Bored of seeing just A-NOTH-ER laptop branding shot on social media? Not this one! I LOVE my clients!
They are ALL significantly different; in personality, profession and location.
My brand photography clients, they are business coaches, sales trainers, law companies, online marketing consultants, wellbeing coaches, pharma-brands, stylists, trauma specialists and networking marketing experts. My clients share one common factor. They are usually solo traders and they are successful.
Predominantly my clients are female, but just occasionally I’ll be approached by a male business entreprenuer wanting to work with me. Men are catching up on the significance of using branding photos online. On using brand personality and emotional connection.
Because ALL my clients ARE so different, not one shoot idea or location is the same. It just wouldn't be relevant.
This is why I spend 4 hours researching before every shoot.
To KNOW their business.
Their TM and audience.
Their brand and personality.
In detail.
Caroline Edwards is no exception.
Caroline has extensive experience in Network Marketing.
She knows the pain points, the pit falls.
She knows why people quit.
And she knows WHY they stay and succeed.
Because she has.
Car to prove it. AND she's currently just returned from a holiday (awarded on performance) in Paphos, Cyprus. A top-achiever in her industry.
Caroline is a network marketing top 1% leader. AND... most importantly... she has an amazing new product that provides the tools to make clients stay in this difficult and competitive industry, in her industry! To hold your hand.. To motion clients through the pain points. From someone who knows.
So in May 2023, I drove through the gorgeous and leafy Fosse Way; golden fields drenched in sunshine to shoot her personal branding photography at home in Oxfordshire, in the heart of the Cotswolds.
Heard of 'semiotics'? It's the science of symbols in image making. It is widely studied and used in advertising and marketing (as I did). And it's widely used in advertising globally.
I use it in every shoot. In every set of branding images that I make for my clients.
So what do you SEE in this photo?
You see a woman seated in an expensive car with a laptop, yes?
And so, what do you assume on noting this?
You assume that the woman is wealthy (quality of the car). Coupled with a laptop (Laptop signifies 'business'). This is what we visually and subconsciously read when she writes about business, using this photo. Business (laptop) and a car (wealth) together, and so then we potentially assume she is a successful business leader. The car here establishes her worth and credibility in Network Marketing, it's a status symbol but accompanied with text, massively establishes her credibility. It suits her genre. Using ‘cars’ in photos suit businesses that promote any growth in money, sales and wealth management businesses. They are well known status symbols within this sector and our culture in general.
So WHY is Caroline sat in her car working on her laptop, in a country lane? ( Is what we might question)?
I always ask clients what their business LOOKs like? Walk me through a process in visuals. Caroline makes contacts and connections largely by being a fluid connector. She opens conversations everywhere, at the corner shop, in the supermarket, in a car parked by the road.
This is one of the strongest ways she makes connections by chatting literally anywhere and so we simply VISUALISE it! We create photos examples of where she may make contact with potential clients. Far more interesting than just seated at her desk with a laptop!
Her branding shots (photographs that visually describe her work) can be made locally in a number of locations. IF she's on a way to visit a client or in-between clients, she might potentially stop and work from anywhere. Like many of us! How many times have you pulled over to send an email, make a call, blogged from a phone?