Personal Branding Photography with Ginny Marsh

PERSONAL BRANDING AND HOW IT ALL WORKS

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The benefits of personal branding photography...

PERSONAL BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY IS MORE THAN JUST PRODUCING HEADSHOTS....

We all need to start with a good headshot, but Personal Branding photography is so much more.

It’s a collection of photographs that represent the essence of your brand. They communicate who you are, what you do, your process, your personality, how it feels to work with you and what differentiates you from your competitors.

A recent article written by Hubspot proposed that the brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than it does text, all within 1/10 of a second. This shows just how important it is when making an impact, generating a personal connection, creating and producing high-quality images for your personal brand.

Social media is becoming more important in terms of influencing buying decisions... Tweets with images earned up to 18% more clicks, 89% more likes, and 150% more retweets compared to those without. Facebook posts that include images see 2.3 times more engagement than those without images.

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CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE We live in a visual world where visual content is king! Storytelling images allow us to breathe life and personality into our brands. As we share our story, our audience begins to know, like and trust us.

STAND OUT So many of us get bombarded with messages and distractions, so it's hard for businesses to stand out. Professional photos help us to get noticed, grab our audiences attention and make our brands memorable.

SHOW YOU'RE THE EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD Professional photos differentiate the leaders from the amateurs. Great photos can position you as the authority or go-to expert in your market. Take that step to view yourself as an expert, and others will too.

1. Define your purpose and values...

Talk to any branding expert, and they’ll ask you to define your “why”. Why do you do what you do? Start off with understanding your vision and mission for your personal brand and how you want to be perceived.

What does your brand show as a result of the values you have and what you’re known for??

What movement are you trying to create?

By showing your “why” you will inspire your viewers to take the journey with you.

With your values, it defines the soul of your business and all it stands for, engaging your audience emotionally through a series of shared beliefs, solved problems, and inherent meaning. Your personal branding photography journey will help you present this journey with your audience in mind, and in the way you want to be remembered and recognised.

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Here are some key questions to help you think about what you want your brand to say about you.

1. What is it you do? What are you selling and why do you do this work?

2. How do you want to be portrayed?

3. What do you want the brand photos to do for you?

4. What do you want to achieve once you have your branding images?

5. Who is your target market? What is your unique selling point and how do you stand out?

6. What 5 words describe you and/ or your business?

7. What inspired you to start this career, and what problem are you solving?

8. What are your brand values and/or company ethos?

9. What keeps you inspired?

10. How do you want your client to feel?

11. What are you proud of or what do you love most about your job?

12. What is your favourite place or hangout?

13. Are there any particular brands you love and why?

14. Do you have any particular colours that represent your brand?

15. Do you have a particular location that would work well for your shoot?

16. What 3-5 objects / things represent your brand?

17. Where do you plan on using these photos

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2. Products, services, and personality...

WHAT YOU SELL AND HOW YOU WORK

There must be a way for you to showcase your products and services on offer, but how??

Consider, if you are a photographer or designer, you could present images or designs, or if you’re a stylist, showing a rack of clothes or working with a client setting the scene, or even creating a table setting for a party or event planner.

These images should showcase your work, illustrating how your products or services would fit in with your clients' lives, with you supporting them on that journey.

A famous quote from May Angelou, is "I’ve learned that people will often forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel."

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It's your time to showcase the real person behind your brand, share your style, vibe and attitude. Share the foundation of your brand, your process, your personality and your expertise through professional imagery so that you attract your ideal clients.

THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING; What are you selling? How does it fit into their lifestyle? What does the end result look like for your clients?

What characteristics make you unique? How would others describe you?

Consider various emotions that you might want to portray in your branding images. E.g. you might want to talk about what's got you thinking with a pic of you deep in thought.

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3. Who are you?

HOW DO YOU WANT TO COME ACROSS?

1. Write down a list of everything that makes you you. From places you like to go, to stuff you like doing, to food you like eating, to objects, styles, colours and feelings or anything else you can think of.

Don’t think too much about it, just write down whatever comes into your head. Hopefully, it’ll start the creativity flowing and what you can do for your shoot.

Next, think about your brand and its personality. Write down everything you love that relates to your brand values.

2. What do you want your images to say to your clients? How do you want to come across?

Are you: Professional, formal, friendly, happy, helpful? Or, Informal and relaxed?

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Whatever message you want, it’s great to consider and discuss this.

Do you have any props or objects that go with you and your job? It's wise to include them in your brand story.

Also, think about what you want to wear.

Look at wearing clothing that reflects you and your personality.

- What colours suit you?

- Do you have particular business colour or brand guidelines?

Make sure whatever you are wearing goes well with your brand and you feel comfortable and confident.

4. Developing and creating your shot list and Moodboard...

Start by putting together a shot list. This is a list of all the images you'll need for your on and offline marketing. e.g; What images will you need for your website?

- Will you need various banner images for your homepage or blog?

- Does your homepage have a rotating slideshow needing a selection of images?

- Do you need one or more images for your "About Me" page? You may want tighter headshots and some wider lifestyle images to show more about you.

Next, list your upcoming blog posts, launches and offerings. Perhaps you have a newsletter needing images, or you're launching a new service. Maybe you need images to illustrate things you're passionate about to either post in blogs or on social media.

Then, start creating a mood board, this is your visual starting point. This should be a collection of images that act as the inspiration for the creative direction for your photoshoot.

This can be created either digitally, via Pinterest, (you'll need a Pinterest account if you don't have one already), or from physically cutting up images that inspire you from magazines, these will be images that fit your vision.

Ultimately you should see a common theme develop...

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Colours Styles Textures/Background/Environment Feeling/Emotions/Mood Clothing Accessories & props Poses and body language

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Example Shoot Plan - Ginny Marsh Photography Here's an example of my own shot list I made for my last branding shoot. Here's what I want to show people: MY PURPOSE My values and stuff that matters to me..

Motivational messages, little touches and client gifts. Transforming women and making them look and feel beautiful inside and out.

Body positivity, confidence boost.

Motivational notebook / writing in book / Motivational note cards To-do list / goals Wall signage “Be your own kind of beautiful” BEHIND THE SCENES Shoot process (see below) Office - retouching at the computer Working an my laptop on the sofa (inside/outside?)

Talking on the phone (without it looking cheesy!)

Making/drinking coffee/herbal tea (and shoot/edit/sleep/repeat mug!)

Sitting on chaise longue with motivational cushion / t-shirt PRODUCTS OR SERVICES Products and packaging, print orders, albums, framed photos on wall Packaging a print order & tying bows etc Me taking photos in my studio Marketing material?

Boudoir wardrobe - clothes rail with clothes on it Me sorting through jewellery / outfits Prosecco!

MY PERSONALITY Some different emotions I can use with different subjects/social media posts (e.g.

Happy/excited/overwhelmed/tired/pleading/p eaceful,meditation/confidence/strength) MY PASSION Doing yoga in my studio (a few different poses to keep me going!)

Walking in the park / sunshine on face (if it’s out and not raining!)

Green smoothies Willow my part-time Cocker Spaniel!

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Example Shoot Plan cont...

IDEAL CLIENTS: 1. Boudoir - Women age 40-60. Either have a well-paid job (entrepreneur?) or are stay at home mum with a husband who brings in a good income. They appreciate investing in good quality products that will become heirlooms (such as albums and framed pictures), and also want a confidence boost to get their mojo back and make them feel younger and beautiful again.

2. Personal Branding - Mostly wellbeing or coaching industry entrepreneurs who are on a journey of self discovery. Age 35-45. They know they need to invest to get more luxury images for their business that show them in an authentic way, and can also use it as self improvement and a confidence boost.

OUTFITS (so far): 1. Posh frock (something sexy but sophisticated) for Gorgeous You profile pic 2. Motivational sparkly t-shirt(s) from Anna Londei (e.g. walking in park and sitting on sofa) 3. Nice sophisticated work look - shirt, trousers, heels, jewellery 4. Yoga outfit with motivational vests MY PROCESS: • Phone call / in person introductory chat to find out more about them and what they need --> Shoot is booked.

• They might have a Colour & Style session with Jo my wardrobe stylist • Meet clients for a pre-shoot consultation (phonecall or in person) a week before the shoot to nail their shot list, brand message (if applicable), Pinterest board and outfits etc (need a client/someone to sit in front of me!)

• Photoshoot inc hair & makeup (behind the scenes,--> Set up mini shoot with client) • Retouching of images in my office and making slideshow for viewing • Viewing session at my studio, where I’d show a slideshow of their final images on my projector (this would be difficult to photograph as it’s a dark room. Maybe client looking at albums?)

• Finished products and packaging (can be photographed by me if needed)

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5. Selecting your outfits...

So, selecting your outfit, could be one of the most stressful parts of your whole shoot, but don’t panic! You want to look and feel amazing, while also communicating confidence and leadership, and exuding a sense of realism. This look is what will attract your ideal clients and help you build the right connections.

It’s recommended having a selection of at least 4 or 5 different looks planned, thinking about everything from head to toe (top, bottom, shoes, and accessories.

Ideally you need to consider selecting items that flatter your figure, while also attracting your ideal client, consider your audience when you select your items

If you need help or advice, always ask the experts. A stylist and make-up artist are available and on hand to guide and support you, should you wish to use them.

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It's important to try on everything beforehand and if needed ask a friend or someone you trust to provide feedback.

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Select colours that flatter you and your personality (try to coordinate them with your branding).

It’s advised to not wear whites or creams, they can make features become particularly washed out, especially if you have fair skin.

We would recommend one dress (preferably two) in your styling options (if applicable). The camera loves a fitted dress that highlights your body shape.

Consider the neckline of the outfit you're wearing, avoid blouses or dresses that are too low or too fussy as they can be too distracting and take away from the focus of your face and expression.

Avoid styles that are too season-specific. For example, you may not want to select a heavy, chunky wool sweater because it would look funny to use that image in your promo for your spring course launch Pick shoes and jewellery that complement each outfit and make you feel amazing. Heels are your best friend because they elongate your legs, lengthen your body, and change your posture, although try not to wear the same shoes with every outfit! Bring flats for in between outfits and location change.

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6. Styling Tips for a great photoshoot...

STYLE TIPS FOR A GREAT PHOTOSHOOT

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Do a trial run. Lay out each outfit a few days prior to your shoot and try on each look from head to toe. Walk around in it to make sure you feel comfortable. The camera will sense if you're worried about your outfit.

Have a backup outfit. No matter the number of outfit changes you have planned, always add one more. You never know if you will feel bloated or accidentally spill something on the day of your shoot.

Make sure clothing is cleaned and ironed ahead of time. Any alterations should be completed days before.

Create an easy fashion emergency kit for the day, Try to remember anti-static spray to eliminate static cling, and a lint roller to remove dust or particles.

7. Location, location, location...

Where to shoot....Should it be indoors or outdoors, or both? To answer these questions, It's good to first think about your brand story. Consider where you work, how you work, and the vibe of your business.

Think about the message you are trying to com municate, and brainstorm places that connect to that story. Think about your ideal end client and the locations that they frequent. Think about the places that inspire you and your work.

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For example: Coffee Shop Bookstore Museum Urban area/ Natural/Park Restaurant Office Home Hotel Woods Mountains Lake / seaside Arboretum

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Props are objects that add variety, support your branding message, and help round out your story. They can communicate your personality, your values, and your work style.

Consider selecting props that your ideal customer uses and understands. Consider incorpo rating tools that are essential to your business and represent your industry.

Consider all the things you can't live or work without. Props can also help you act more "natural" in front of the camera and can interact with.

For Example:

Laptop Awards Pens/Pencils Newspaper Passport Globe Maps Camera .

Phone Flowers

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8. Do's and don'ts HELPFUL ADVICE..

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Do ask if hair/makeup is part of your photography package. (If not, do ask for recommendations.)

Do get your hair coloured to cover any greys one to two weeks before the shoot Do bring photos of hair and makeup that you like Do be honest about what you want and feel comfortable with for your hair/makeup. Do trust the professionals. Your makeup may look heavier than normal, but it translates differently on camera Do get a manicure and pedicure before the shoot Do get your eyebrows waxed or threaded one week before the shoot Do take extra time moisturising your lips a week before the shoot so they are smooth and not chapped Do come with clean, dry hair and a clean face on shoot day

D ' Don't get a different haircut right before your shoot, because you may not feel yourself.

Don't get a facial or do any skin treatments days before your shoot (three to four weeks prior at the latest) Don't take chances with a new beauty look on the day of your shoot Don't ask the stylist to do what they think is best. You know yourself and your brand best.

Offer some direction

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9. Countdown to your shoot...

MONTH 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO SHOOT DATE

1 WEEK PRIOR TO SHOOT DATE

A FEW DAYS BEFORE

THE NIGHT BEFORE

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TASK Brainstorm photo stories and confirm theme List props/locations/outfits.

Book hair/makeup and stylist Start putting your outfits together in preparation of the stylist visit

Try and cut out as much sugar, carbs and processed foods as possible, and your skin will thank you for it Think about getting your roots doing or hair re-colouring?

Try to sort your your outfits and get in touch, so we know what you're bringing!

Get your bikini line/legs waxed Make sure your nails are neat and clean. If you don’t have acrylics/gels then a smart dark coloured polish or a French manicure looks best instead of natural nails.

Shave your legs and armpits!

Wash your hair (but make sure you don’t put any products on after or straighten it) Take your makeup off, and leave it off!

Scrub and Moisturise, all over. Especially your face and lips (you don't want it looking dry).

Make sure you SLEEP!

10. Shoot day!!

Make sure you eat a good healthy breakfast to keep your tummy from rumbling Set out early, so you give yourself plenty of time and no stress Arrive with no makeup on (eek!) and your hair freshly washed the day before.

Make sure you don’t have greasy or dark roots that need re-touching.

Don’t worry about fake eye-lashes, our make-up artist will provide these for you.

Bring clip-in hair extensions if you like (real ones are best) – we can style them in with your own hair.

Don’t wear socks or a watch that will leave marks around your ankles or wrists, and wear loose fitting clothing that you can easily take off without spoiling your new hair or makeover.

If your ears are pierced then it’s a good idea to wear some nice studs or earrings.

Finally, make sure you don’t forget anything when you leave the house! Quite a few times clients have arrived at their shoot saying “I bought this amazing outfit/shoes and left it at home!” (But if this does happen, don’t fret – I have plenty of backups!)

Leave your phone off!

DO NOT WORRY about pale skin, spots, bruises, nervous rashes, blushing, shaving rashes, burns, scars, cellulite, muffin tops, saggy arms, stretch marks, rough skin, ugly feet and cold sores – these are all re-touchable and things you won’t see in your final images. I can even edit out tattoos if you want me to!

Breathe and have fun!

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11. Work on your mindset... Show your spark!

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOU WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE

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So you have finally made the choice, and know what you want to do!!

You need to remember you are a strong and amazing person with a message that you want to share with others to inspire.

Remember to ignore those inner demons, you are perfect in every way! If you do have doubts, an effective method is to write down these doubts, and put away that paper and start sharing your story. You are not alone and stronger than you think!

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t’s important to remember nobody wants perfect. They want to see the authentic you! It's okay to be expressive, especially on the day of your shoot. It's these moments that reveal the natural expressions that feel most like you to connect with your audience.

Trust is important and lets us guide you through the day. Try not to micromanage and ask to see every photo after it’s been shot.

12. Helpful hints and tips HERE ARE A FEW HELPFUL HINTS AND TIPS FOR YOU ALONG YOUR BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY JOURNEY

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In order to ensure you are provided with a successful branding shoot, we follow a thorough process to help capture all you need: Firstly, either a phone call or in person introductory chat to find out more about you and your needs A booking form is then supplied, containing a series of questions which need to be completed, showing a more rounded picture of you and your brand essence. This also contains a contract and a booking fee, which need to be signed and paid, in order to secure the shoot date We suggest you think about creating a Pinterest board or send across some images of any ideas that inspire you If you like we can provide a style session with one of our exclusively selected stylists which will help you understand several things, including; what colours suit you and those that don't, what clothing would be better suited to you etc

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We would then arrange a pre-shoot consultation, either in person or phonecall, one week before the shoot to ensure we have your shot list, brand message (if applicable) and outfits etc all sorted out ready for shoot day The photoshoot itself would also include hair & makeup Then once we have shot your gorgeous images, we follow the next phase: Retouching the images and create a slideshow of select images ready for viewing You will then come to the studio for a viewing session, where a slideshow is created of your final images Your images are then provided to you on a USB for you to use as you require, for social media as well as web or editorial

13. Marketing YOUR NEXT STEPS Now you have shot your gorgeous images, the next steps are to work out how best to market and promote yourself and your amazing business, and where/how to use your new branding images.

Here is a handy little selection of marketing ideas for you to consider: Website (all pages) Blog Media Kit Speaker Bios Social Media- (lnstagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Linkedln) Sales Pages Newsletters Email Signatures

Copyright USAGE RIGHTS Photographs, illustrations and other images will generally be protected by copyright as artistic works. The person who creates an image (“the creator”) will generally be the first owner of the copyright This means that a user will usually need the permission of the copyright owner(s) if they want to perform certain acts, such as copying the image or sharing it on the internet The creator of an image may choose to allow a person or organisation to license the work on their behalf, license the copyright directly themselves, or “assign” (transfer) the copyright to another person. The term ‘licensing’ means giving another person or organisation permission to use a work such as an image, often in return for payment and/or on certain conditions for a specific period of time.

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Online Courses and Presentations Business cards and promotional and marketing collateral Thank-You Cards Packaging Advertising Facebook Ads

H Please note, it's advised against, using extra filters or editing your finished brand images. Most photographers prefer that you post and share the photos in their original finished format. Make sure to ask before the photo shoot takes place to manage expectations

The Team THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE MAGIC HAPPEN Behind this gorgeous experience is a team of experts to help guide and support you and your experience, from stylists to lifestyle coaching, we've got it covered

If you need any support or helpful hints and tips we can ensure you have the best team around to help you.

PHOTOGRAPHER

MICHAELA HOWE STUDIO MANAGER

JO MARSHALL, SPARKLING GINGER STYLIST

EMA THE HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST HAIR & MAKE UP

CATHERINE, NW HAIR & MAKEUP HAIR & MAKEUP

JENNY THOMAS, REVITALISE COACHING CONFIDENCE COACH

GINNY MARSH

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The Studio A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

I’m Ginny, a local Surrey photographer working with women to help them feel inspired, motivated and a true goddess. Having been involved in the photography industry for over 10 years, I know how to create beautiful and memorable photoshoots, which capture your inner beauty as well as encourage you to celebrate what’s on the outside.

There are so many unrealistic images in the media, so rather than focus my camera on just what you're wearing, I capture ‘real’ beauty, personality and add my own personal touch to make your pictures more than just a photoshoot. As someone who has struggled with their appearance, I have now made it my mission to give women the gift of confidence, to feel beautiful and express themselves through photography, creating pictures that will adorn your walls for years to come.

I use my knowledge and experience of branding and working in many industries to create personal branding shoots. Gone are the days when we wear a suit and a pencil skirt to work, now, portraying your personality across in your imagery is vitally important as a woman in business. My team of stylists and hair and make up experts will design a specific look which is just for you, keeping your ideas and vision at the forefront and adding their expert eye to create the perfect imagery for your brand.

The studio was born in November 2017, converted from a dirty dingy garage. With daylight LEDs in the ceiling I can take photos at any time of day with perfect lighting, however, I also go out on location for branding shoots when it's best to get a more personal setting for my clients.

Let’s work together to create the most beautiful photos you’ve ever seen of yourself!

Ginny x

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