Personal Branding is the practice of an individual marketing themselves and their career as a brand. It often involves the application of one’s own name to a product or service. It’s about becoming a thought leader and an influencer in your industry. Okay so that defines it. But why is personal branding necessary? In a world where we are bombarded with marketing (TV, Facebook, the internet, etc.) a strong personal brand is one of the easiest ways to distinguish yourself in your market. For example, are you a small business owner?  Consider how many other businesses like yours (retail, real estate, insurance, law office, etc.) are in your city. How do you stand out? What makes you different? Why should they trust you? How do you stand out as a thought leader and influencer? 1. Define What Sets You Apart Figuring out who you are and what you want to be known for are fundamental steps to developing your brand. What is your passion? Why did you start your business? What do you do that sets you apart from your competition? The answers to these critical questions will lay the foundation of your brand. 2. Know Your Target Client Knowing your target client enables you to focus your messaging, including your visual messaging (headshot, blog images, website images, etc.) that truly communicates your message to your intended market. For example, if you have a luxury brand your imagery needs to reflect money, value, high-end service.  Connect with your target client through your personal branding and you will attract clients like a magnet. 3. Relay Consistent Message Across All Platforms The next step is to relay a consistent message across all platforms.  Unifying your visual message on social media, your website, your advertising, etc. is important for brand succinctness. It’s also imperative for laying the foundation of your long-term reputation. If you have a luxury brand and strong imagery on your website, however your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles are iPhone selfies your brand will lack continuity. Consistency is the common thread which will strengthen your brand. 4. Build Credibility, Confidence and Trust Remember the saying “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”? In today’s world, this is more important than ever. Your headshot and website are often the first time a prospective client sees you. Within seconds they will make a determination as to whether or not they connect with you (and whether or not they pick up the hone to inquire about your service). A solid, professional and approachable personal branding image reassures clients that you are a leader in your industry and someone that can be trusted. It only takes two seconds for someone to decide whether or not they want to do business with you. Make your images count! 5. Be the Face of your Brand /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Research has proven that people do business with people that they can connect with and whom they trust. Professional headshots, blog images and website images all align to form your personal brand. However your face is your best asset. Professional branding session is an easy way to build a successful personal brand. Schedule a consultation with Angi to discuss how to get the perfect headshot for your business. Ready to learn more about personal branding and how a professional session can help your marketing? Feel free to visit my gallery to see images from recent sessions or fill out my contact form today to get the ball rolling. I look forward to hearing from you!

I photographed a very sweet family recently. The post the mom shared on Facebook really summed up everything that I stand for as a photographer; the importance of not only capturing professional images of your family, but why as a mom it’s important to exist in them, too. This is what she posted…

“My heart melted instantly. Thank you to the truly talented Angi Lewis with Angi Lewis Photography for capturing this sweet moment I will cherish forever. As I obsessively stare at this photo and all the cuteness of my little ones faces I’m reminded of why Its important to make the time to schedule a family photo session.

1. My 1,000 Random snapshots on my cell phone I never print and if I do they are always blurry.

2. There’s maybe 1 pic I took on my phone out of 1,000 where all of the kids are looking at the same time and even if they are all facing the camera I’m pretty sure one of the kids are crying or maybe even picking their noses or something of that sort that’s most definitely non editable.

3. If I’m snapping the photo then I’m not in the photo. There may come a day my kids would enjoy having a family photo to look at and relive a moment. THIS. RIGHT. HERE is my heart.”

 

 

I could list a thousand reasons why you should hire a professional photographer for your next family session, but here are my top eight…

One:

KICK OFF YOUR SHOES AND LET A PROFESSIONAL TAKE OVER...

First off, whether you are a working or a stay-at-home mom, chance are you are not a professionally-trained photographer. What’s more, if you’re BEHIND the lens, that means you are not in FRONT of it. What a huge difference it makes when you can relax and hand off the stress of wardrobe coordination, lighting, positing, and getting everyone to respond to a professional who can orchestrate the chaos.

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Two:

SHOW YOUR CHILDREN HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE...

Children who grow up in homes where portraits are displayed have higher self-esteem. They see that mom and dad make them a priority and proudly display their portrait for friends and family to enjoy. In addition, that it is the simple daily enjoyment and celebration of who they are.

 

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Three:

DOCUMENT YOUR LEGACY...

Children grow in the blink of an eye. And none of us are promised tomorrow. We’ll never have this moment in time again. The importance of capturing your family in this moment, as you are now (braces, long limbs and awkward growth spurts) is so important. We work so hard and spend money on a nice house, clothing, education, sports activities and vacations for our family. However documenting your family in an heirloom album or a framed wall portrait will become the most valuable thing your family will ever own. This is why you need a family portrait session, this is why every family needs one. 

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Four:

CREATE MEMORIES.

After nearly every family session I photograph, I receive texts and emails from parents telling me how much fun they had and how their children actually enjoyed the shoot. Most importantly, I make it a priority in each session I photograph for everyone to feel valued, beautiful and allow who they are to shine through. We laugh, tell silly jokes and enjoy the moment we are creating for your family.  

 

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Five:

THE CELEBRITY EXPERIENCE...

Have you ever had a professional coordinate your wardrobe or had your hair and makeup professionally done while sipping a mimosa? The stress of handing that off to someone else alone is reward in itself! You work so hard for your family… let someone take care of you for a day.

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Six:

CUSTOM DECORATIONS FOR YOUR HOME...

We all know the ‘home decor’ stores that we run to when we’ve repainted the house or watched an episode of Fixer Upper. But why hang generic, non-emotive wall art that everyone else has on their walls? A beautiful museum quality canvas of your own family proudly hanging in the foyer or over the fireplace tells everyone who visits to your home just how important your family is.

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Seven:

LIVE IN THE MOMENT...

John Lennon said it best, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” What are your objections? Need to lose weight? I can take 10 pounds off in posing and another 10 in Photoshop. Your children will never see a photo of you and think “Gosh, mom should have lost 20 pounds before she had the Family portrait taken.” Your family loves you just the way you are. Love yourself and live in the moment with them.

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Eight:

ONE DAY YOUR CHILDREN WILL LOOK FOR PHOTOS OF YOU. WHAT WILL THEY FIND?

Our current photos may be on Facebook, Instagram or in a cloud, but how will these benefit future generations? Flash drives and DVD’s won’t always be the standard medium or even accessible in 10 year’s time (remember the floppy disk?). Think of the thousands of photos on your smart phone. How many of those will your children, grandchildren and one day great-grandchildren actually see? Not to mention, how will you show your children the journey of your life?

 

Above all, the images I will capture today will one day become the most important thing your family will ever own. Documenting your legacy is one of the greatest gifts you can ever give them. This is why you need a Family Portrait Session. Let’s start your journey…

Headshots are a critical part of your personal brand. The saying is true… you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Headshots showcase who you are: your personality, your professionalism, and of course, your approachability. As the face of your business, you want to be sure that your headshot reflects you and your brand. If you’re planning for a headshot, try these 5 vital tips for getting the perfect shot…

 

Tip #1: Start with a Personal Branding Session

 

Before your portrait session, make sure you have a good idea of who you are: your personal brand, your goals for your business, and more. Are you a little unsure about your personal brand? Are you struggling to figure out how your look fits into those goals?

During your pre-session consultation, we will discuss your business: where you are now, where you’d like to go, and how your personal branding images will help you reach your goals. We’ll discuss your business’s theme, your mission statement and how you want to be photographed.

 

 

Tip #2: Consider the Benefits of Professional Hair and Makeup

 

You are the face of your brand. Whether your headshot is for your website, social media page or your business cards, you want to look your best.

Why struggle in front of the mirror when you can leave it up to the professionals?

Just like there are many things you’re great at, I work with a team of professionals who are fantastic at hair and makeup. Men and women, young or old, we do it all. My team will create a professional, polished look exclusively for you. Don’t worry: we will avoid going drastically different from how you normally dress and look. Instead, we will bring out the best possible version of you so that you can show it off to your clients and prospects.

 

Tip #3: Let’s Talk Wardrobe

 

Do you have a power outfit that helps you look and feel your best when you’ve got a big event coming up? Or do you need advice selecting what to wear? The good news… I’m here to help style, pose and shape you down to your last finger so that you will look your absolute best.

 

 

Keep it simple. Quite often, solid colors or simple patterns look best. We want the focus to be on your face, not on what you’re wearing. Wearing an outfit that makes you feel comfortable, professional, and capable is the key.

When you look your best, your company looks great, too. I want to help ensure that you’ll get the perfect headshot for everything you’re after. I’ll give you a photographer’s perspective on your wardrobe to help you pick out the ideal outfit for your brand.

 

Tip #4: Professional Headshots are Worth It

 

 

As a professional photographer, I could easily be biased by the benefits of hiring a professional, but it’s not just a bias. It’s true!

Seeking a genuinely professional look for your headshots?

Is your headshot used as part of your brand’s marketing?

If so, you can’t get by with a headshot snapped on someone’s cell phone or in your car. When you hire a professional photographer to do your headshots, you get all the benefits of their experience: a creative eye that knows exactly how to get the best out of every shot, advice about how to shape your look and professional-quality editing that will help ensure that your finished product looks its best.

You wouldn’t bring in an amateur to handle your marketing or your finances. As a professional, you probably wear many hats, but photographer may not be one of them. Hire a professional photographer to take care of your headshots. You’ll appreciate the benefits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #5: Choose Great Options

After your headshots have been photographed, consider the great products that you can use to display those great images. Pick out a gorgeous canvas or custom framed print to hang in the office. In many cases, this will help enhance your aura of professionalism as well as giving your clients an idea of exactly who they’re looking for when they come through the office doors.

Print out copies of your headshot for your scrapbook or for posterity. Keep in mind that your look will likely change over the years, from your personal look to your professional brand. Don’t rely on digital storage to display those images. There’s something incredible about a high-quality, physical image that you can touch, show your friends and your clients, and keep for the future.

If you are ready for the best headshot of your career, ready to be the proud face of your brand and ready for clients to see the real you contact me today.