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!

Artificial intelligence (AI) has already transformed various industries and will continue to do so in the future.

One such industry that can greatly benefit from AI is photography, particularly business branding photography and personal branding photography.

In this blog post, we will discuss how AI can be used in these areas and how it can help photographers and businesses create better content, save time, and improve the overall user experience.

First, let's define what business branding photography and personal branding photography are.

Business branding photography refers to the use of photographs to visually communicate the values and identity of a business to its target audience.

This type of photography is often used in marketing materials such as website banners, social media posts, and brochures.

Personal branding photography, on the other hand, is the use of photographs to promote an individual's personal brand.

This can include headshots for a LinkedIn profile, images for a personal website, or photographs for a personal social media presence.

Now, let's delve into how AI can be used in these areas.

One way AI can be beneficial to business branding photography is through the use of image recognition technology.

This technology allows businesses to automatically categorize and tag their images according to certain features or characteristics.

For example, a business could use image recognition to tag all of its images that contain their product, the company logo, or a particular location.

This can be extremely useful for businesses with large image libraries as it saves them time and makes it easier to find and use specific images.

Another way AI can help with business branding photography is through the use of generative models.

Generative models are AI algorithms that can generate new images based on a set of input images. This can be used by businesses to create new product images or to quickly generate variations of an existing image.

For example, a business could use a generative model to create multiple versions of an image with different backgrounds, lighting, or compositions.

This can save businesses time and resources as they do not have to hire a photographer to take new photographs for every variation they want.

AI can also be beneficial to personal branding photography through the use of virtual assistants.

Virtual assistants are AI algorithms that can help individuals create and curate their personal brand online.

For example, a virtual assistant could help an individual create a personal website by suggesting design templates, color schemes, and layout options.

It could also help an individual curate their social media presence by suggesting content to post and analyzing the performance of past posts.

This can save individuals time and effort as they do not have to spend as much time creating and managing their personal brand online.

In addition to the above, AI can also be used in both business branding photography and personal branding photography to improve the user experience.

For example, businesses can use AI to analyze user behavior on their website and suggest images that are more likely to engage their target audience.

Similarly, individuals can use AI to analyze the performance of their personal brand online and make recommendations for improving it.

This can help businesses and individuals create more effective and engaging content, leading to better results.

Overall, AI has the potential to greatly benefit business branding photography and personal branding photography.

From image recognition and generative models to virtual assistants and user experience optimization, AI can help photographers and businesses create better content, save time, and improve the overall user experience.

As AI continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more innovative uses of this technology in the field of photography.

Let me know what you think about this in the comments below. I would love to hear what you have to say!

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

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

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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. 

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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.

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Well, that was awkward...

Have you ever wanted to take pictures in a public space but worried it would be awkward?

Here are 5 ways we take the weirdness out of shooting in public...

1. Do your research.

If you have worked with us before, you know we love a good strategic plan for shoot day.

Knowing where you want to go and what you want photos of will speed up the entire process.

I like to start by looking for locations on Instagram.

You can get a good idea of how the space photographs.

Plus a cafe, bar, shop, that has an active social media account gets what you're trying to do and will be way more receptive to letting you use their space if you tag them in a post or two.

2. Give yourself some space.

If you choose a location that's super crowded, not only will you not have room to move around and get a variety of pictures, but we will probably be invading other people's space too.

Try to find a location that has lots of room.

If it's indoors try to get near a window for the best light.

Or even better year, find a space with outdoor seating.

3. Be a giver not a taker

If you are in a location that is selling something.

Buy something.

If it's a Cafe, order food and drinks.

If it's a store, buy something ( you could even use it as a giveaway to grow your social media).

Just remember the more you give the more you get.

4. Be discrete and quick

I always try to get in and out of a location as quickly and professionally as I can.

Don't bring lots of lights or other gear.

I like to slip my mirrorless camera into a big purse and leave the rest of my kit behind.

Have a shot list and get to work.

The more time and space you take up, the more onlookers you will have.

If you are in a cafe, while waiting for your order, get some lifestyle shots and work on the computer shots.

Use the extra time to get whatever pictures you can and plan what you will get when your order arrives.

5. Know when to ask permission (and how to ask)

Ok here is the thing.

I am always going to recommend you get permission before shooting at any location.

But if you ask the wrong way, there is a huge chance you will never get a response.

If you ask making it sound like a big commercial production, they are going to say no (or never respond at all because they are waiting to get the ok from corporate and it all gets lost in the chain of command).

Just say, "Hey, is it ok if we take a few pictures for social media?"

That's not a lie and you are much more likely to get yes.

Just make sure to avoid logos and other companies' brands in your pictures.

We’re taking new clients RIGHT NOW! If you’re ready, you have to click here and take the next step.

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.

#10: No One Mentioned How Fun Make Up and Hair Is

Did I mention fun?

Well let's talk more about this!

One thing that happens when you prepare for the shoot, is that you get to have your hair and make up done by a professional.

Pampering is a necessity for sure. It's relaxing to not need to worry about doing it yourself.

All the prep is done ahead of time.

This way, all you need to do is show up.

#09: It's A Life Changing Experience

Most people don't realize that branding photography shoots are a life changing experience.

It's hard to explain unless you've been through one.

But because most people do this seldomly, they don't realize that your self-esteem and confidence get super charged.

You feel so empowered.

You feel ready to conquer the world.

You know that you've put time and preparation into doing what needs to be done to build your business to where it is.

Now the photography will match that effort.

#08: It's Freeing to Be You

When you're in the middle of a branding shoot something happens.

You're in this state of mind where nothing else matters.

You are you.

And it shines through in the images.

It's a magical thing that's hard to characterize, but you'll know what I mean when you do it for the first, second and even third time.

There's no judgement.

There's no one saying you can't do it.

There's no doubt.

Only you in your most powerful state.

#07: You Get to Make The Right First Impression

The world is a funny place.

We have attention spans that are so dang short.

First impressions happen in fractions of a second.

That's what's great about controlling your marketing message up front.

You get to make the right first impression.

Every. Single. Time.

#06: Marketing is Sexy

Marketing is the fun and exciting part of doing business.

Get this right and you never have to worry about where your next sale is going to be.

Branding photography is that missing piece to a lot of marketing campaigns.

Sure you can go out and get stock photography, but most people don't do that right.

There's an art form to how you present the image.

There's a missing context from stock photography.

But we can help you learn how to do that.

All you have to do is ask!

(Ask us about our social media management subscription beta launch)

Getting your message to the RIGHT PEOPLE is all about branding the RIGHT WAY.

An example is when you shoot certain angles it communicates power, trust, understanding and success.

Stock photography can do that, you just have to be smart about it.

But even better than that is a customized branding photo shoot.

#05: Live Your Fantasy of Being a Model

A photoshoot is not something that the average person does regularly (unless you're on our subscription). We know that you've done the personal development and you think very positively of yourself.

That's what we like about you!

When you get in front of the camera you get to show the world, what you already know!

You are empowered and successful.

You may not know how to pose.

Where to put your hands.

Or how to smile.

Where to look.

But don't worry, we got you!

Working with us, you'll be guided exactly where to look, how to stand and we guarantee you'll be smiling!

This is fun!

One of my favorite parts of the shoot is when you start to feel super natural about what you’re doing.

It happens every time.

Did I mention that its fun?

#04: It's Fun to Do Something Out of the Ordinary Grind

Same ole' same ole' huh?

NOPE!

Not when you do branding photography shoots!

You do what you do because you wanted to enjoy your life right?

Well that's what's so interesting about branding photography.

Its more fun than people realize!

If you're gonna grind, you might as well have fun doing it!

#03: The Law of Attraction

The other day I had a revelation.

I realized that anyone that does a branding shoot is putting out to the universe that they're successful.

Even if they've NEVER MADE A DIME!

Even if they NEVER POST THE PICTURE!

It's crazy to think about but...

If you're in the mindset of success and you have your picture taken, that mindset is captured in time.

The fun part about the Law of Attraction is that you can put that picture in a drawer and as long as you keep working at your business, you'll find that picture.

And you'll stare at it in amazement knowing that you succeeded.

And that you did it because you worked at it.

And that it was because you already knew you were successful at whatever it is that you wanted to achieve at the time.

And it was in that moment of when the photograph was taken that the universe was preparing to give you everything you needed to succeed.

#02: Branding Photography is More Than a Guilty Pleasure, It's Required

Look.

There's something cool about branding photography that I don't ever hear other photographers talk about.

Or maybe they do and I just don't see it enough....

But...

Getting your picture taken during a photoshoot is a bit of a rush...

The hair....

The makeup...

The adrenaline...

The fun of it....

But the kicker here is that it's required.

It's happening less and less these days, but I don't ever come across a successful business without professional photos now.

#01: You Saw Your Friend Do It First

The thing about humans is that we're tribal.

We want to belong.

We want to be like everyone else.

When you see your good friend do it, you realize that, "hey I can do that".

"I see your results and I want that for me too!"

And that's all it takes really.

Knowing what's in it for you...

You don't "have to" have professional photography done.

But I can imagine that your businesses reputation and branding isn’t where it should be either....

If that's a problem that you're looking to solve, you should definitely reach out and download our pricing guide here and see if we're the right solution for you.

See you at the shoot!

Mark Gubuan

CFO/Videographer

Its a sexy idea that makes business fun.

Branding is an ancient concept.

When you think about stories of business and politics in ancient times, you will inevitably come across stories of people who care about what other people think about them.

Its human nature to have an emotional response to what someone says about you.

You'd be lying if you said, "I don't care what people think".

And don't bring that Gary Vee ra-rah stuff around here.

He cares too. (It's just one of the many oxymoronic things he says)

But don't get it twisted. I'm a huge fan and follower. He just has his moments.

I digress...

Branding helps our mind simplify our emotions.

At our core, we make spit decisions to survive.

And we do this using confirmation bias.

Branding leverages this confirmation bias at a subconscious level.

Gucci.

Victoria's Secret.

Bed Bath and Beyond.

Target.

McDonald's.

Ruth Chris Steakhouse.

Without prompting you with pictures or statements you had an image pop into your head didn't you.

Now based on what you put in your mind via the internet, news, movies, television, church and conversations with friends and family, you developed how you feel about each of these things.

Your brain is incredible.

It takes millions and millions of data points and arrives at a decision.

A decision to live or to die.

(well that escalated quickly LOL)

That's as simple as things really are for humans.

Branding is literally everything.

But that's an overwhelming thought though.

Let's talk just about photography and you can help people do more living shall we? LOL!

Branding photography is how YOU can control confirmation bias of your business.

And CONTROL the subconscious feeling people have when they hear your name, the name of your business.

And of course, how they feel when they SEE YOU, or YOUR BUSINESS.

Notice I've been talking a lot about feelings....

Here's why....

The buyer in us is no more than 10 years old....

We're impulsive.

We want things just because.

We HAVE TO HAVE IT.

We don't need to understand it. We just want it and we don't know why!

When you have intention in your branding you get to tell everyone's 10 year old self that, "hey! this is cool! And you're not cool if you don't get this!"

You may not feel this way on the surface, but I can guarantee you that your subconscious self is feeling it.

If you want people to feel happy about your brand, show them happy pictures.

If you want people to feel empowered about your brand, show them empowerment.

That's a simple as it needs to be.

That's why with our photography, we always get to know what you do, what your business does and what message you want to communicate.

Because after you communicate that to us, we can effectively use our time together to create photography that creates a loyal, consistent, predictable customer base.

Wouldn't it be nice to continue moving forward with your business with people like us who use a marketing first approach to branding photography?

We know we'd love to work with you too!

Check out our pricing guide to learn more (CLICK HERE)

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.

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.