When you first start out as an entrepreneur it can be really overwhelming. There’s so much you need to do to be able to successfully launch. And being able to start on the right footing will enable you make and build decisions around your brand that keep your brand message clear and prevent you from overspending in areas that don’t require it.

There are 3 key investment areas that I believe all entrepreneurs should make when it comes to their personal brand, whether that’s starting up a brand or rebranding. These are the areas that should be focussed on.

Website

A good, clear website speaks volumes for your personal brand. If you aren’t tech savvy this is an area you may want to outsource. But with programmes such as Wix or Squarespace, it’s never been easier to create and develop a website on your own. This website is a Squarespace website and having used a variety of platforms over the years I have to say Squarespace is particularly user friendly. It’s just a matter of selecting a website template and then putting in your own images and copy to make it personal.

Logo

Your logo needs to help you stand out. It’s design is symbolic of what your provide and aesthetically it gives out a clear, concise message. There are cheap logo designers online, or logo programmes that churn out affordable logos. But this is an area you’ll want to invest in I believe, I’ve done it both ways and from experience hiring a designer is going to provide you with a bespoke logo.

Personal brand photography

The photos you show of your brand will be what brings your brand to life. It shows what you do, how you do it and the expertise and professionalism you have. You want your clients to meet the best version of you. A great brand photographer will help to create pictures that speak to your clients and build that trust with them. Your photographs will be used in all areas of your marketing, so you have to love the images of yourself so you can confidently put yourself out there in the various ways- on blog posts, in social media, on your website, on your business cards, on your LinkedIn profile etc.

There 3 areas will help to bring your brand message to your clients and achieve higher sales in your business. Investing in a great website, a bespoke logo and brand photography will always be worth it.

Branding is a word that’s thrown about a lot when it comes to establishing your business or brand. It goes far beyond the website design or the customised logo. Branding is all about the story of your brand and how you communicate that with your clients. In essence it’s what makes your business unique by conveying your skills and expertise in the field you work in in a variety of ways- photography is of course one of those areas and I wanted to talk to you today to be able to tell you how photography can be one of the most powerful elements of branding.

It helps to connect with your current and potential clients

A photograph allows consumers to connect with you on a level far beyond just a name or a faceless website. Brand photography shows clients who you are and that you’re trustworthy, because having your face out there shows a confidence in your product or service. It’s a fact that people are much more likely to buy something from someone they feel a connection with. And branding can help you to create that connection because photography gives them an insight into you.

It tells your story

With so many businesses now online, being able to stand out makes a difference. Studies have shown that opinions and judgements are formed in mere seconds of someone clicking onto your website. With that in mind you have limited time to tell your story to capture your potential clients interest. Visuals are the most eye grabbing when it comes to making that first impression. Great personal brand images tell your story and reveal your uniqueness within the market place, and that will increase conversion rates.

Pictures connect faster than words

Good copy is essential at being able to communicate with your clients but it’s the pictures that’ll grab them first and make them interested. For example, when you choose a hotel or a spa to book, the first thing you do is look at the images and see if the place aligns with your expectations over what you want. And then you go on to read the copy to see if what you visually like matches up with what is written. It’s the pictures that connect first and foremost with potential clients. Once you’ve visually pulled them in you then have your opportunity to tell them why you are the correct choice. But to do that you need to connect fast.

Wherever you are on your journey of being a business owner, having branding images will elevate you. and give you the power to be where you want to be. They help to communicate your story and to build trust in a fast, effective way. Brand photography is building a connection with clients on a deeper level and that’s why personal branding photogrpahy is so important.

Are you ready to create your personal brand story? Let’s get you started with a personal consultation.

If you’re looking for a photographer for your small wedding, click here.

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days in your life time and photographs are imperative to have as a long lasting legacy of such an important moment. For some couples the wedding day is where they want to capture all those memories, and for other couples having the chance to get back into their wedding outfits and have some special portraits done together without the stress of taking time away from friends and family is their preferred choice. It’s more intimate and calming and the pictures are perfect for framed wall art.

So I was thrilled to have the chance to take some special portraits for Tyrone and his bride Viwe, images that can be shared with Viwe’s family back home in South Africa who were unable to fly over to the UK but were able to watch the ceremony online.

While I love the trend for documentary wedding photography- and actually it’s my preferred option too for a wedding day, there’s nothing quite like having special portraits done to elevate the occasion and to have something that lasts longer and is more impactful from such a great occasion.

Today I wanted to share with you an article written by Most Curious- The Wedding Show for the Style Savvy Couple where I go in depth on the the Hold Still wedding picture that was selected as part of a nationwide hunt to become a digital exhibition, in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery that was spearheaded by the Duchess of Cambridge.

I discuss the micro wedding we had and the regrets I have over it. I really wasn’t present on the day, I can’t even remember the meal we ate or whether I enjoyed it or not. Emotionally it was a very difficult day for me where I just rushed my way through it. I also discuss the plans for our wedding in Crete and how the picture that was chosen as part of the exhibition came into existence.

Hope you enjoy the article and the pictures which are from our actual wedding day too.

My portrait “Lockdown Wedding” not only made it into the Historic England archives, but it was also selected as one of 100 portraits out of 31,000 to represent the UK during lockdown. Spearheaded by the Duchess of Cambridge, I think this is one of the biggest accolade’s to have come out of Lockdown for me and it certainly gave me the much needed boost to fulfil my dreams of becoming a portrait photographer.

A panel of judges including the Director of the National Portrait Gallery and the Duchess of Cambridge, selected the final 100 portraits which were also shown to Her Majesty The Queen, and went on to make up a digital portrait exhibition for The National Portrait Gallery.

In collaboration with Co-op, there has also been a community exhibition. The images have been displayed around the United Kingdom on posters and billboards up and down the country, including the hometowns of where the images were taken. My image has been displayed in Camden, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, London Waterloo and of course Bishop’s Stortford! A physical digital exhibition also took place in the grounds of the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

A poster has kindly been created for me which I will be framing and hanging up with pride in the studio!

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As a portrait photographer I’m constantly learning and refining the way that I work. I spend a lot of time educating myself to provide my clients with the most exceptional portraits of themselves and their family members. Which is why I often submit images that I have taken into international competitions so I can get feedback on what I’m creating.

This year I have been so pleased to have been awarded four bronze awards from The Portrait Masters which is judged by internationally acclaimed photographers and educators.

I’m very much looking forward to submitting more images and continuing to learn from the very best in the portrait world and working towards my accreditation.

During Lockdown, Historic England asked people to submit images that represented their experience. I submitted an image that I felt represented many people during this period- those that had to miss out on their weddings altogether.

While there are still restrictions in place on weddings currently, back in March the official Lockdown meant all planned weddings were cancelled. That included our own plans to get married in Crete.

The picture I took was taken on the day we would have been getting married. Although we were confined to our home, we celebrated in the best way we could. We got out of our pyjamas, we dressed up for the occasion and we drunk champagne while enjoying the beautiful heatwave that the UK was experiencing. In fact on the day, the weather in the UK was warmer than it would have been in Crete!

This was the first time the public had been called upon since World War II to submit photographs to represent a certain time period and it was a proud moment to know that my image was one of the 100 public submissions that made it into the archives at Historic England out of 3000.

The image made it into a lot of British media as well and it was lovely to see the picture being enjoyed by so many.

Pregnancy is one of the most special and unique moments in a woman’s life. Having a maternity photoshoot helps to celebrate the miraculous life inside of you and the excitement and joy that your future is about to embark upon- whether it’s your first child or your fourth… each pregnancy and each child is unique and that should be celebrated!

Although pregnancy certainly feels like it lasts a lifetime, it’s such a small amount of time in a woman’s life that it’s important to set aside time for a maternity session if you want to have pictures to look back on and share with your child as he or she grows. There’s something quite magical about being able to show your child that moment from before they were born.

I would suggest a maternity photoshoot happens between 28-34 weeks as you’ll be at your most comfortable but also with a lovely round tummy to proudly show off. That doesn’t mean we can’t work around that time frame, in fact the pictures from the beautiful maternity session I’m sharing today were taken at 40 weeks where the beautiful mum-to-be was simply waiting for her little girl to arrive. Luckily we managed to squeeze in the shoot because a few days later Emma and Ali had their gorgeous daughter.

For me these are heirloom images that can be treasured. Beautiful pieces of art that can be hung on the walls and gold framed.

If you’d like to experience a luxurious day wearing our in house maternity gowns and having your hair and make up professionally done just contact me and we can discuss your vision to celebrate this momentous occasion.