Brand Spotlight: Creative Personal Branding with Coastal Artist Nikki Storer | Boston Brand Photographer

We love working with fellow creatives!!! When Massachusetts coastal (and featured Serena and Lily) artist Nikki Storer came to us looking for brand photos, of course we were excited to work with her. But it only got better from there.

Arriving at her home studio in Cohasset we were welcomed into her beautiful space, decked out from wall to wall with her incredible art pieces. A true creative, Nikki shared with us that she had designed her home herself, and after the shoot, it was evident that her personality and style really shone through in her efforts.

Now if Nikki was anything, she was prepared. A creative at heart, but an organized, goal-oriented businesswoman by choice, her studio had been temporarily turned into a gallery-style backdrop. Her workspace was ready for us to get in there and construct artsy flat lays, and her wardrobe options were almost too good to choose from. Because of her fun and colorful brand vibe, we got to be really creative with her shot list and test different things outside the realm of the typical headshot.

Now you might think throwing your paint brushes in the air would be easy, but capturing the perfect shot takes the perfect toss and Nikki NAILED it. Bringing her shot list to life was so much fun, from her beautiful and sometimes candid portraits to watching her work and teaching us about her process.

To capture some of the true day-to-day behind-the-scenes we even brought in her dog for a few shots. Her sweet fur baby was a great sport and even put up with us getting him in on the painting process (no pups were harmed in the creative brainstorm). Including little glimpses into your life is such a cool part of a personal branding photoshoot, especially when it involves our four-legged friends.

It’s always an awesome experience to shoot with someone so passionate about what they’re doing, it shines through the camera and makes it easy to shoot the most beautiful and genuine images.

7 Tips for What to wear to your Brand Photoshoot

When scheduling a Personal Brand Session, clients always ask, “What should I wear?” I’d like to share my top 7 tips for what to wear to your brand photoshoot! Before we get to the details, my best advice is to work with a wardrobe stylist, especially if you are doing an Essential or All Inclusive Personal Brand Session.

A good stylist will take into consideration what will be most flattering on you and relevant to the overall vibe we are going for in our session. If you love styling yourself and you know you got this, GO FOR IT! You know yourself and your brand best! Whether or not you decide to work with a stylist, here are some items to consider when choosing outfits for your Brand Photoshoot.

1. What do you Want to Convey?

Is your brand upscale luxury? Or, down to earth and casual? Your wardrobe should 100% reflect the messaging you want to put out there.

2. Variety

We all need some variety in our lives, and our photos are no different! You don’t want to have 20 photos of you in the same outfit scattered across your social media. Instead, consider all the different hats you wear.

You dress one way when you’re working at home (although maybe we can go a step up from the sweats and unwashed hair here). I'm going to bet you dress another way when you’re meeting with clients, doing a speaking engagement, or shipping out products. Your looks can be multi-dimensional and still cohesive.

3. Survey your Wardrobe

Go through your wardrobe with a fresh set of eyes before our shoot in order to determine what you already have and what you need.

• What are your absolute favorite go-to pieces?

• What do you love about them?

• Do any of them fit into your brand?

If yes, great! Use these items as a starting point. Now, think about what you need to complete each outfit - a statement necklace or earrings, a floral skirt for twirling, a ripped pair of jeans, or a cute hat, there are a million ways to refresh a wardrobe staple for our shoot.

4. Give Yourself Time

Choose your outfits and accessories ahead of time. You want to give yourself PLENTY of time to order, try on, and return if necessary.

5. Choose Colors Wisely

Keep your brand aesthetic at the forefront of your mind. Now, I’m not saying that if your brand colors are navy and gold, you should come to your brand session dressed head-to-toe in navy and gold. (please don't do that!) But the colors you choose should complement your brand aesthetic. You can accomplish this in a variety of ways like throwing on some gold bangles to complete your look, or draping a navy blazer on the back of your desk chair.

Bottom line:

If your website and insta feed are all neutral, soft tones, we should not be focusing on a rainbow palette for your wardrobe. That being said, don’t be afraid to strategically throw in a pop of color to grab attention when appropriate.

6. Ask for Feedback

Try outfits on, take photos, & send them to your photographer. This is a collaboration, so if you’re on the fence about what is appropriate for your brand photos, ask for feedback!

I LOVE helping clients curate their wardrobe for a brand photo shoot.

7. Fit + Comfort is Priority

Above all, we want you in well-fitting clothes. If something is uncomfortable, too big, or too tight, it will likely translate in the photos. When you feel and look your best, you radiate confidence!

I’ll say this one last time for those in the back:

Try it on BEFORE your shoot

Bonus Tip

While I highly recommend working with professional hair and makeup for your session, keep in mind that whichever option you choose, it is most important to remember that we are almost always going for an everyday look. If you’re done up with smokey eyes everyday when meeting with clients, then girl, Rock it! But we want your clients to see YOU in your photos, not a done-up, unrecognizable version of you. You’ll be at your best in front of the camera when you look and feel like yourself.

I hope you found these 7 Tips for What to Wear to Your Brand Photoshoot helpful! If you are interested in learning more about Emily O’Brien Personal Brand Photography, or want to schedule your Personal Brand session, contact me here. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Emily O’Brien Photography is a Boston based Photography Studio specializing in Personal Brand and Family Photography.

Five Must-Have Photos From Your Brand Session

The Headshot

This is the baseline for the face of the company. It’s a must have, and it doesn’t have to be boring! Modern headshots are full of life, personality, and do not have to be stiff or boring.

Working photos

Where and how do you work? At a home office? Spread out on your living room floor? In a coworking space? These are your essential newsletter and social media photos… especially perfect for social media stories. People can’t get enough good BTS shots.

Deliverables

Are you product or service based? Either way, you have deliverables. If you’re a products based biz, that’s easy. We need some GORG product shots. If you are service based, it may seem harder to think of what to shoot, but there’s lots of options (here’s where I come in with our brainstorm questionnaire once we book). If you’re a stylist, what will your clients look and feel like when you’re done with them? A luxury concierge service can show what your clients gain from hiring you - more time with their family? Being able to relax and put their feet up while letting someone else do the work? Motivational speaker? How about some audience reaction shots, how do you make them FEEL when you speak?

Process

What is working with you like? Do you work side by side with clients? Do you work with them virtually? Do you have a shop where you create things? Let your client imagine what it’s like to work with you through photos.

YOU

Home life, hobbies, personality, etc. This is your “know, like, and trust” shot. People want to see you, in your natural setting. What are you like outside of work? Are you a dog lover? Do you have kids? Show your client how they can relate to you

These shots are the perfect starting point for your brand session, but what I love about working with all types of businesses is that every biz is different, which is why we start with our “Brand Brainstorm Sesh” questionnaire and then customize our shoot to your brand specifically.

Click here for more info on brand sessions

Click here for full brand photo gallery

Personal Brand Sessions, What The Heck Are They?

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!

Personal_Brand_Photography from Emily O'Brien on Vimeo.

Boston Portrait Photographer | Special Beach Session on Plum Island

It is really special when the younger sibling of a previous client comes to us for their senior portrait. This was the case for Vanessa! We got to shoot with her older sister Alicia two years ago. Now it is Vanessa’s turn to graduate high school and we were so excited to continue this tradition. We photographed Alicia in our historic Lawrence mill buildings, so for Vanessa we decided to mix it up and have her portraits taken at the Plum Island/Newburyport marshes and beaches.

After a short hunt for flowers, we found some purple and yellow ones that matched perfectly with the cool blues in her outfits and her amazingly long blonde hair. Vanessa has some serious hair goals! She worked her tresses perfectly in the wind.

Halfway through the photoshoot, the sun popped out from behind some clouds and made a dazzling sunset. The soft, peach hues reflected beautifully on the pools of water in the marsh, so it was only fitting in such a dreamy landscape for Vanessa to give her dress a twirl.

Finally, we made it to the beach, and we have to say, Vanessa chose the perfect outfit for the setting. All the colors in the background were incorporated in her romper. Vanessa was not afraid of getting a little sandy for her “finale photo” , and as you can see it was totally worth it!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Victoria and family in the city

Victoria is another one of our Class of 2018 Senior Reps! We were so excited to shoot with her and her family, mostly because we already knew how much fun they were. We photographed her older brother Chris last year in the same location. We always encourage our high school seniors to bring siblings, friends, or Mom on their sessions. Victoria’s senior session was a little different because we also were having a family session with her family at the beginning!

She got to have Mom, Dad, and Chris cracking jokes and making her smile while she posed for her solo shots later on in the shoot. We met the Cataldo family at Boston Common and started with some group shots on the benches to get everyone relaxed. There were lots of laughter and inside jokes being thrown around between the two siblings, which of course made Mom and Dad laugh too.

As we made our way out of the park, and into Back Bay, we stopped to use some of the city's’ unique architecture as our backdrop; the mall, the brownstones, the wrought-iron fences.

As the shoot turned into Victoria’s senior shoot, we started to focus more on Victoria’s passion - dance. We are convinced that one day we will see her as the prima ballerina in one of the world’s most prestigious dance companies.

Boy does she have skill and drive! We don’t normally show our clients photos during the shoot, but for Victoria, it was important to see her form and how it photographed. And the results are stunning!

We ended the shoot on the Charles right as the sun was about to touch the water. People passing by were convinced we were shooting a movie or advertisement, and that Victoria was a celebrity. We can see how they thought so!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Newborn Twins in Back Bay

In their cozy of Back Bay home, we met Shannon, her husband Daryl, and their newborn twins for a truly special photoshoot. The twins had come earlier than planned, and were just 5 lbs each. But as the saying goes, good things come in small packages. We started out the photoshoot in the twins’ nursery that was designed by Shannon.

With a palette of creams, gold, silver, and rose gold, as well as stars and furs scattered throughout the room, the nursery was the embodiment of Shannon’s vision for the photoshoot. The twins were just beginning to nod off as we swaddled the two of them in soft pink and blue wraps.

As we started the shoot, Oscar the cat slunk his way into the room. He sat patiently and watched us as we worked, keeping a watchful eye over his new roommates. Halfway though, Grandma popped in to see how her new grandchildren were doing, and found them fast asleep comfy in the fabric and fur that was their background.

After finishing in the nursery, Shannon, Daryl, the twins, and even Oscar joined us in Mom and Dad’s room. The family piled onto the bed and snuggled close, again surrounded in the pinks and creams that Shannon so thoughtfully decorated with.

The results reflect the warmth and love found in their home. Congratulations Shannon and Daryl on your growing family!

Boston Family Portrait Photographer | All the way from Japan

There is something magical for a little girl about a big tulle skirt. Mom and Dad surprised their two daughters with fluffy cream colored dresses at our shoot at the Lyman Estate in Waltham. Hana was so excited by her puffball of a dress that before we even started the photoshoot she was twirling and laughing with delight in the parking lot.

And of course, Hana outfit's was not complete without a flower crown! Kana is a bit too little for a flower crown, but one day soon, she'll rock one like her big sister. This was a special photoshoot for Mom, Dad, and their little ones, as they will be wrapping up their time in the United States and will soon be going back to Japan.

And we had the perfect day to celebrate their time here with crisp blue skies and bright fall leaves to play in. One of my favorite shots is of the whole family sitting together on the porch. Hana was being silly and was swinging around the columns, until she'd run towards Mom and Dad and give them a big bear hug. Kana was cozy with Mom watching all of this ensue until she turned to the camera right at the perfect moment!

We are so glad we could capture these fall memories for them to look back on their time in Boston. I wouldn't be opposed to heading out to Japan for their next shoot though!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Joelle's Gorgeous Beachy Sunrise Session

Rise and shine Joelle! Joelle's original senior photoshoot had been postponed due to rain, so we got up bright and early to be up at the Newburyport Plum Island beaches in time for the beautiful morning sunlight. Not only did she get up early, she was able to do so without coffee - something we cannot do on a normal day. And boy did she rock her photoshoot!

It was a little brisk and windy, the perfect weather for the slouchy sweaters she chose for some of her looks. When a gust would hit her sleek long hair just right, the results were gorgeous.

We're always interested in what our clients are passionate about. Joelle participates in dance and swimming and it was important for her to represent them in her photos. For dance, she grabbed an old pair of pointe shoes and held them while leaning against a wall.

It was simple yet elegant and the results are one of our favorite shots of the day. For swimming, this team captain wanted to show off her jacket. Her mom could not wait to see the album that she was going to order because when her daughter is away at college next year, she'll have this day to look back on. 

Printed products are SO important to us, and it was clear that they were equally as important to Joelle's mom. She decided to go with the signature album in color, and because she loves black and white so much, a black and white image box. It's not common to go with black and white for this product, but I am in love with how her album AND image box came out!

Boston Portrait Photographer | MadDi's Sister and Dance Session was one of our Favorites!

My Senior Rep Maddi chose to have her senior portraits in one of my favorite places to shoot, the Lawrence Mill buildings. I always tell my clients to bring best friends or siblings to their photoshoot because those closest to us often bring out the most genuine smiles! Maddi had her two fabulous younger sisters and Mom come along.

Between inside jokes and silly faces there were plenty of smiles and laughter going around. All three sisters dance at Nancy Chippendales and you can tell, they have perfect posture. I found it so funny that I kept on telling Maddi to relax into her pose and slouch which is the opposite of what dancers are supposed to be told.

After basking in the sun where Maddi and her sisters were literally glowing with their genuine smiles, we made the trek across the street to the Mill buildings and Maddi got into her dance shoes.

I was amazed by how giggly Maddi transformed into this regal ballet dancer, as she leapt and danced across the room. Something as simple as putting on pointe shoes, or going on elevé is completely transformed when Maddie does it and made for some of my favorite shots. I can see why she plans on studying dance after Senior year! 

Boston Portrait Photographer | Pretty Newburyport Beach Session

Who doesn’t love some Lilly in their wardrobe? Jen’s senior portraits were inspired by her style! The chic beachy vibe from her Lilly Pulitzer wardrobe matched perfectly with the Newburyport beaches and marshes, so we headed up there one beautifully sunny afternoon.

With beachy waves in her hair, we explored the marshes. Her bright pinks totally popped against the warm greens and yellows of nature! The wind was a little tricky at times, but we always tell our clients that it is worth the struggle. As you can see, Jen totally worked it.

After a quick outfit change, we made it to the beach. The sun was setting, and Jen was just walking around holding her shoes in her hand. Sometimes the best poses come from clients not posing at all! We had Jen toss some sand around to get a genuine laugh from her and the results are one of our favorite shots from the shoot.

It seems like our finale shot when we’re up in Newburyport always involves the client getting their feet wet in some way. For Jen, we had her swishing away in the wet sand and playing with her hair. A perfect end to a perfect shoot!

Boston Family Portrait Photographer | Rogers Family at Smolak Farms

Here's a big welcome to the Rogers Family! Lisa had won a gift certificate that we had donated to Temple Emmanuel's annual fundraiser. Her extended family came together at Smolak Farms in North Andover to have a photoshoot with 3 generations of family members. We settled down in the antique apple orchard.

Lisa's family went first and her three boys and husband all snuggled in together. To get a good laugh out of the boys, we started making noises which no child under the age of 8 can resist. 

It was then their cousin's Emmett's turn with his Dad. He loves giving bear hugs especially to Dad. We soon rounded up all four boys for a cousin's picture. Brody, Lisa's youngest, is very serious for such a young age, but one thing that enthralls us all, including Brody, is our iPhones.

We got quite a few variations of Lisa's husband jumping out from behind an apple tree to grab the phone out of the shot so Brody would give us a smile, and the results were hilarious. The boys were excited at the prospect of picking apples and each found their favorite. (Notice the adult male legs sticking out from behind one of the apple trees.

Each chose a different one, finding big, small, green, and red apples. They showed us their finds for some pictures with their grandparents. However, it was too tempting to just hold their apples, and one by one each took a big bite out of their find.

By the end of the session, we always like to let the kids run around a burn off some steam. Giggles ensued as we chased them (or I should say they chased us!). 

Boston Family Photographer | Chicago Family Visits the East Coast to Create Lasting Memories

One of our favorite places to photograph is the Boston Public Library courtyard. It is a hidden gem in Back Bay, and we had a blast photographing the Tashima Family there. They were all visiting from Chicago and Ohio, and we are so happy they picked Boston for their family photos. They were on a New England vacation together, and Boston was a stop on their way to Bar Harbor, Maine.

No one was safe from these cuties tickles and laughter!

We like to play a game called, “What’s your favorite animal?” which always entails silly animal noises. The kids’ favorite animals were zebras and penguins, leading to neighs, squawking, and chirping. The jury is still out on what a penguin sounds like.

We took a short walk down the street to some of our favorite brownstones and the fun did not stop. From Copley Square to Beacon Street the kids were giggling and smiling the whole way.

Mom and Dad got cozy under a tree and the kids snuggled in. We love capturing these special moments a family has together!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Senior Rep Caroline

Meet Caroline, another one of our Class of 2017 Senior Reps! For Caroline’s portraits, we decided to head up to downtown Newburyport and the Plum Island beaches. Caroline’s style matches perfectly with the location: chic florals, flowy blues, and pearls. Caroline is super silly and loves to dance so she worked it with her poses. Even in between shots we caught her tapping away in her heels and laughing at herself.

One of the shots that Caroline ended up loving the most was of her and her mother. So sweet. The two of them are adorable together, and could not help but laugh and make faces at each other.

The tides happened to be high when we arrived at the beaches which made for this amazing photo of Caroline. The dramatic backdrop lends perfectly for highlighting Caroline and her fierceness; work it girl!

Caroline rocked her senior photoshoot, and we know she’ll do just as awesome this coming year because she is definitely a leader, dancing to the beat of her own drum. We love you Caroline!

Boston Portrait Photographer | Senior Rep Alena

Say hello to our Senior Rep Alena! Alena loves playing sports outdoors, so it is only fitting that we incorporated florals, nature, and exposed stone in her portraits. Alena brought her bright smile right on set and worked it throughout the whole photoshoot.

She was not afraid of being a little silly and twirling in her dress for the camera. After all, fields are the perfect place to twirl. We loved her serious looks too, the girl can rock a smize! (for those who don’t know, smize = smiling with the eyes)

We had so much fun exploring the area around the studio; the field and the mill buildings all lent fantastic textures and colors that complimented Alena’s outfits perfectly.

We have also photographed Alena's sister Clara, Class of 2017 senior, and her entire family, whom I have come to know and adore. I can see where Alena gets her big heart from, her family consists of some of the most kind people I know, nothing but love for each other and positivity to spread to the rest of the world.

Good luck Alena with Senior Year, we know you’ll have a fabulous time. Your big heart and ability to spread joy will serve you well in life :)

Boston Portrait Photographer | 5 Tips for a Better Senior Portrait Session

Senior girls, this one’s for you! I know you are excited to book your senior portrait session, and you want everything to be perfect. Planning for a successful session starts with our consultation. The reason for this is to talk about your style, and ultimately what you want your session to look like. Here are my top 5 tips for having the perfect senior portrait experience.

1.     Bring your ideas to the table. If you want to incorporate your favorite activity, or something cool you saw on Pinterest, let me know! You never know what’s possible until we brainstorm. There are so many ways to incorporate your ideas into our photoshoot, don’t knock it until we talk it through. Themes can be a great way to make your shoot original, and sometimes renting a few props can make all the difference.

2.     Plan your outfit head to toe. Think about every aspect of your outfit – shoes and accessories play a big roll in tying the look together. If you know me already, you probably know how much I love to accessorize (when in doubt, add a hat!), and I can’t stress enough how important the styling is to finishing the look. I always encourage people to bring outfits to our initial consultation, since the clothing can inspire our location, and vice versa.

3.     Location. If you have seen my work, you know location is important. I LOVE location scouting, and I am always searching for interesting places to give my seniors a special experience. I am always open to your input and suggestions, but please keep in mind that I try to stay away from more mainstream places that are overused as a backdrop. Again, the more insight you give me as to what you want, the better your experience will be.

4.     Preparation. It sounds like we are pretty well prepared with our styling and location so far, but the best thing you can do is to finish preparing for your session the 24 hours leading up to it. HYDRATE the day before, if your skin is dehydrated, the camera will show it. Do your nails the day before, or at the very least, remove any old, chipped polish. If you are having your hair and makeup professionally done, make sure to show up with clean, dry hair, and a clean, makeup-free face. If you want your hair and makeup done a certain way, be prepared with a Pinterest board or visuals to show your hair and makeup artist to make sure you get the look you want.

5.     Have fun!!! I know this sounds incredibly cliché, and pretty obvious, but if you take no other advice I offer, please take this. The best sessions are the ones where we can laugh together, be silly, and let our creativity fly. If there’s something you want to try, speak up! My favorite photos (and usually yours too), are the ones that let your personality shine. So please, if all else fails, don’t take yourself too seriously, enjoy the experience, and trust me to capture the best of you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I always love to hear what you think, so please leave a comment below or reach out to me with questions or comments!