When you think of world-leading brands like Coca-Cola, American Express, Apple, what comes to your mind?

I bet, whatever it is, you have a distinct image for each brand. Perhaps, with Coca-Cola, it could be the clunking or cheers of the iconic Coca-Cola bottles. For American Express, it could be happy families or people enjoying the small moments like on holiday. With Apple, it could be a minimalistic image of their iPhone, Macbook, or any other product.

Regardless of the company, I’m pretty sure you can differentiate them quickly. The reason you can do this is that they have bold and powerful brand photos showcasing their products or services that resonate with you. 

The right brand photos can raise your authenticity and shape your target customers’ perception of your business.

There are a lot of psychological elements and benefits associated with them. So let’s jump right in.

How can brand photos alter your clients’ perception? 

Having the right brand photo can make a crucial difference in influencing the buying behavior of your customers. Potentially, brand images can help create a connection by doing the following:

Enhances your credibility 

When selling something online or offline, everyone is looking for a way to trust you. One of the best ways to trust your brand is for others to see it being used by someone else. This is why you see companies like Walmart, Disney+, Samsung, and more constantly promoting their brand by having families in their branded photos. 

Research even supports this, showing that firms who use family brand photos are more likely to experience increased brand authenticity from their consumers. This is because the families they’re targeting can more visualize their own family using their product. 

In all honesty, you don’t have to use families in your photos; just having your target audience in them can act as a form of social proof, showing your reliability and popularity. 

Establishes identity and recognition 

Where are you selling your product or service? Is it strictly online, or do you have a physical presence within a store? Wherever you’re positioned, you want to capture your consumers’ attention over your competitors in the 8.25-second window you have. 

Brand photos are highly effective in you doing this, as it quickly captures the visual elements of your brand, allowing people to associate with it before their attention diverts elsewhere. Consistent, high-quality brand images can allow you to stand out from afar and create a connection in a chaotic marketplace.

Forms a strong impression 

It’s not really rocket science, but having a brand photo over a stock photo is more appealing to your consumers. Brand photos are high quality, more visually attractive, and elevate the desired value of your product. Whereas poor stock photos may not be well pixelated, used elsewhere on the internet, and cause consumers to question your product’s or service’s quality.

Cultural and socially relevant 

By using brand photos with real people, you will look more culturally and socially relevant. They reflect all the different aspects of your target audience, celebrating their values and experiences and allowing you to connect with them personally. 

Creates a story 

Brand photos can help evoke emotion amongst your consumers if captured well. If experiences, moments, or situations with you are captured, they can create a narrative and story, making you look more meaningful and authentic. The more your consumers see the photos, the more likely they can resonate with your brand and connect to it. 

Showcases your personality 

Your products and services must speak for themselves when you’re not around. Before your customers even use or engage in them, they have to represent you on and off the shelf. Working with a photographer to capture your products and services can help showcase the values and personality of your company. 

For instance, if you are a sustainable company, you might want to conduct a brand photo shoot highlighting your green practices and commitment to the environment. If you have a strong company culture and want that highlighted, you could have a brand photoshoot showing team-building activities. An experienced brand photographer can learn about your values and help you highlight them effectively in photos.

Brand photos vs stock photos

When showcasing your brand to the world, using stock photos may seem pretty tempting. After all, many websites provide free stock photos without any royalties, and at the moment can seem like a cost-effective option at the time.

But the truth is, it can significantly damage your brand in the long run. Why?

Because stock photos are everywhere and are used by many across the internet. If you use them for your brand, you could confuse consumers and businesses with your identity, preventing them from knowing who you are as others use the same photos. As a result, it’s unlikely to create a lasting impression and be able to differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Investing in high-quality brand photoshoots can give you a distinct voice and allow you to stay consistent with your identity. Often, stock photos can’t align with your brand guidelines, values, and personality.

After all, you can’t customize stock photos or alter them to suit your brand. With brand photos, you’re in control of what to shoot and how to fit them in line with your brand.

Helping with E-E-A-T

One of the hidden benefits that’s often overlooked when using brand photos is that it helps with an SEO strategy called E-E-A-T. If you’re unfamiliar with E-E-A-T, let me explain how this concept works. Basically, E-E-A-T stands for:

• E: Experience
• E: Expertise
• A: Authority
• T: Trust

Basically, it’s a framework that Google uses to review the quality of content on your website. It helps determine your website’s value and ranking on search engines. To fully explain the strategy and guidelines behind it involves another post in itself. But brand photos unique to your business can help with this, as they help establish trust and authority and aren’t being used by other businesses online, allowing you to stay original. 

The Bottom Line 

Overall, fresh brand photos can elevate your identity and demonstrate a strong sense of authenticity to your customers. Depending on how you conduct your shoot, they can tell a story, evoke emotions, and create a connection with your customers. 

If captured effectively, they can create a strong identity and increase the likelihood of long-term engagement amongst your customers. Whereas choosing stock photos can do a lot more harm to your brand image than good, causing a lot of confusion. 

If you’re not sure how to capture the right brand photos for your business, I can help. I work with you to capture your values and give you a distinct look from your competition.

The infinitely quotable Ted Lasso once said, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”

Like many of the Lasso-isms from the three season run of Apple TV’s hit show, this thought-provoking advice can make you a better person.

It’s also a good one to look to if you’re wondering how not to look awkward in your brand photo shoot. You can actually become quite comfortable in an otherwise uncomfortable situation, if you follow our tips.

Because we love Ted as much as everyone else on both sides of the pond, we’re presenting our tips via some of our favorite witticisms from the mind of Jason Sudeikis’s award winning character.

Finding a Photographer You Trust

“You could fill two internets with what I don’t know about football.”

Lasso, the failed American football coach, was certainly a fish out of water when he first hopped across the pond to be the soccer coach for AFC Richmond. But by trusting subject matter experts around him, he didn’t flounder forever.

When you find a photographer you can trust, you’ll be headed to the top of the league standings also.

Finding a photographer you trust can happen the same way you find any of the other professionals in your circle. Word of mouth is a big one.

Finding a trustworthy photographer is kind of like finding a real estate agent. There are a lot of people out there claiming to be one, but can you trust them? Have they just picked it up or have they cultivated professional skills through a years-long career? Do they have a portfolio you like?

Ask around at your next happy hour with co-workers — it’s likely they’ll have a few recommendations for you. A quick introduction from a mutual acquaintance can set your mind at ease before you agree to hire a photographer.

Or you can always take your search online. Find a few in your area using Google and take a look at their work. Is their portfolio diverse? Do their subjects look awkward or confident?

Then pick up the phone or drop them an email. Ask them about the things you’re nervous about and see if they can instill some confidence in you with their responses. If not, move on and find someone who does.

Planning Ahead with Inspiration and Ideas

“I do love a locker room. It smells like potential.”

There’s potential everywhere you look. Photo session ideas can come from many sources. Like a coach contemplating his locker room full of soccer players, you never know where the next game-winning goal, or a great image you wish to emulate, will come from. Seek out some inspiration to find a winning shot you’d like to replicate.

A good personal brand photographer won’t show up to a consultation empty-handed, and neither should you. Do a little bit of homework to see what kind of brand photography you’re drawn to.

Peruse everything from the free local magazines available on the racks inside the doors at the grocery store to the images on the pages of Forbes Magazine. People advertise their personal brands everywhere and inspiration can strike anywhere. Tear out a few things you like and have them ready for show-and-tell when you meet with your chosen photographer. 

Have you seen something interesting on an Instagram advertisement? Use the screenshot feature on your phone or computer and save it. 

Scrolled across an engaging video on Facebook? Rewatch it and take some notes.

Bring it all to the consultation so you can point to exactly the sort of thing you’re looking for. If you have your own unique ideas, even better.

Practicing a Lot

“Your body is like day-old rice. If it ain’t warmed up properly, something real bad could happen.”

Get warmed up for your photo session by practicing. If you’re generally a camera-shy person, then you may want to get in front of a practice camera before your scheduled session day in order to feel more at ease. Again, it’s all about building confidence. When it’s your camera, you’re in charge and can press delete on images you’re uncomfortable with.

Try this: Set up a camera in your work environment when no one is around — stay after hours if you have to — and use the timer to practice your pose. You can do it over and over and over until you feel happy with the results. There’s no shame in upping your posing game.

Do you like the way your smile looks with your mouth open or closed? Turn a few degrees to the side. Do you like the ¾ angle better?

You might also want to enlist a trusted friend or family member. They can encourage you and offer guidance in a low-pressure practice session so that you feel more confident on the actual day of your personal branding photography session.

Choosing Props That Are On-Brand and Help with Posing

“I think that you might be so sure that you’re one in a million, that sometimes you forget that out there you’re just 1 in 11.”

No small business owner can do it alone. You need role players, support staff, mentors…and that goes for your personal brand photography too. You and the props you choose to represent your brand need to work as a team to tell the right story.

Interacting with your products or appropriate props is brand photography gold! But make sure you choose the ones that improve your confidence and help with posing confidently, rather than trying to force something that doesn’t play well with others.

Everything in your photos that isn’t you is a prop. Maybe it’s a park bench where you’re holding an “impromptu” work chat with a colleague over coffee. Maybe it’s the cash register in the middle of a sale to your happy customer. Use your imagination, play act a little bit and have fun with it!

A prop could also be part of your uniform or one of your tools.

Lift those dumbbells like a boss, Personal Trainer. Sport that blazer with a little fire, Young Professional. Lean into that mic like you were born behind it, Pod Caster. 

It doesn’t have to be elaborate…just enough to get to the essence of the story you want to tell about your brand.

Choose Clothes That Fit You and That You Feel Confident In

“Ice cream is the best. It’s kinda like seeing Billy Joel perform live. Never disappoints.”

And like a Billy Joel concert, ice cream makes everyone scream. It’s a go-to favorite for a reason. Reach into your wardrobe, grab your go-tos and get to it. 

Ill-fitting clothes that you used to feel confident in won’t cut it. Step up to the plate — or, more accurately, the cash register — if you have to, and treat yourself to a new outfit that can be your new go-to. 

Classic pieces always look good; that’s why they call them classics. They’ll never be dated or be the victim of the latest trend, and you’ll love wearing them. Start with a simple, timeless piece and build upon it.

Some advice from real life American football coach Deion Sanders is appropriate here: “When you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, you play good. When you play good, they pay good.” Coach Prime has been preaching this mantra for decades.

The University of Colorado football coach is onto something. You don’t have to shop at Louis Vuitton like Neon Deion to subscribe to this philosophy. Look good, feel good and photograph well in a second-hand item from a thrift store, if that’s what you can afford. The point is, confidence will take you where you want to go. Confidence makes Goodwill look like Gucci. 

Plan the Makeup and Hair Looks — and Practice Them

“This woman is strong, confident, and powerful. Boss, I tell you, I’d hate to see you and Michelle Obama arm wrestle, but I wouldn’t be able to take my eyes off of it either.”

To feel good you gotta look good, and you’ve been making yourself look good most of your life. Stick to your routine and you’ll feel like you could win an arm wrestling match with Michelle Obama.

Chances are you already have your hair and makeup routine down-pat and can do them pretty well in the vanity mirror on the way to work in the morning. But if you’re more likely to slap on a hat or hide your face with big sunglasses until you get to your corner office, then it’s time to break out the product and practice your looks. 

Don’t go overboard — just work at looking effortlessly fabulous.

If you want to try something new, give it a trial run for a few weeks before your branding photography session. No coach ever throws something into the playbook on game day without running it in practice.

The last thing you want to do is try something new on the morning of your shoot and then show up all overdone or frizzy after fiddling with it in front of the mirror or under the hair dryer for an hour. You’ll be flustered, you’ll make excuses and you’ll give yourself a reason to look (and feel) less than your best. 

Remember, practice makes perfect.

Consider hiring a professional. It’s common practice to hire a hair and makeup artist on your wedding day, so it makes total sense to get professional stylist help on your brand photo session day as well. An easy investment that goes a long way and one your photographer will appreciate. 

Get Rest Beforehand

“There’s two buttons I never like to hit: that’s panic and snooze.”

You won’t have to hit either if you’re well prepared and well rested.

Treat your photo session like a big exam at school. Do your homework, study up early and often and then give yourself time to relax and ease into it on test day. Cramming is a recipe for disaster.

Go to bed the night before confident that you’ve put in the work and are ready for your photography session.

There’s an added bonus here: if you get a good night’s sleep, you won’t wake up cranky or miss your alarm and get out of the wrong side of the bed. You’ll be able to take your time getting ready and still show appreciation for your photographer by showing up on time.

Have a Drink Ahead of Time to Loosen Up

“Little tip for y’all. Fries are called chips. Chips are called crisps. And bangers aren’t great songs, but they do make you feel like dancing because they’re so darn tasty.”

Heading to the pub to loosen up a bit can make you feel better before your photo session.

But like a good tequila shot, this piece of advice should be taken with salt. If you’re not a drinker, don’t suddenly turn yourself into one just because some blog on the internet says so.

To you, “having a drink” could just as easily manifest itself in your favorite cup of coffee. Or it might mean eating a well-balanced meal and squeezing in some yoga. Whatever makes you feel good.

The point is that you want to be relaxed so that your positive energy and happy vibes come through in your images.

Have confidence in yourself and you’ll naturally make it easier on your chosen personal branding photographer. Sometimes we can work miracles, but we do appreciate some help.

Schedule a Session Now

If you’re looking for a personal brand photographer and found these tips helpful, consider reaching out! Inquire about our personal branding photography packages. We’re all about helping you and your brand shine.

Instagram is a powerhouse of a social media platform for your business to exist on. With so many active users and potential customers of yours, you have to leave a lasting impression.

The best way to do that is constantly reminding them of your brand through engaging content. That could be through pictures and videos, creating reels from scratch, and posting every day to get attention.

When there are other things to focus on in your business, Instagram can be difficult to balance if you don’t know the right hacks to shoot and schedule content over a long period. In this article today, we’ll share with you secrets on the easiest way to create content for up to 90 days. 

Ready? Let’s get started to build your brand on Instagram! 

How is 90 days possible? 

The best way to get content to cover a 90-day period is by organizing one branding photo session. 

A good branding photo session can allow you to post for up to 3 months with a range of different content. On average, for 5 days a week, across 4 weeks, you’ll need 20 videos or images per month.

Our mini session branding photo package the ultimate solution to score a whopping 90 days’ worth of top-notch content.

Then you just schedule the posts using a social media management tool, like Buffer or Hootsuite, for a 3-month period. It’s simple. 

How to get the content? 

First things first, before anything gets started, you have to organize a branding photo session. Leading up to or on the day of your photo session, you should let your photographer know what you need the photos for. 

It’s also worthwhile planning in advance typical themes or topics you want to feature on your Instagram posts. The posts could be related to your products, services, brand, lifestyle, or anything else. 

To gain inspiration, you might want to check out Pinterest boards or see what your competitors are doing. Then before the photo session goes ahead, briefly create a content calendar for the next 90 days with a rough outline of what type of photos will be posted on a certain date. 

Top Tip:  To ensure you have a good variety of content, you should aim to get your photographer to take shots and videos from different angles and locations. 

Top tips for creating 90 days of content with Canva 

Canva is a great software; there are multiple ways you can utilize it to help create top content for 90 days. 

Here are some ideas: 

1. Learn Canva’s features 

Before creating any Instagram content, you might want to learn about all the different design types Canva has. Instagram, in particular, has various options from posts, stories, ads, squares, and animations! 

2. Use templates 

One great way to extend your content across 90 days is by making the most of Canva templates. Once you’ve decided on your post type, Canva has a bunch of templates that allow you to add your photo in. For instance, they have a range of promotions, holidays, invites, and more; the options are endless. With Canva having so many templates, a lot of time can be saved allowing you to create content quicker!

Tip: You can easily create bulk images on Canva in up to 5 minutes.

3. Try out their designs 

Another way to change the post type is by experimenting with Canva’s design elements. When using Canva, you’ll find various design images like illustrations, shapes, icons, lines, borders, and more. Try playing around with them on your image and template to make each post look different. Doing this will allow your posts to look visually appealing.

4. Include your brand elements 

When designing your posts, one thing you must include and not forget is your branding. If you have a specific color scheme or brand guideline, don’t forget to add them to your photos. Use similar fonts, colors, and layouts that resemble your brand. Remember to add your logo when appropriate.

5. Grids and alignments

Normally when creating content for Instagram, you must resize it often to get it right. If you don’t use Canva, you must use resizer tools. However, if you plan on using Canva, it contains built in grids and alignments. These tools help you maintain the right size for the post, the spacing, alignments, and proportions, helping you make your content look professional.

6. Add animations and effects 

If you like the same photo and want to reuse it, you can make it look different by adding animations and special effects. On Canva, you can add graphics, stickers, and videos to a post. So try to play around and see what different content you can create to make each post look unique.

8. Invite others to collaborate 

Finally, if you’re stuck with ideas and have other team members, you can always invite them to collaborate. When creating content, in the right-hand side of Canva in the corner, there’s an option to share with other people in your team and edit and create.!

Final thoughts 

Overall, planning 90 days of content for Instagram is relatively straightforward and can allow you to focus on other aspects of your business. Just remember to have your content creation calender, a good scheduling app and a brand photoshoot. Once all of these are in place, watch your engagement rates begin to soar! 

Remember, if you’re creating content for Instagram, try and vary your content. Don’t just send static images for posting; add different graphics, videos, reels, and more using editing software like Canva to generate the most engagement.

If you’re stuck for content ideas, we can help you with a brand photo session. On the other hand, if you’ve shot it and are ready to schedule it across a 90 day period, follow these tips to streamline your posting.