Posts in Personal Branding
5 Ways to Show Up as the Real You in your Branding Photos

Hey everyone, it's Jess your personal branding photographer here, and I'm excited to share with you 5 ways to show up as the real you in your branding photos! Whether you're a real estate agent or a small business owner, your branding photos should showcase your unique personality and what makes you stand out from the competition. So, let's get started!

 

Incorporate Your Interests

Think about what you're passionate about and include it in your branding photos. Whether it's your love for music, art, or traveling, incorporating your interests in the shoot will help you connect with your target audience and show them what makes you different.


Choose a Location(s) that Represents You

The location you choose for the shoot can say a lot about your personality. Pick a place that represents you, whether it's a cozy cafe, a bustling city street, or a scenic park.


Be Authentic

It's crucial to be yourself during the shoot. I’m all for hiring a hair and makeup artist to help you feel your best on session day. But, make sure they are doing a pro version of your everyday look. Looking like your pictures in real life goes a long way in building trust. So relax, and let your personality shine through. Don't be afraid to show off your quirks and unique qualities because having a weird thing in common with someone else is the fasting way to building a relationship. The more authentic and genuine you are, the more your audience will connect with you.


Busy Nervous Hands with Props

Not only is using props is an excellent way to showcase your personality and interests. But most people are going to feel a little nervous at the start of their session. Having a prop to hold is the perfect thing to transfer all that nervous energy into. That way the first few minutes of “I don’t know what to do with my hands?!” is solved. If you're a foodie, bring your favorite cookbook, kitchen utensils, or even a beautiful cake or dish you made yourself. Are you famous for being obsessed with Harry Potter? Bring the books or other fun things you have. Props can help tell a story about who you are and what you stand for.


Have the Confidence to Show Your Personality

Every single person says they want to look confident in their pictures. But that’s easiers said than done right? During the shoot, it's important to relax, take a few deep breaths before each shot and let go of any tension in your body. Remember, the more relaxed you are, the more natural and authentic your photos will look. Instead of focusing on your insecurities, focus on your strengths and what makes you unique. Finally, remember to have fun!

The more you enjoy the shoot, the more relaxed and natural you'll appear in the photos. So, let loose, have fun, and enjoy the experience!

How Business Branding Using Photography and Video Can Be Simple, Necessary, and Life-Changing
 

I'm excited to share with you today about how business branding using photography and video can be simple, necessary, and life-changing.

As a business owner, you know that building a strong brand is crucial for attracting and retaining customers.

But, did you know that incorporating photography and video into your branding strategy can take your business to new heights?

First things first, let's talk about why branding is so important.

Your brand is your company's personality.

It's how you communicate who you are and what you stand for to the world.

A strong brand can help you attract the right customers, build trust and loyalty, and differentiate yourself from your competitors.

Now, let's talk about how photography and video can enhance your branding efforts.

First, let's talk about photography. High-quality, professional images can convey a lot about your brand.

For example, if you're a luxury brand, you'll want to use images that are sleek, polished, and high-end.

On the other hand, if you're a more casual, laid-back brand, you'll want to use images that are more relaxed and casual.

Professional photography can also be used in a variety of ways, such as on your website, social media, and marketing materials.

Having high-quality images on your website can help you make a great first impression on potential customers, and having consistent images across all of your platforms can help build brand recognition.

Next, let's talk about video.

Video is a powerful tool for building your brand because it allows you to tell your brand's story in a way that images alone can't.

With video, you can showcase your products or services, give a behind-the-scenes look at your company, and even feature customer testimonials.

Video is also a great way to connect with your audience on a more personal level. People are more likely to remember information they've seen in a video than information they've read in text.

And, because video is more engaging, it can help increase the time that people spend on your website, which can help improve your search engine rankings.

But, don't worry, you don't need to be a professional photographer or videographer to create great content for your brand.

There are plenty of affordable options for high-quality photography and video, such as hiring a professional photographer or videographer for a single photoshoot or video shoot, or even using your own smartphone to create content.

In conclusion, incorporating photography and video into your branding strategy can be simple, necessary, and life-changing.

High-quality images and videos can help you build a strong brand, attract the right customers, and differentiate yourself from your competitors.

So, don't be afraid to invest in professional photography and video for your business.

It's an investment that will pay off in the long run.

Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions or want to share your own branding experiences, I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

 
3 Tips to Let Your Personality Shine in Brand Photos

Don't want your pictures to look exactly like everyone else's?


 

Here is our top 3 tips for adding personality to your branding photoshoot.


Everyone is weird

but how awesome is it when you find someone else that has the same weird thing as you!?! Showing your weirdness to the world not only shows personality but can also build an immediate connection with your fellow weirdos.

For example: I love peanut butter on my pancakes. If I meet someone else that puts peanut butter on their pancakes, THEY ARE MY PEOPLE!

Make a playlist

and bring it to your photoshoot. This is a tip I give all of my clients. I once had a client that was super super nervous. we put on some 90's hop hop and the entire vibe of the photoshoot changed! She went from nervous to confident badass immediately. When making your playlist think about the type of personality you what to show your audience and what kind of music that would inspire that in you.

Negativity be gone

Try to get your mind away from your anxiety over the shoot and into a more positive space. I know being confident is easier said than done. Find a photographer you can trust. Think about how far you have come and how proud of you your younger self would be. Letting the negativity go will give way to let you shine.

one extra tip. Wear clothing you look and FEEL comfortable and confident in. If you are physically uncomfortable you will look uncomfortable. Plan your outfits ahead of time. If you need extra help have a consultation with a personal stylsit. 


One extra tip

Wear clothing you look and FEEL comfortable and confident in. If you are physically uncomfortable you will look uncomfortable. Plan your outfits ahead of time. If you need extra help have a consultation with a personal stylsit.


What I do when Oregon decides to do what it does best...RAIN on photoshoot day.
 
 
 

If you are in the Pacific Northwest you know that unless it's the dead of summer, there is a big chance it is going to rain.

So what do we do if it rains on branding picture day?

Here are our go-to plans if we get bad weather.

All of our branding photoshoots come with at least 2 locations.

If it's the rainy season (so basically everything but August), one of those locations is most likely indoors.

  1. Plan an indoor location that has great outdoor spots within walking distance.

    Our studio in Oregon City Oregon is right on Main street in a historic building.

    While it's raining we do all our indoor shots but as soon as we get a break in the rain we pop outside and shoot as much as we can.

  2. Have a plan B.

    Know you don't want in-studio pictures?

    Once you choose a location find an indoor plan B option nearby.

    Cafes, restaurants, or bars are perfect for this.

    You can also use the lobby of office buildings and even shopping malls to create some great pictures.

    Just keep in mind, if you are in a private location you need to get permission to shoot there.

  3. Take pictures in your home or office.

    This is a great way to show your personality and what your day-to-day life is like.

    Don't have a home that is Insta-worthy?

    Check out places you can rent by the hour on Peerspace, Avvay, Homestudio list, and even Airbnb.

    You can find some amazing locations on these sites

    Bonus, these would be a business expense.

Are you ready to show up for your brand and connect with your future clients? Book your branding shoot with us here.

 
5 Branding Pictures You Can Take Yourself from Home
 
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Great photos are the heart of YOUR personal brand.

But if your state has a shelter-in-place order or if your usual brand photographer isn’t offering services at the moment, you might have to get a little creative in order to create some photos for sharing.

Here are four types of branding pictures you can take from home. All you’ll need is a camera or phone, a tripod, and your winning smile.

1 | A #WFH (Work from Home) Shot

Show potential clients where the magic is happening these days!

Are you working at your kitchen table? Your Instagram-worthy home office?

On the couch, snuggled up with your kids?

Set up a tripod and snap a few shots of your WFH life.

Don’t have a tripod?

Enlist the help of your partner or kids.

2 | Flatlays

The tools you use can tell a really vivid story about who you are and what you do.

Gather some objects that represent you and your business (bonus points if they are in your brands colors), arrange them on your kitchen table, and take some photos from above.

For example, if you’re a baker, get some cookies, your latest recipe book, a whisk, and your KitchenAid mixer in the shot.

If you’re a graphic designer, get your laptop, your sketchbook, and a few of your favorite prints you’ve done.

3 | Close-ups Get up close and personal.

Take a few shots of yourself from the shoulders up.

As long as you find some natural light near a window and keep the emphasis on your face, no one will ever guess you took those shots in your living room!

(Bonus: close-up portraits are perfect for your bio & your LinkedIn profile.)

4 | Outfit Changes

The best thing about an at-home brand photoshoot?

You can do as many retakes and outfit changes as you want!

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different looks.

Take a series of full-body shots in different outfits.

(This is perfect for regular social media posting, since wearing a different outfit will make it look like it was taken on a different day!)

5 | Show us who you are at home with.

This is a great chance to show your audience who you are outside of your professional brand.

Do you have kids?

Super cute puppy?

Letting your audience see into your world can build trust and make you seem a bit more human.

These days, we’re all spending a lot more time at home and online than usual.

If you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or working professional, there’s never been a better time to give your brand a much-needed visual refresh with a great at-home brand photoshoot.

While hiring a professional brand photographer is not exactly an option right now, these tips should help tide you over until you’re able to shoot with the pros again.

Want more ideas like this?

We created the #WFH Content Calendar with 1 months of daily ideas of what you can post during this pandemic.

CLICK HERE to get it.

 
Your Branding During Times of Crisis: Do's & Don’ts
 
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Things have been weird. Life looks totally different now than it did a few months ago.

All at once, so many things that were normal and we’d always taken for granted were taken away – from spending time with loved ones to dining in at restaurants to even working with clients face to face (we miss you).

When it comes to your branding during current circumstances, there are a lot of things to consider.

It’s important to acknowledge so your whats going on so your messaging isn’t tone-deaf – but at the same time, you want to make sure you’re not focusing too much on the negative.

Let these do's and don’ts guide your your branding during this time.

DO: Be Genuine We may have to be distant but were not alone.

Be real and transparent about your efforts and your struggles during this difficult time.

DON’T: Pretend everything’s normal It’s not “business as usual.”

Acknowledge the current situation and seek to share content that’s relevant and sensitive.

DO: Try to make people’s lives better in current conditions.

With these new circumstances comes a whole new set of needs.

Ask yourself: what skills or resources do I have that could help meet people’s needs right now?

Whatever your business is, IT'S STILL NEEDED (even you you can't operate it the way you did before)

They to find ways to fill your audiences need until they can use your service again.

DON’T: Exploit the crisis.

While there’s certainly nothing wrong with meeting current needs brought on by the crisis, you never want to come across as though you’re trying to profit off of other people’s suffering or discomfort.

Be sensitive and be kind.

DO: Stay positive.

There’s enough gloom, fear, and heaviness in the world already. Stay hopeful and optimistic about your brand’s future – and do your best to share that light with others.

DON’T: Get complacent

While it’s perfectly okay to dial things back a bit during these trying times, make sure you don’t check out entirely.

Try to use this downtime to your advantage, whether by refreshing your personal brand, creating more content, or even learning new skills.

It’s important to maintain consistency as much as possible so that when things get up and running again, you’ll be on top of it.

During times like these, people are longing for more human connection.

Be transparent, positive, and thoughtful as you navigate how to best manage your brand through all of this.

Oh I almost forgot….

We realized that right away people were going to have a hard time in this new world. Home schooling, Zoom calls with kids on your laps, the extra cooking, the cleaning and the uncertainty.

So we created FREE Content Calendar with ideas for a WHOLE MONTH so you don’t even have to think. Just look. Create. Upload. Done.

Interested? Click Here to Get it Sent to Your Email.

 
7 Reasons Why Your Personal Branding Needs Professional Photography
 

The idea of personal branding has been around for a long time in on form or another.

The problem that you face is that your... well... face... is everywhere now.

And first impressions happen in less than a second.

Unfortunately... or fortunately (if you follow the advice below)... you can make the right impression.

REASON #7 | Outdated Photos Make You Untrustworthy

Think about it. If you were going to meet someone in person for the first time and they didn't match their picture, would you trust them more?

Or would you trust them less?

REASON #6 | Standard Headshots are Mostly Boring

Sure, there's a time and a place for the professional headshot.

But do you really want that to be the story you tell about your brand?

We recommend that you have candid photography done where you're part of the story that you want your market to learn about.

REASON #5 | Pictures Tell Stories, So Why Don't You?

When you take professional photographs, you can use them to tell a story about your brand.

You can create an origin story through visual images that tell people who you are.

REASON #4 | Don't Just Tell The Story, Connect Emotionally Too!

Yeah. Pictures do tell stories, but they also pull people in emotionally.

When you do this through your branding, it changes the conversation in people's heads from "yeah this person is credible" to "I feel like they know me".

REASON #3 | Create a Consistent Brand Message

One of the biggest reasons for having professional branding photography done is to create a congruent marketing message.

A congruent marketing message creates trust with your market.

That trust is created by familiarity.

REASON #2 | Fresh and Professional Translates to Caring

It's true. When you have a stale branding look, it makes it seem like you don't care when your customers take a look at what you're up to.

When they research you, they're going to see everything you have online and then immediately dismiss you or validate you.

REASON #1 | Instantly Create a Trusting and Likable Brand Image

When it comes to creating a marketing message that communicates who you are and what you stand for, professional branding photography does this instantly.

How?

By having a first impression that looks clean, professional and matches all of your other images.

It also is a current and fresh photo of you so that when they meet you in person, you're not mistaken for someone else.

It's very key.

What do you think?

Do you think that professional branding photography is required?

Let me know in the comments below.

Talk to You Soon,

Mark Gubuan

Owner/Director of Funk

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P.S. Have you seen our 2019 Fall/Winter Style Guide? Get it here.

 
3 Reasons Why You Need The Bridgetown Insider's Club
 

The Bridgetown Insider's Club is an exclusive club that takes your brand and places it in a category above all of your competition.

That's right...

Your business needs this... yesterday.

I'm not writing this blog post because I want practice writing.

I'm writing this because there are too many businesses EXACTLY like yours that are starving for higher quality business....

And if you're thinking that you can't afford this, then keep reading because we have a package that's interesting for you.

As you've probably realized, photography is expensive.

But let's not focus on the cost of photography.

And rather, let's focus on the value that photography brings to your business....

#3 - Familiarity

The thing about today's business environment is that there are so many different ways to steal attention from one another.

Videos.

Pop up ads.

Etc.

But the thing that levels the playing field for everyone is social media marketing.

Images.

And controversy.

Now we don't sell controversy.

But what we do sell are images... and there's a secret sauce...

(Which I'll share with you down at the bottom)

The familiarity is created when you have a consistent flow of daily content across all social media platforms that are relevant to your business (a topic for another day).

But seeing your beautiful face, day in and day out, puts you in the driver's seat in an otherwise distracting world.

#2 - Likability

The Bridgetown Insider's Club is important to you because when you have professional photography done, it can enhance your marketing to a point where people subconsciously decide that they like you.

Why?

Because your image is pleasing to the senses when they're scrolling through their news feed.

Makes sense right?

Even if they don't stop and look, they'll still have more respect for you because they see that you actually took the time to improve your perception.

Which brings us to #1.

#1 - Trust

The Bridgetown Insider's Club creates a scenario for you where you go from just meh.... to oh....

I really think that this business has great messaging...

They took the time to create advertising and a brand image that speaks to me...

I feel like they know me.

And now I trust them more...

Are you pickin' up what I'm puttin' down??

Awesome!!

Now here's the deal. The Bridgetown Insider's Club is an exclusive offer that we have for businesses that are looking to solve the following specific problems.

  1. Your brand needs an update.

  2. Your marketing messaging is stale and needs a boost.

  3. The perception of your brand could use some repairs.

  4. You are updating your website and other marketing assets.

  5. You need fresh, attention grabbing content for social media.

  6. You have more money than time and would rather pay someone to do this for you.

Oh I almost forgot, remember that secret sauce?

In one word.

Genuine.

When you are a member of the Bridgetown Insider's Club, you'll get genuine, authentic images that your market already craves.

In our modern world, everyone is living a life of fake.

They want to see you in your purest form.

So why not put your best foot forward?

Now if you're a business that is ready to invest, but your cashflow is tight, then check this out...

When you're part of the Bridgetown Insider's Club, you get a 10% discount AND you get the monthly installment option.

Cool right?

You get the professional photography without the stress of coming up with the investment all upfront.

Ok.... so enough sales for the day...

Let me know what you think about this post!

If you have questions let me know too.

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Sincerely,

Mark Gubuan

Director of Funk

P.S. Check out the Personal Branding Photography Here

 
 
Looking for Reviews of Photographers near you?
 

Here are some reviews for you... I know "photographers near me" is a very common search term.

And frankly, I want our website to be found on the search engines for people that want our services LOL...

This blog post will be updated with reviews for your area. Just let me know in the comments below and I'll add some for you.

Review for Photographers Near Me - Wilsonville Area

All of these reviews are pulled from Google. I figured, hey, why make things difficult for you?

Click the image to see a live result on Google now.

Have you seen my article about choosing the right photographer? Here's an article that will save you some money and keep your search quick and easy.

We really champion authenticity here...

So in that thought, the reason why I share reviews of my local competitors on my website is because I believe in abundance.

More importantly, I know that no two people are the same.

And photography is art.

Not all people like the same art.

There are so many different styles and artistic elements to a photographer's work.

You deserve to choose the one you'll be the most happy with.

It's yours afterall....

What we offer here at Bridgetown Pictures is something called Bridgetown Story Sessions.

It's perfect for personal brands, however we have adapted this style for corporate brands.

If you want to learn more, you can follow this link to our Personal Branding Photography page.

Ok, so don't forget that reviews for photographers near me will be updated, so come back if you're still undecided.

Take Care,

Mark Gubuan

Studio Manager/Director of Funk

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How to Organize Your Photos On Your Computer
 

So after you've gone through our Bridgetown Story Session photoshoot, you'll have 90 days of content to organize.

Wow! When it comes down to it... that's a lot of files to manage.

Especially if they're not named properly.

So let's start with the basics.

File Naming Convention

So the one thing that I focus on is having a strategy that allows for the file names to be sorted in such a way that makes things easy to find.

The last thing I want to do is fumble around when people need something.

I want to be Johnny on the spot with files if people are asking about them.

Here's a generic example of how I like to name our files.

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The first section is [BP]. This stands for Bridgetown Pictures.

I name things this way so that any of our client work or other business ventures don't get mixed up.

The second section is [Personal Branding Photography]. This is the keyword that we'd like to optimize for.

In layman's terms, we want the search engine to find us when people type in Personal Branding Photography.

You should do the same for your business.

The third section is [Mark]. This is the subject, place, activity or whatever the picture is.

This makes it so that the search engine sees the difference between one image and the next.

And the fourth section is [2019.09.05]. It's obviously the date, but I wrote it in this sequence so that if you have files named the same way it will sort sequentially.

File Naming for Social Media Content

When you're organizing your files, I would always keep the originals in a place where you won't accidentally corrupt the files.

Here's how I would name social media content.

[DATE] - [KEYWORD] - [TITLE/DESCRIPTION]

It would look something like this.

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The benefit of doing it this way, is so that you can simply sort the folder and find the image you're going to use for that day and upload it.

Speaking of folders....

I would recommend organizing your content by marketing channel.

So the tree would look like this...

Marketing > Social Media Marketing > Facebook > Images

And then you'd have a different folder for Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.

What do you think?

Is this helpful? Let me know in the comments below!!

 
3 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Photographer for Headshots
 

Looking for a photographer for headshots? Great! Check out these 3 tips before you hire one.

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Tip #3 | The Best Way to Find A Photographer for Headshots

The best way to find a photographer for headshots is to get a referral from a friend, family member or co-worker.

From my experience, you'll be able to find someone you can trust and you'll be able to take a look at their portfolio too.

Ok, so I know they’re sometimes not totally reliable…

That’s ok because you can simply go to Google and search on “photographers near me” and you should find a suitable photographer with great reviews.

Tip #2 | Here's How Much You Should Pay a Photographer for Headshots

Pricing is going vary based on need. For example, if you need a headshot for a passport photo, I wouldn't spend more than $25-$50 for that.

But if you're going to be using headshots for improving your LinkedIn profile, applying for jobs or some other professional use, you'll want to spend a couple hundred dollars.

Tip #1 | If You're Using Headshots for Business... You're Doing It Wrong

The problem with typical headshots is that they're boring, tired and old.

When want to stand out, you need something better than just a headshot.

You need a story telling photograph.

Sure, you're probably thinking, well if everyone does this doesn't this make everyone the same again?

But it doesn't...

Because a story telling photograph makes you genuine and unique by design.

No one will ever be able to copy you.

That's why we created Bridgetown Story Sessions. It's our personal branding photography package that helps you create a brand that lasts and attracts your perfect client.

Get Your ANTI-Headshot Bridgetown Story Session Today

Take Care,

Mark Gubuan

Studio Manager/Director of Funk

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How to Make Old; New Again
 

Modern photography is unlike anything else in history.

The competition for the attention of ONE personal seems to have no end in sight.

Human beings are constantly over stimulated...

Take driving a car, for example, it’s so overwhelming on the senses.

You're late for school...

...the kids are screaming in the back.

People are honking at each other... and not you.

All while you're mentally preparing for that big presentation you have later in the day!

Sound a little too familiar?

It's crazy to be alive right now because technology is growing exponentially and many of us were alive to see the beginning.

So what's next?

How do you take old, but high converting, advertising principles and make them new for a modern, authentic visual marketing message?

The answer... is a Bridgetown Story Session.

Simply, this is our personal branding photography package and one of the reasons why you should be following us here, on Instagram and YouTube...

We want to help you out so much that we're creating and releasing content daily for you...

Please subscribe!!!

Now onto the content...

High Converting Ad Principle #1

Congruency.

There must be congruency from message to offer.

If you’re offering a high value package, the marketing message should convey the same message.

Photography today can mimic this principle by taking content from the same shoot and use it across many different marketing channels and social platforms.

High Converting Ad Principle #2

Clearly defined value.

Since we’re on the topic of value, let’s chat about having a solid value proposition.

A value proposition can also be known as an irresistible offer.

Professionally planned images can easily convey the right message.

This is done by showing the quality of the manufacturing process or by capturing a memorable customer service experience.

High Converting Ad Principle #3

Emotion driven messaging.

We’ve known since the beginning of time that a human's emotion drives them to action.

Do you have a song that reminds you of something that happened in your life? Like a wedding song? Or a first kiss?

That's what happens when you create imagery that's relevant and familiar to your audience in today's modern world.

BUT...

There is ONE problem...

Never before have humans been able to create video and digital photography with ease.

You have full multi-media studios in your pocket now.

Everyone can create high converting images now...

Or can they?

Because when a true artist picks up a camera... you notice the difference.

Why?

It's because a professional can create a emotion driven image that's congruent and has a clearly defined value proposition in an artistic way.

What is a Bridgetown Story Session?

Just imagine having 90 days of professional, authentic, photography with targeted messaging to use in your social media campaigns.

Imagine never having to worry about images for advertising because you have branding and unique pictures at your disposal.

Increase your customer's confidence in you because your messaging is congruent across your website, social media presence and advertising.

If this makes sense to you then let's make sure to have a conversation about it.

Have you gotten your FREE CUSTOMER SUCCESS PROFILE PDF? Subscribe to our newsletter and get it sent to your best email.

CLICK HERE TO GET FREE PDF

Schedule a time to chat (503) 383-9159 or email Jess@BridgetownPictures.com.

Thanks,

Mark Gubuan

Studio Manager and Director of Funk

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P.S. When you subscribe to our newsletter, you get notified FIRST of discounts and booking slots.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE


 
Cheap Headshots Are Hurting You Not Helping; Do This Instead

Cheap headshots might seem like the ONLY option you have when you're just getting started with marketing or branding yourself or your business.

I get it though... the whole point of getting headshots done are to help create trust, to imply professionalism and to show the people that you're looking to attract that you take things seriously...

But the reality is that you're just making yourself look like everyone else.

If headshots aren't the way to go, what should you do instead?

Well if you're looking for one single headshot to put on a passport photo or something like that, by all means go to the mall or have a friend take your picture.

But if you're really looking for the wow factor, there's a really obvious and frustratingly overlooked "tactic".

Be you.

The authentic, genuine version of yourself.

 
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In a headshot, we simply don't pose you.

No that's boring (sure we do these but they're not the only thing we do).

What we do is capture you in your natural element.

…in a genuine setting with an authentic emotion.

Trust me... if you love what you do, then you’re not going to feel awkward or self conscious...

And you’re going to look amazing!

And that’s because candid photography is done in a way that you just “do you” and the photographer does the rest...

So you get to be an authentic and genuine person by being you...

You just act natural...

And you rise above the noise and stand out!

How does that sound?

If this makes sense to you and you’re looking for an amazing headshot solution, then check out our Bridgetown Story Sessions right here.

Take Care,

Mark Gubuan

Studio Manager/Director of Funk

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Is Personal Branding Photography Right for You?
 

Personal branding photography is an investment that can help your business improve its marketing and advertising.

If you’re wondering if you should spend the money, then read the 3 criteria that we’ve identified that will help you make this decision an easy one.

The 3 Criteria You Need to Know When Deciding if Personal Branding Photography is Right for You

Criteria 1 | Your Face is the Face of the Business

Think Oprah Winfrey or Tony Robbins. When you think of their names, you immediately have a perception of what their values are, how they’ve inspired you, how they’ve influenced you and most importantly, you have some kind of emotional response to hearing name or SEEING their face.

CREDIT: OPRAH.com

CREDIT: OPRAH.com

CREDIT: TONYROBBINS.COM

If you’re in an industry where your face is what’s primarily seen in advertising or your marketing, then absolutely you need personal branding photography.

Criteria 2 | You Are in A Trust Based Industry

Personal branding photography taken by a professional photographer helps you INSTANTLY create trust with potential clients.

Have you ever just come across a business or a person that just seem a little “off”? Well that’s what happens when you don’t have a clean, professional, UPDATED group of marketing materials.

Just a few off the top of my head are insurance, real estate, accounting, financial planners, life coaches and personal trainers to name a few.

Criteria 3 | You’ve Never Had it Done or Need a Refresh

As I was alluding to in the last second, there’s a trust issue when someone doesn’t “look like” the person in the pictures when they meet them in real life.

You might be accidentally “catfishing” and that’s not a good look for you.

Or if you’re new or just haven’t taken the plunge yet, then do it. You’ll find that people immediately see that you’re taking your business to the next stage.

This bodes well for you because people want to work with people who do well in life and in business.

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Bonus Criteria | You Have a Website or Social Media Account

It’s a given these days that its a requirement to have a website and social media account and when it comes to personal branding photography this is where the rubber meets the road.

Content is king.

Personal branding photography is the key to the kingdom.

However there is one problem….

How do you stand out from the crowd if everyone is doing professional photography?

The solution is simple.

You invest in story branding photography.

Story branding photography, even if everyone does it, still allows you to be different.

Why?

Because no one can be you. Period.

You can be the best and most authentic and genuine version of yourself and that’s powerful.

Want to learn more about this?

Check out Bridgetown Story Sessions right here

Take Care,

Mark Gubuan

Studio Manager and Director of Funk

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P.S. Do you want to create a high converting marketing message? Check out our FREE Customer Success Profile PDF here.

 
Choose the Highest Converting Photography Style for The First Three Different Story Branding Photography Sessions
 

What styles of photography work the best for ads?

There are two subjects that I'll cover in this post. (1) Photography Styles and (2) Editing Styles.

Honestly, there's an infinite number of combinations of variables for effective advertising, but if I could narrow down a main focus for you it would be to understand your audience and show them images that are relatable.

There are actually around 15 photography genres...


Before we get into it. I wanted to use other people’s photography as examples in this blog post, but I decided against it because we all have access to Google and just getting all of the different licenses, etc are just not worth the hassle.


Aerial Photography

With the cost of drone technology coming down, aerial photography is now a genre that has an increasingly low barrier of entry.

This is great because if you need those high converting real estate shots from the sky, you'll be able to affordably accomplish those.

Architectural Photography

I love these shots because they capture the richness of history and tell such a great story about that time.

Taking pictures of key architectural scenes can change everything for you.

Candid Photography

This is where Personal Branding Photography lives. These are also known as lifestyle photography.

When these pictures are taken, they capture a very genuine, authentic emotion when they're done right.

This style is the recommended style for anyone trying to create a personal brand with an emotional connection to their audience.

Documentary Photography

This photography is designed to tell the truth about a subject. By taking photographs that highlight the different points being made, it creates a very linear and easy to understand storyline.

Fashion Photography

This can get very artistic and driven by the photographer. If not, this style will have a lot to do with the marketing campaign.

Obviously the fashion designer will already have the artistic direction in their mind.

It will be the photographer's job to realize this vision and make it a reality.

Food Photography

This type of photography can make something go from average to extraordinary.

Taking the right photography transforms a dish into something absolutely amazing.

Landscape Photography

We just cannot live without landscape photography. Some artists can really take a step back and see the true beauty of the Earth.

This photography can do an excellent job of setting the stage for you when you're telling a story.

Night Photography

This is a very specialized type of photography because there's a lot of patience involved.

So much trial and error getting the shot just right.

If this is a look that you'd like be prepared to spend some extra hours figuring it out.

Photojournalism

This type of photography is what you'd expect to see in newspapers.

The news media requires these photographs to be able to tell the right kind of story in the news.

Without these, it because increasingly difficult for the news to create trust that the events are being told the right way.

Fine Art Photography

This photography can be worth a lot of money. I'm not going to pretend like I'm an expert knowing anything about that...

All I'm going to say is this...

You just never know what people are going to spend when it comes to buying fine art.

Portraiture

This style is exactly what you see in a family portrait or in a headshot...

This style works great for capturing a formal picture.

Sports Photography

This is also known as action photography. People or things moving fast.

Capturing the emotion of a big game win or lose.

Getting that last second win.

There's a ton of emotion available in a contest like that.

The art and skill of capturing that raw emotion is amazing because you get to leave your mark on history.

Street Photography

I've re-discovered street photography. There was something about it that I didn't realize appealed to me.

Seeing humanity this way is eye opening when you take a step back and look around.

Telling stories around the city will always have a variation of this style in the photos.

War Photography

I picture black and white images when I think about war photography.

Wars today are so high tech and very seldom documented through photos.

Wildlife Photography

This is one of the styles of photography that take an immense amount of planning and execution.

You have to be a researcher first and then have the right gear and conditions to capture elusive animals.

There might be a little luck involved too...

Overwhelmed?

Don't be...

I'll discuss how to choose the right one below.

Before that I want to touch on editing styles that convert sales for you.

Now before you read any further, this is where I recommend that you hire an expert to do this.

Not because you can't, but because you shouldn't.

I'll explain why at the end.

7 Editing Styles that Convert Sales

Orange and Teal

This is an outdoor editing style. You will find this style used with Street Photography as well as outdoors where the sun is a factor.

It is also used in Candid Shoots.

Light & Airy

This style is found in wedding photography and I've seen it used with indoor real estate photography.

This style really gives the photo a fresh, bright feeling.

Pastel

The most common way this editing style can be found today is through beauty and travel bloggers.

This look gives pictures a soft and gentle shade.

Retro

This is more than just a sepia Instagram filter. LOL. This editing style gives your photography a nostalgic feel if it's done properly.

And that's just it. The right style pulls emotions out of the person looking at the picture.

Muted

A muted look can be thought of as a "washed out" look. Or a picture where the colors aren't as bold as they should be.

You'd use this if the image itself wasn't the entirety of the focus.

Maybe you're adding text to the image or have something else in the area of the photo that should have the attention.

Monochromatic

This style is when you take one color and make it the dominating color throughout the photo.

Like a black and white photo, but instead of black or white, the image is red and black or red and white.

This image converts well with certain ads, but as with everything, you'll want to test this out.

B&W

Ah, the classic black and white. This style is probably the one that can be over used, and under used at the same time.

A black and white photo can capture the most intimate of details, but at the same time tell a story so broad and sweeping that it's powerful.

High Contrast

Bright and bold and colorful. These pictures are sometimes described as "cinematic", but I don't like that description.

I think these are eye catching and beautiful and give us something our eyes can consume and connect with.

Which Editing Style Do I Need?

Ok, so now that I've completely overwhelmed you, let me help you make this an easy decision.

Sound good?

Let's use 3 easy criteria to pick the right editing style.

  1. How does your target audience respond to your ads now?

  2. What message are you communicating?

  3. Are these pictures being used for a temporary campaign or long term branding effort?

These questions are tough questions, I know, but you have to be honest with these answers and get rid of the styles that don't line up with your intention.

Let’s quickly breakdown these three criteria….

How does your target audience respond to your ads now?

What I’m asking here is whether there is a definitive style that your market is responding to.

What’s interesting about advertising today is that you can test all of the different types of images until you find the winners.

When you get to that point, you’ll know exactly the style of photography that works for YOUR high converting ads.

What message are you communicating?

Drama.

Flair.

Excitement.

Luxury.

These are all different adjectives that might be used to describe the photos that work best for YOUR high converting ads.

Based on your message, you’ll want to choose the editing style that gives your message the right amplification.

Are these pictures being used for a temporary campaign or long term branding effort?

This question is more about being congruent with your advertising and marketing.

Depending on the usage of your photos, you might want to consider a uniform editing style or concept throughout.

Need help with this? Leave us a comment below and we'll see how we can help.

Take Care,

Mark Gubuan

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The Move Makers and Their Experience with Bridgetown Story Sessions
 

When we first started with business branding photography, we knew that we could create high quality photography, but we wanted to nail down our process first.

That's where The Move Makers come in...

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The Move Makers are an enthusiastic group of people that make organization and moving a totally stress free experience.

I remember back in the day that I hated moving so much.

I probably moved once a year for 6 years straight. It was so brutal for me that made sure that I was able to fit all of my belongings into a small red pickup truck.

When moving day came… poof… I was gone… LOL.

Now.... I stay put much longer...

But if you want to cut down on the stresses and hassles of organization and moving, The Move Makers are definitely the one's you want to talk to.

A Bridgetown Story Sessions Success Story

The Move Makers are a wonderful example of a business that wanted to update their visual branding to match their level of customer service, experience and enthusiasm.

And to see how beautifully the photography, website and social media marketing came together is amazing because we know that their business is taking steps forward.

We're proud to be able to help businesses with photography.

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Branding Photography is A Marketing First Approach to Photography

…and when we approach a business branding session, we do it with a marketing first approach.

Traditional photographers focus on “getting the shot” and there’s absolutely NOTHING WRONG with that because ultimately that’s what a great photographer does.

But a branding photographer has to think ahead to HOW the pictures are going to be used.

Today, you have more than just printed materials…

You have social media now and that is quite intensive.

What’s great about working with The Move Makers was that since we approached their requirements this way, there was no second guessing what they needed.

From the planning, to the execution and delivery of the branding shoot, we left no detail undone.

For them, we understood that it was an investment for them and creating high converting photography was a priority.

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Since The Move Makers have been taking advantage of our subscription service, they had the opportunity to create a cohesive marketing message for the entire year.

We worked with their staff closely each session and brought their vision to life.

Since they had dedicated marketing staff, it was a breeze to setup the shoots so that they received exactly what they wanted.

But not to worry, if you don’t have dedicated marketing staff, we have a process we use to ensure there are no grey areas when it comes to what you’re expectations are and what we deliver for you.

It is absolutely our priority to align your photography with your marketing message so that over time your digital and print assets convert leads and sales for you.

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The Move Makers Results with Branding Photography

Branding Photography is an investment that has unlimited potential.

Now, I can’t guarantee that your branding images will ever go viral or convert sales and leads at specific rate…

There’s just so many factors at play…and it’s just irresponsible to guarantee something like that…

But what I can say is that professional photography that aligns with your marketing message, affects the perception that your clients have of you.

Instantly, they’ll feel more comfortable and will trust you more since all of your marketing channels will be congruent.

From Facebook, to Instagram, to your website, they will see your images and not just generic stock photography.

Now there’s a time and place for stock images (we offer a unique stock image gallery with our Bridgetown Insider’s Club).

But nothing is better than genuine, story telling, imagery showcasing you, your employees, products or services.

Here at Bridgetown Pictures, we’re always excited to speak with you, so if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (503) 383-9159.

Want to learn more about Bridgetown Story Sessions? Check out our Branding Photography page.

Have you seen our Owner Education Series? Check Out The 7 Personal Branding Photography Pillars Your Competition Doesn’t Want You to Know

 
7 Personal Branding Photography Pillars Your Competition Doesn't Want You To Know About
 
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Branding Photography Owner Education Series

As Studio Manager and Owner of Bridgetown Pictures, I wanted to design a tool for you that met three criteria.

1. It helped you sell more of your stuff.

2. It was easy to execute.

and 3. You didn't have to worry about procrastination.

Check out the first training link below to get your FREE Customer Success Profile PDF.

Get the FREE Download Here

Marketing works. That's what got you here right?

You probably saw an article and an image and clicked a link.

Nod if you agree... :)

Ready to learn Story Branding Photography? Keep going...

Who is this for?

  • This is for the business that needs an increase in sales and understands that photography is the weak link.

  • And it's for the business that knows their social media and online advertising is suffering and understand that high quality, relevant pictures that convert sales is the answer to the problem.

Who is this NOT for?

  • This is NOT for businesses that already have marketing mastered.

  • This is NOT for businesses that don't want to dig in and commit a few hours for a couple short weeks to learn.

  • This is NOT for businesses that aren't ready to scale up or AT LEAST preparing to scale up.

What is it?

This is a short educational series that helps your advertising convert more by creating story branded photography.

If you want to succeed, learn the following:

  1. How to Create Customer Avatar for a Targeted Marketing Message

  2. Define Your Brand Story to Communicate your Message Clearly

  3. Choose the Highest Converting Photography Style for The First Three Different Story Branding Photography Sessions

  4. How to Prep For a Productive Shoot

  5. How to Execute the Plan for the Shoot

  6. Complete Post Shoot Activities to Systematically Begin Testing Each Photograph to Identify the Highest Converting Image

Why spend time learning this?

Our businesses have an ecosystem that has to have balance.

Marketing and advertising is a critical part of that system.

Modern marketing and advertising requires high converting photography.

This part cannot be overlooked in a winning marketing plan.

The beauty about this process is once you’ve learned it, you’re all set to repeat it over and over again.

Sweet?

Ya! Let’s get started!

P.S. Have you discovered how to create a Customer Avatar to Craft a Targeted Message

 
How to Create Story Telling Photographs That Sell

STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR WINNING MARKETING MESSAGE

Winning at marketing means you’re selling more stuff.

Who doesn’t want more of that?!

A winning marketing message is one that has these 5 things:

  1. Emotional Connection

  2. Clear Call to Action

  3. Talks About ONLY ONE Thing

  4. Creates Trust

  5. Talks About the Benefit (directly/indirectly)

...next...

STEP 2: MAP OUT THE STORY IN WORDS

The right planning eliminates the day of the shoot frustrations that come with poor planning.

The first thing you should do is map out the context of the story.

Set the stage for where our characters are going to be set.

Write out any defining emotions you want to achieve from certain plot points.

Lastly, create an open hook pulling your perfect client in... (HINT: This makes the whole process easier when you get this right)

STEP 3: TAKE PICTURES

One of the reasons for prepping so thoroughly is so that you can plan to have everything you need to create that high converting story.

FINALLY! You can feel like you’re doing something right.

Now that you’re at the day of the shoot, you have your message at the top of your mind and you’ve written out exactly what you want to capture.

Time to execute.

Here are some recommended supplies:

  1. DSLR Camera

  2. Continuous Lighting

  3. Props

  4. Reflectors

With these foundational items, you should be able to complete your photo shoot.

Now I know that everyone has varying degrees of experience shooting pictures...

And you are probably more than capable of pulling something like this off. 

But if you’re like me, you know that your time is spent best doing the things you know you’re great at....

...and get amazing results doing it...

Taking high converting photos might not be the best use of your time....

Because you’re going to have to deal with the learning curve, the frustration of lighting, framing the right shot...

And so many other nuances...

Luckily, we have a solution for you...

It’s called Bridgetown Story Sessions!

To be the first to learn about this Call (503) 383-9159 to talk to Jess and get the details.

What is personal branding photography?

Personal branding photography marries together the idea that you are unique and special, with an expectation of what people will experience when they do business with you.

Let's just get the cliche's out of the way...

It tells a story about who you are...

Now that that's outta the way, let's talk about how personal branding photography can help you.

The #1 Reason Why You Should Have Personal Branding Photography Done

We live a skeptical world with too much information.

Everything is fake.

People don't know who to trust.

And to top it off, we're constantly fighting for attention...

When people "google" you, do they see someone that they know, like and trust?

If the answer is no...

Then you already understand why you ABSOLUTELY have to have a personal branding photography session done.

This is the reason why you need personal branding photography.

We instruct our clients to use personal branding very specifically.

Want to learn how? Keep reading...

How to Use Personal Branding Photography in Your Business

1| Update Your Website

This is usually where your head probably went when you first started your search, so let's address this.

A hero image is the image that you choose as the most widely distributed and "known" image that represents you or your brand.

This hero image should be strategically placed where a customer is going to see it so that it instantly creates the perception of you that you want to create.

Think about it being where they are looking for trust like a checkout page, testimonial or review, banner or header and the about me section.

2| Social Media Profiles

Out with the old and in with the new. This one is a bit more involved, so let's just start with the basics.

Depending on how you market yourself, you'll want to create consistency when someone is researching you.

For example, if they jump from your social media to your website and back again, they want to see the same pictures as it links their thoughts together.

Put it this way...

A person looking for a solution for a problem is going to immediately run away if your social media doesn't line up with the expectations that you created on your website.

Maybe you come off high end on your website, but your social media says budget…

So by having the same profile image as the hero image on your website and more importantly, you contain the same messaging, then you've created consistency and trust by simply having the same picture.

3| Marketing and Advertising Campaigns

Ok, so you've spent all of that money on a professional personal branding photography session.

Time to put it to work...

Since you've taken the time to create a marketing campaign and sync'd the photography to meet that requirement, then you're ready to launch that campaign.

The obvious place to you use this photography is in your social media advertising, print ads and brochures.

As the new marketing campaigns roll out with this new image…

…you can expect a shift in customer base as you’re going to start attracting more clients that line up with your vision.

So when you have a professional shoot done, it is far more effective to then be able to create consistent messaging in your business.

The bottom line is that if you improve your marketing and advertising, you are improving your sales numbers.

When you improve your sales numbers, problems get solved and you serve more people.

Is Personal Branding Photography Right for You?

So how do you know if you need this or not?

Here are 10 Signs You Need Personal Branding Photography

  1. You Haven't Updated Your Website in The Last 365 Days

  2. You Haven't Updated Your Social Media in The Last 90 Days

  3. You Have New Employees

  4. Your Business is Brand New

  5. You Want to Improve Your Marketing and Advertising

  6. People Are Confused By What You Do

  7. Your Business Isn't as Successful as It Should Be

  8. You Want to Stand Out from The Crowd

  9. You Don't Want to Do It Yourself

  10. Cell Phone Images Don't Cut It Anymore

And finally, the last thing that I want to say is that you need this if people don't know, like and trust you.

Need more sales? Then let's get started...

Reach out to Jessica at Jess@BridgetownPictures.com or Call (503) 383-9159 and book your session today.

7 Reasons You Need Personal Branding Photography

Personal branding photography is soon to be a dreaded buzzword, but it’s the simplest way to describe story telling through photography for businesses.

If you’re reading this, I can assume that you want to learn what personal branding photography is, whether or not its right for you and if so, how quickly can you get a return on investment….

…let’s get to it shall we?

What is personal branding photography?

As I stated above, it’s story telling through photography. But let’s simplify this further…

For me a personal brand is where YOU have your face up front and center (I’ll be writing another post about business branding, so stay posted for that), rather than the business.

A real estate agent, personal trainer, life coach, business coach, chiropractor, dentist, pediatrician, contractor, landscaper, handyman, mechanic, insurance, mortgage or accountant and many more industries and professions call all use personal branding photography of some kind.

Wow! That’s a lot…

It’s kinda funny to me that some businesses can still get away with not branding themselves at all… but a lot of the time I discover that’s because they’re well established and have a solid reputation and referral base.

…while its great to work with folks like that, it’s the people, like you, who have more money than time that need to start thinking about leveling up all aspects of your business (especially marketing) that are the best to work with…

Why? Read on my friend.

7 | Personal Branding Photography: Builds Rapport Automatically

You know who does personal branding really well? Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

If you follow him on social media, you feel like you know him.

His photographs tell a story about who he is and you relate to the images (like him holding his newborn baby in the hospital).

With branding photography, you build this rapport without even saying single word.

6 | Personal Branding Photography: Highlights Your Best Self

Because personal branding photography sessions are designed to tell your story, you have the opportunity to showcase how awesome you are.

It’s amazing how much of your story you think is boring, when in reality, for other people it’s the most inspiring thing they’ve ever heard.

Never doubt yourself.

You’re awesome.

5 | Personal Branding Photography: Displays Your Status or Authority

You are experienced, skilled and good at what you do.

With professional photography, this tells your clients that you can be trusted and you know what you’re doing.

If you have awards or other skills you want to highlight, this branding can show that to your audience.

4 | Personal Branding Photography: Revolutionizes Your Marketing Message

Marketing and sales is really the name of the game here.

When you have professional photography wrapped into your marketing and sales not only where it’s supposed to be (websites, brochures, etc) and then inside of your social media marketing strategy, what happens is that your stories are being told throughout the customer journey (want to learn more about this? there’s an upcoming blog on this).

Your marketing message is the communicated in such a way that people connect emotionally with you and this is important because it creates likability.

3 | Personal Branding Photography: Instantly Builds Trust

Professional photography that replaces standard cell phone or amateur photography inside of your marketing and advertising converts fence sitters and skeptics into your most valued customers.

This is because professional images with YOU in them create a sense of “got it together”.

And that is important when they’re trying to choose between you and the next person.

2 | Personal Branding Photography: Makes You Stand Out

It may seem like “everyone’s doing it”, but that can’t be further from the truth.

The only people that are getting personal branding photography are those people that are committed to moving their business forward or that are already in a position of success, but they haven’t highlighted that success yet.

A professional photography session can be that bridge to success for you.

1 | Personal Branding Photography: Measurable Results

You can take your business revenue today, then have a professional photography session tomorrow.

IMPLEMENT your photographs into your marketing and advertising and see exactly how much more revenue you generate.

This is very measurable.

Now, I can’t guarantee a positive ROI, but what I can guarantee is that your story is being told, you’re gaining trust, you’re gaining a positive reputation and you’re highlighting what you do best.

In my most humble opinion, if you do those things, you can only expect to see some positive results.

How to Get the Best Personal Branding Photography

First of all, communication is very important.

When you work with Bridgetown Pictures, we ensure that in our pre-session consultation no one leaves feeling like we missed something.

We will go through a systematic questionnaire that helps us leave no stone un-turned.

So at the end of the pre-session consultation, Bridgetown Pictures understands what your marketing message is, how your photography will be used and what stories we’ll be telling about you.

Next, you’ll want to contact us at Jess@BridgetownPictures.com or call us at (503) 383-9159 and pay your first installment to get us on your calendar.

You’ll want to act fast because our 12 month schedule is booking up fast and once it’s booked, you’ll have to wait for a spot to open back up. Which is about 12 months at the longest right now.