You know personal brand photography is one of the best ways to make your business stand out, but which photographer should you actually book?
You could flip a coin or go with the first name in your search results, but photographers aren’t all the same, so neither of those are strategies I’d recommend.
Whether you’re a Las Vegas business owner ready for an update, or you’re flying in for a conference or expo and want to get it done while you’re already here, interview your photographer like you’re hiring them for the job, because in a way, you are. Here’s what I’d tell you to look for, both as a business owner who’s hired photographers myself and as the one behind the camera for over 20 years.
Five Things to Ask Before You Book
- How long have they specialized in personal brand photography, not just photography in general
- Do they ask what you’ll actually use the photos for, or just hand you a folder of pretty pictures
- Can they show you a portfolio with real client results, not just nice shots
- Does their style match your brand, or complement it
- Can they talk you through why a location and time of day work for your shoot specifically
Keep reading for the full breakdown of each one.
Experience
Ask any photographer how long they’ve specialized in personal brand photography, not just how long they’ve been a photographer overall. It’s a fair question, and an easy one to answer honestly.
But here’s a bigger tell most people never think to ask about: how a photographer chooses your location.
A lot of clients assume any pretty spot works as long as a professional is holding the camera. It doesn’t. The wrong time of day can wash out a beautiful location, the wrong background can compete with you instead of supporting you, and a spot that looked great in someone else’s photos might do nothing for your brand. Picking the right location, and the right hour of the day, for your specific shoot is part of the craft I bring to every session. If a photographer can explain why a location and time work for you, that’s real experience talking.
Portfolio
Anyone can show you nice photos. What matters is whether a photographer asks what you’re going to do with them before the shoot even happens.
I always want to know that upfront, because social media and a website use images differently. Social posts are usually square or vertical. Websites often need wide, horizontal shots with extra room around you, what we call white space, so text or buttons can sit next to the image without it looking cramped. If your website needs detail shots too, like your workspace, your product, or your hands at work, that’s a different kind of image, and I plan for that ahead of time instead of figuring it out mid session.
When you’re interviewing a photographer, ask to see a range of past work across social and web, and ask how they’d approach your specific use case. If they’re already asking you these questions before you even bring them up, that’s a very good sign.
Real Client Experience
Don’t take my word for it. Here’s what real clients say about working with me and my team:
“Our team had a fantastic experience with McKenzi! She handled our group shots and individual headshots with incredible professionalism and efficiency. The lighting was spot on, and they made everyone feel comfortable behind the camera. The final edits are sharp and perfectly represent our brand. Highly recommend for any business looking to level up their professional imagery!” (Meredith Werner)
“Wow, I’m blown away at how gorgeous my pictures turned out! McKenzi truly captured my essence and understood the vibe and mood I was going for with my branding photoshoot. She also captured a lot of behind the scenes video, which as a content creator and entrepreneur is priceless!” (Liz Landeen)
Style
This is where you start narrowing your list. My own style leans clean, fresh, and bright, so if that’s the feeling you want your brand to have, it’s worth looking closely at photographers who shoot that way naturally, instead of ones who’d have to fake it for your session. If a photographer’s usual work is moody and dark and your brand is playful and light, that mismatch tends to show up in the final images even when the photographer is talented.
You don’t need someone who copies your vision exactly. You need someone whose natural eye already lines up with the feeling you’re going for.
Share Reference Photos
Do a little recon before your consultation. Look for brand photography out in the wild and save a few examples of images you like. Share the collection with your photographer and see if they can talk through how they’d approach something similar for you.
You’ll know quickly whether they’re excited about it or not. If they’re not, ask why. A good photographer might have a solid reason for steering you a different direction, and if they can point you somewhere better, even if it’s not with them, that’s still a good sign you asked the right question.
Traveling to Las Vegas for a Conference or Expo?
A lot of my personal brand photography clients aren’t locals. They’re consultants, coaches, and remote workers flying into Las Vegas for a conference or trade show, and they’d rather get their brand photos done while they’re already here than squeeze it into a normal week back home.
Barb Davids flew in from Arizona for exactly that. She found my website, liked the style, and needed updated, more professional photos for her website and podcast. In her words: “The photos turned out amazing. I waited way too long and I’m so happy I did this. It was easier than I expected and my website and podcast now look great. I get compliments even.”
If you’re in the same boat, here’s what to know. I turn around your fully edited gallery within 10 days, delivered digitally. You get every edited image, no picking through proofs first. And I’ll shoot anywhere in Las Vegas, or anywhere in the country if that fits your schedule better.
Everything above still applies to you too. You still want a photographer with real personal branding experience, a strong portfolio, and a style that fits your brand. The only real difference is timing, so let me know your travel dates early and I’ll build the session around your schedule.
Ready to Get Started?
I’ve been photographing Las Vegas since 2008, and I’ve been behind the camera for over 20 years. That includes thousands of weddings I’ve shot under my sister brand, Cactus Collective Weddings, which has been featured in press including the New York Times, plus countless personal branding sessions along the way. I’m also the past president of the Las Vegas chapter of WIPA after serving over a decade on its board.
I’ve built my reputation on more than a decade of five star reviews and clients who come back year after year, because a good photographer should feel like a long term partner, not a one time transaction.
You already know you want personal brand photos done. You’re just picking who’s going to take them. Fill out the quick form below and we will text you!
