Finding a Twin Cities Branding Photographer that is Right for You
This Minneapolis branding photo shoot incorporated all of the elements that were important to this woman small business owner from the Twin Cities. I worked collaboratively with Sierra Creative to bring her story to life. Check out her website!
Finding the Right Photographer is Key to Bringing Your Brand to Life
If you are a creative small business what makes your business unique or special? Who you are, your story, your passion, your style, and your personal journey are key ingredients in establishing success. How you portray all of your amazing and unique characteristics through your brand is essential to attracting your ideal clients. If you are going through the creative brand strategy and design process you may feel overwhelmed with simply thinking about who you are, what is your style, what is your message, who is your ideal client, and a million other details! Working with the right creative team who understands you and your vision will help make this process not only productive, but dare-I-say fun!
In addition to working with an incredible designer, choosing the right photographer is key to bringing the story of your brand to life! Authentic branding photography will help you stand out because the resulting images will be a true reflection of your style, interests, passion, and vision - all things which are powerful in connecting you with your niche.
But with so many photographers out there, how do you choose the one who’s perfect for your branding needs?
Here are some good questions to ask yourself;
What type of images do I like? What kind of vibe do I want to be reflected in my images? What feelings do I want to convey?
What colors, tones, and textures do I like?
Who is my target audience?
How do I want people to feel when they see my brand photos?
When you can identify these details, it will be easy to find a photographer who can bring your story to life. Remember, your images are storytellers and they should work for you! The goal is to create a diverse pool of content that “speaks” for you whether in your marketing materials, on social media, or your website.
Look for a Photographer Who Goes Beyond Taking Pictures But is a Storyteller
Every photographer is different and the best services will be provided by a photographer who specializes in a particular niche. Some specialize in weddings, others in family photography, others in senior portraits. A Branding Photographer may have experience in being one of these types of photography, however, they also have the gift of storytelling through their images! Their images should go beyond just basic headshots or stock images to those which are unique to each individual they serve.
Consider Their Style and Aesthetic
Each photographer has a unique style. Some may have a more editorial, polished look, while others may be more artistic, emotive, and creative. Your branding photos should align with the aesthetic, style, tone, colors, and story that you are trying to sell.
Browse through their website, read their about page, and take note of the overall mood and feel of their images. Does it match the tone you want for your brand? Ask yourself, does their style match your brand, your style, and your personality? Their work should reflect images that not only look beautiful but also resonate with the audience you’re trying to reach.
Some Key Things to Consider in Your Photographer:
Location: do they only shoot in one location or are some of their images on-site where their clients work, live, or love to be?
Quality and style: do they shoot in an artistic way, or in simple clean images? Does their style bring to life a mood, feeling, or style that reflects their client?
Attention to detail: do they include flatlays which capture details of their client’s work or interest.
What type of content creation do they offer? Photos only or video as well?
Do their images show their client in action doing the things they love? Do their images show a variety of compositions which play a role in telling that story?
Do they hold similar values to you and your business?
Let’s Talk Location and Storytelling
Where you tell your story combined with objects, colors and details that you love are crucial for telling your story visually. Sometimes, using more than one location and more than one shoot is necessary to bring the pieces of your story together. One location will reflect your lifestyle, home, hobbies and interests - all things YOU! Another shoot may be about how you incorporate these elements of who you are into your business setting. Are there colors, books, objects - such as plants or flowers or antiques - that inspire you or reflect your style - they should be reflected in your brand. Are there client interactions you want to convey? They should be a part of telling your brand’s story. Is there a special story that inspires you, that should be brought to life. A good branding photographer will work with you in order to determine what these details are and offer you location ideas where you can bring them to life.
When choosing your location, there are also technical things to consider. Beautiful images depend on good light and intentional color and texture choices. Without good light, your images will look flat, dull, and unprofessional. When thinking about your photography shoot, your photographer should consider the light! Does the location have windows providing soft, natural light? Do the colors and vibe of the location allow you to achieve the style that best reflects your brand? In some scenarios, your location may require bringing in artificial lighting sources for some situations and making sure your photographer is comfortable and confident with that is key.
A Good Brand Photographer is a Partner in the Design Process
A successful branding session requires collaboration, and a good photographer should be a partner in the creative process. This means they should communicate both with you and your brand strategy and web designer so that they have a clear understanding of what the design goals are. As a branding photographer based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, I recently had the honor of working with an incredible web designer and brand strategist Sierra Creative. Sierra is a world traveler who runs a successful web design and branding strategy business while on the go. She serves clients from around the world with expertise (both in design and marketing), beautiful creativity, and a sense of empathy that truly identifies with her clients’ stories and helps them feel confident in bringing them to life. How does she describe the importance of branding? Like this! Building a brand strategy is like “digging deep into why you exist, what makes you different, and what you want it to be known for. It’s the heart, mind, and soul of your brand—and it guides your every decision.” Sierra understands the importance of offering her clients an incredible “Design Dream Team!” This includes a team that offers you expertise in design, web development, brand strategy, and branding photography! She has developed the Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Branding Shoot to help clients feel confident, excited, and prepared as they embark on their own branding experience!
So, what steps can you take in finding a good branding photographer? A successful branding session requires collaboration, and a good photographer should be a partner in the creative process. This means they should communicate both with you and your brand strategy and web designer so that they have a clear understanding of what the design goals are.
While a photographer’s portfolio is important, their reputation and experience are equally crucial.
Read reviews: Look for testimonials from past clients. Were they satisfied with the results? Was the photographer easy to work with?
Do they work with web designers? Have they worked with a team of designers before? Are they in tune with the design process?
Inquire about their work strategy: An experienced photographer should have a clear process for collaboration, from pre-session planning to the final delivery of images.
Editing Style, Do You the Share the Same Vibe?
Once the session is over, the photographer’s job isn’t done, in fact, it has just begun! The editing process plays a huge role in the final look of your images. A good branding photographer will have a clear post-production process which includes editing and delivery. Pay attention to how their editing style is conveyed through their images. Are they artistic in their style, or simple and true to life? What style best matches your vision? How will they deliver your photos? Do they offer an online gallery? How many images will it contain? How long will you have access to your gallery? Is there a deadline for completing your downloading? Will the images be full resolution which is good for print or web-size only?
An In-Person Meeting or Zoom Consultation are Key
When it all comes down to it, good communication is key! An in-person or zoom meeting with your photographer prior to your session is important so that you can ask all of your questions and establish a rapport with your photographer. This is not only helpful for understanding your vision, but allows you both to get to know each other. This will make you comfortable come session day and will help you relax when in front of the camera. During this meeting, tap into how they communicate with you. Are they responsive, friendly, and interested in your vision? Do they ask thoughtful questions about your brand and your goals for the session? A photographer who makes you feel relaxed and confident will capture your best self.
Relax and Enjoy the Process!
In addition to good rapport and communication prior to your shoot, a good photographer should help you relax and be yourself on session day! I always tell my clients what to expect. We are only anxious when we lack information or do not know what to expect. We open the session with conversation, maybe have some coffee or tea, and then chat about the plan for the shoot. This allows your client to feel like a part of the creative process while also preparing them mentally for what happens next. My sessions are very conversational. We talk and then shoot, then talk some more, then direction may be given as a part of that conversation - all the while the client is relaxed and sometimes doesn’t even realize that they are in the midst of the shoot! When we are finished, it is always my goal for a client to say, “that was so much fun!
Your photo shoot is a special event for you and your business. It is meant to be a blessing to you and to bring your passions to life for others to see! Don’t approach your session day with stress, but view it as a day to feel special and even pampered! If available, select a photographer who works with hair and make-up stylists or visit your trusted stylist the day of your session. Have music as a part of your session to help you relax or bring a friend or even a pet along to be a part of your session! Your session is about you! People or pets that are important to you can be a valuable part of bringing your story to life in your images.
As creatives, our stories are important and valuable. They are part of what inspires of to do what we do. Sharing these stories is key to being able to connect with clients who will be blessed by our work. Your branding photography is a crucial element in helping you build and maintain these connections through telling the story of who you are!
