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Cooking up a successful brand image with Tyler Kinnett | Boston Photographer

A young (super) successful chef with passion, kindness and humility needs some great photos to up the ante with his brand image.

Tyler was clear in the direction he wanted to go - away from wholesome and typical, and more toward gritty, edgy, Anthony Bourdaine. He wanted to show that he was more than a restaurant chef, he encompassed the total package and had big plans to expand his career.

After learning that sourcing his food is one of his top priorities, I knew we had to make that a highlight of our shoot. Tyler focuses on using ingredients that are not only unexpected, (like pine in sauces and desserts… see above photo), but locally sourced and seasonal as often as possible.

He has a great relationship with one of his suppliers, Allendale Farms, which was clear from the way they greeted each other when we arrived to shoot there. Tyler takes the time to chat with lead farmer, Kate, and she goes through their current and upcoming seasonal crops with him.

It’s always great going into a shoot with someone who is so passionate about what they do, it makes it easy to create beautiful, genuine images for them.

The Top 3 Things Holding You Back from Your Brand Photos and How to Fix Them | Boston Photographer

Feeling hesitant on planning your own personal brand photo session? You are not alone! But rest assured, as I walk you through three of the most common things holding people back from taking brand photos, and how to fix them. 

1. I don’t like the way I look.

Leave that to us! 

First I will  provide you with a posing and style guide. If you want to take your style to the next level, I can recommend one of the wardrobe stylists I love. Working with professional hair and makeup is also a key factor in amping up your look. It’s important to work with someone who can give you an everyday look - if you don’t wear an updo and smokey eye as part of your everyday look, let’s keep it real. Great HMU artists know how to give you the gorge look that’s still YOU.

We created a PDF guide with the absolute best wardrobe advice everyone needs before going into a photo shoot: Download it here

2. I don’t know how I would use these images.

Social media, blogs, website landing pages, about pages, process pages, email campaigns, printed marketing materials, press releases, etc, etc, etc.

Did you know that images on social media posts receive 120-180% more engagement and visibility? Powerful images provide a quick and clear message to your clients (esp for those who scroll right on past text). With the images from your brand shoot, you can create a visual library for fresh social media and marketing content.

3. I’m not ready.

When is anyone 100% ready?

Anything new can be intimidating, but you gotta start somewhere. We will start off with a brainstorm session, which will allow me to get to know you and your brand better. From our discussion, I can create the perfect shot list for your business. This is a great opportunity for you too to discover what you value in your business and want to highlight. I guarantee once we start, you won’t be able to wait to do it again! 

Captivating images are what make you stand out to your potential clients. They give your audience the chance to see what it’s like to work with you. All personal brand sessions are 100% customized to you, and conveying your brand story.

“Working with Emily was incredible! Not only did she know how to work with my brand board, but also went out of her way to create her studio with my brand colors & specific plants to extenuate the look and feel of my brand. She was professional, extremely accommodating, friendly and more importantly.. AMAZING at what she does! I have the most gorgeous photos for my web site…”
— Gwen K, Homeopath

Personal Brand Sessions, What The Heck Are They?

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What IS a Personal Brand session? Personal brand sessions start with a consultation to get to know your brand story. Sessions usually include headshots, lifestyle images to capture you in action, as well as details that cater to your specific business. Because the session is so customized to suit your brand, the types of images we create will vary from one business to another... which is totally the fun part!! We are telling YOUR unique story

Who is it for? Short answer - anyone who is representing their brand. Small business owners, solo and entrepreneurs, creative professionals, public figures, coaches, teachers, the list could go on and on...
 

Why do I need it? 🤔Strong images give your brand a personality, they show people who you are as a business and what it’s like to work with you. We live in a visual world, and if people can’t see you, they don’t know if they can trust you. I know it’s not easy being in front of the camera, but if you are the face of your brand, YOU need to be involved in the story!
 
What can I expect? You can expect a personalized, customized experience, that clearly communicates your brand story. We start with a questionnaire and consultation to get to know your brand, this is your chance to throw out any ideas, requests, must haves, or definitely-nots. I love the brainstorming process and once we know where we are going, we can start looking at location and wardrobe options. Hair and makeup is always recommended and helps you look and feel your best in front of the camera. It’s always my goal to make you feel comfortable throughout the shoot so we can capture your true personality and of course THIS WILL BE FUN!!

What can I do with my images? This list could be 10 pages long but let’s stick with the basics for now. 

  1. Social media in all its glorious forms! Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In. Social media posts that include an image receive 120-180% more visibility and engagement.

  2. Your website - Blogs, home page, about me, landing pages, sales pages, contact, etc.⠀

  3. Marketing pieces - Business cards, brochures, mailers, or other printed marketing materials.⠀

  4. Press releases, speaking engagements, email signature, anywhere you have the opportunity to show people what it would be like to work with you⠀

I bet you can think of at least 10 more that apply to your specific business. I’d love to know what you can come up with for your business!

What types of images do we create? I know you don’t want 30 versions of a formal headshot... BORING! Of course this varies with every brand, but I love to mix in some lifestyle and “working” photos so that people can truly visualize what it’s like to work with, and just be around you. If you offer products, we’ll get some really great product shots. If you have your own workspace, I love to shoot there and incorporate the vibe of your space

Once I’ve experienced and loved everything about our photoshoot, when can we do it again? YES I hope that’s what everyone says, but honestly, our need for content these days can be overwhelming and it can be so hard to keep up with. Again, everyone has different needs, but we can come up with a plan to shoot weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly to keep your content fresh and consistent!