be similar, but add you’re to the mix and images of you… suddenly the people that choose to connect to you, and their reason for choosing you is very different to that of your counterparts.
If you want to stand out as being unique then don’t be afraid to be you!
As personal branding photographer, with work published both Forbes and Global Women co. I work with many entrepreneurs and business owners helping them to simplify their vision, while bring forth their own individual flavour to the table. I listen attentively to their message, and see that through a visual story of images, very much like a film.
Creating emotive imagery for visual content is my forte!
What I pride myself on and what I’m truly passionate about, is the ability to enliven each unique personality through the method of still photographs and graphics. Most importantly it’s the ability for their personality to shine through. So, that the clients they haven’t yet met, have already made a strong first impression and connection with the person within those photos.
To attract the right customer, you must be right supplier for them! Part of that decision making will be based on how you make them feel about what you do, how they connect with your story.
So how can I help you to achieve the similar results, I have created three simple tips about how to find your personality within your branding story.
Here are 3 tips to get you started
1. WHO ARE YOU? In other words, what are you like when you talk about your work? I know networking can be hard, but I am sure you smile, you laugh and you allow your personality to shine through! Why? Because this is who your clients connect with, and this is who you will consistently be. My advice is being true to who you are, ask friends, family, colleagues to answer this. How would you describe my personality in a positive way? Then ask yourself, who do you want to be and how do you want to translate that to those around you?
2. WHAT MAKES YOU, YOU? What do you gravitate to, clients will connect with you over your interests and hobbies as well? They will be empowered by your goals. Some of my clients like to cook, read, walk, run, history… etc. So, I bring these elements into their lifestyle shots to add depth.
3. SIMPLFY YOUR STORY? I say this to all my clients, what’s your priority…. What is your number one item on your list? Sometimes we get caught up in everything, so many skills to share. My aim is to develop that top skill, so you client has a clear understanding. This is not self-development, but it’s essential to how I tell your story through images. A clearer message helps build better impressions and connections, allowing your personality to shine through easier.
What’s that’s saying? You know the one about the planning…
Oh yeah I remember my dad said it to me all the time…
“By Failing to Prepare, Your Prepare To Fail!”
Whenever I think about that quote, I do think it’s a tad harsh, but you know what we are in business, and it’s not bloody easy, and you do have to be harsh on yourself. If I apply this quote to every missed opportunity, it certainly becomes apparent as to why I missed those moments. I don’t want to miss moments, and neither do you!
I want to ask you; would you like to be featured in a magazine? Let’s say its Forbes, they have seen what you’re up to. How they have seen you, you’re not sure. But somehow word has got to their journalist and you have peaked their interest. So, she has contacted you and wants to do an interview. What do you do? Well I know you want to say yes! But the deadline is tomorrow and she needs images of you and how you work. Now what do you do?
You have 24 hours to find a budget to pay for a photographer that will show you at your best. There’s no time to be thinking about weight, hair, nails. You need someone who can achieve the brief and edit the work in time.
So now you are at the mercy of the choices you need to make now, and the final ones that will come when you view your pictures.
The truth is, whatever you put out to the world is this digital age will last a life time. The fact this is Forbes can you afford to say no, if you don’t like your images. How will poor images reflect your business?
Can you see how vital and less stressful it is, to create a personal brand that is PR ready from the outset? Let me put it this way, having a PR ready brand will not only help you rise to the challenge when opportunity knocks, but you will be able to seek out and have conversations which allow you to make these moments happen for you. In fact, let’s take it up another notch, if you are PR ready you are telling yourself and your audience how much you want this, how much you believe in what you are doing. You are building up your confidence to the next level.
This quote from the secret, “like attracts like” empowers me to make sure that I am ready in mind and physically for the things I want and know I can attract with the right mindset. My tip to you, is don’t wait for it to happen, have a mindset that already knows what’s to come.
Believe it, aim for it and you will find that these opportunities will never be far away. You will attract the powerful connections, because you won’t be afraid or lacking to enter the right circle, your audience will grow.
If you have enjoyed my blogs, why not attend my upcoming webinar where I have put together a great resource under one webinar. I wanted to share with you the 3 secrets to “How to Create A Powerful Brand That Attracts Your Target Audience & Increases Your Presence & Growth”
I would love you to join my webinar, where you can join in the Q & A and find out how you can build a recognisable brand
Is personal branding and PR just for the rich and famous… HELL NO! It’s also for you and your business. Do it right from the start, and you will make a powerful impression.
I want you to imagine the following mental picture. The picture I want to paint you is this, you’ve a photoshoot tomorrow. Your excited, scared, nervous and unsure.
You’ve gone through your wardrobe a thousand times, trying to decide what items you should take to the shoot and which ones to leave behind.
The only guidance you’ve been given, is to take whatever you feel is right for your shoot, but everything you see suddenly see feels wrong. So, you decide to just take everything that fits the vague picture in your mind, from clothes to accessories….
Really, what should you wear? What’s too formal? What’s too casual?
Then you try to wind down for the night, but your mind is racing, and you can’t quiet sleep as the nervous energy floats through your body and mind.
“Why am I doing this to myself! I would be better off going to the dentist!”
Sound familiar?
Even those that are confident in front of the camera, need reassurance. You would be amazed at the clients I have seen, who on the outside are super confident. Still arrive on the day, nervous and unsure.
YOUR PERSONAL BRANDING SHOOT
You can understand why that situation would feel a little daunting. Especially if you have ever experienced the above. So how do you get around this and find the confident you? Well there are varying factors that can help you find your confidence. What I will show you is how vital communication is on a shoot, it’s a two-way street between you and your photographer of choice. The more freedom there is to talk the easier the shoot will become. Second you have to get past certain fears that you have allowed (through no fault of your own) to be programed into our mind, such as…
Are you good enough? Are you photogenic? Can we truly represent and be the face of our brand?
In this blog, I will address some of those concerns, while applying my own experience and knowledge that I have learnt during my career as a photographer. My aim is to help you feel enlightened and empowered to action.
First let me take you back to the beginning, where I too, faced the front of the camera, in order to understand your fears.
HERE’S MY STORY!
When I first trained as a photographer I felt the same. I hated being in front of the camera. I also found translating my instructions and needs to my client difficult.
I know that a lot of photographers have and do feel the same. Then one day, I asked my mentor Roger, how to get around this obstacle I knew it was a challenge I had to face.
Which lead to a plan, where Roger asked me to come to an evening class that same day, as they had a model booked in. I could watch and partake and see how adult learners worked through this process. This was a great idea, I could make notes all from a distance. I arrived at the class, quiet and trying to hide in the corner.
That was till my mentor turned around and spotted me, and said a sentence that I will never ever forget!!
“ah! Here’s our model for the evening!!!”
“WHAT!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING!! THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT!”
Nope, it wasn’t a joke, I sucked it up and got on with the task (even though I was dying in side. With all the fears flashing before my eyes. I was in my slobs, as I thought I would be working as a STUDENT).
THE BEST LESSON I COULD HAVE LEARNT
What that evening taught was the most valuable lesson I could have ever wished to learn. Becoming the model, on the other side of the camera, helped me to fully understand the questions that pop up in your head when you need direction. How essential that continual guidance and reassurance is all the way through the shoot.
From then on, I developed methods that would help guide my clients through each step of their shoot. Helping keep a positive vibe the whole way through, so that confidence would grow rather than be lost. I made sure that communication was never lost, my shoots became a conversation between myself, my camera and my client. I have had clients say that they forgot the camera was there!
PHOTOGENIC IS JUST A MYTH
I always think I take an awful photo… as I never like any holiday pictures of myself. I’m my worst critic. I don’t look at my face, or how my smile looks, I look at all the bits I don’t like. Why? Because I have allowed my brain to be programed this way. Even my husband said, it’s because you’re not photogenic. Which I think is a pile of crap!!!
