Northern VA Photographer | Branding & Portrait Art | VSD Photography

Tag: branding

  • Personal Branding Basics

    Personal Branding Basics

    Personal Branding Basics

    You’re a business person who wants more of your target audience to know, like, and trust you. How can personal branding help with that — and how much focus should you place on personal branding?

    Personal branding is more than posting your logo or graphics and talking about how great your business is or your products or service are. It dives into you as a person. It shows your audience a deeper level of you — your likes, even your dislikes, your habits, what drives you, etc.

    Woman exercises on exercise ball on a dock in front of a lake in the sun

    Personal branding is crucial for several reasons:

    Builds Trust and Credibility

    Personal branding allows you to showcase your expertise, experience, and values, which in turn builds trust and credibility among your audience. When people can relate to you as a person, they are more likely to trust your business and what you offer.

    Differentiation

    In today’s competitive marketplace, personal branding helps you stand out from the crowd. It allows you to highlight what makes you unique and differentiates you from others in your industry.

    Creates Emotional Connection

    Personal branding enables you to create a more personal and emotional connection with your audience. By sharing your story, values, and passions, you can resonate with people on a deeper level, fostering loyalty and advocacy.

    Increases Visibility And Opportunities

    A strong personal brand increases your visibility both online and offline. It opens up opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, speaking engagements, and media features, which can further elevate your reputation and reach.

    Long-Term Career Investment

    Personal branding is not just about the present; it’s an investment in your long-term career or business success. A well-crafted personal brand can continue to benefit you throughout your professional journey, even if you switch industries or ventures.

    Examples of various personal branding styles:

    Your personal branding should be tailored to align with your values, expertise, and aspirations. Expressing your values, etc through your personal brand will ultimately resonate with and attract your target audience. Here are some examples of impactful personal branding:

    1. Gary Vaynerchuk: Known for his no-nonsense approach to entrepreneurship and marketing, Gary Vaynerchuk has built a personal brand around authenticity, hustle, and social media expertise. He shares his insights through videos, podcasts, books, and speaking engagements, positioning himself as a thought leader in the business world.

    2. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah’s personal brand is synonymous with authenticity, empathy, and empowerment. Through her media empire, she has created a platform to inspire and uplift millions of people worldwide. Her personal brand extends beyond her television show to encompass various philanthropic endeavors and lifestyle products.

    3. Elon Musk: Elon Musk’s personal brand revolves around innovation, ambition, and disruption. As the CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and other ventures, he is known for his bold vision for the future and willingness to take risks. Musk’s personal brand is closely tied to his companies’ missions, making him a polarizing yet influential figure in the tech and automotive industries.

    4. Marie Forleo: Marie Forleo has built a personal brand centered on personal development, entrepreneurship, and female empowerment. Through her online platform, MarieTV, books, and coaching programs, she inspires and educates her audience to create a life and business they love.

    5. Richard Branson: Richard Branson’s personal brand embodies adventure, innovation, and rebellion. As the founder of the Virgin Group, he has leveraged his personality and lifestyle to promote his businesses and causes, from space tourism with Virgin Galactic to environmental sustainability initiatives.

    These examples demonstrate how wide and varied personal branding can and should be. Is it time to take a deeper dive into your personal brand and how you want to show up in the market? How can you change up your social media posts and other marketing to start including or showcasing your personal brand?

    I need to do a deeper dive into my personal brand

    Click the button above and we’ll schedule a time to talk more about how you see yourself and how you want to be seen by your current and future clients and business partners!

  • 5 Ways to Refresh Your Brand

    5 Ways to Refresh Your Brand

    5 Ways to Refresh your Brand

    woman leans forward towards you while sitting in a chair

    YOUR BRAND

    It is your voice without saying a word.

    It is the perception that others have about your business.

    It is your reputation.

    There are times in the life of your business when you feel like a rebrand or at least a refresh of your brand is necessary. We should be re-evaluating our brand message at least yearly. 

    That doesn’t necessarily mean making major changes each year, though. Small tweaks can be all that’s needed to better align with your business’ voice and vision.

     Here are 5 ways to bring new life into your brand.

    1. Consider using new avenues

    There’s a reason you’re wanting to refresh your brand. Are you wanting to reach a new audience, a different sector? You might need to speak to them differently than your original clientele. Do you need to start using more video content? Heaven forbid, but do you need to memorize tiktok dances in order to get in front of your ideal client? Is it time to start using text marketing? Using new avenues to reach your clients is a great way to grow your brand voice and stretch yourself in the process.

    2. Update your Website, LinkedIn, social media profiles

    I don’t just mean the posts you’re uploading. Each social media platform gives you the ability to build your profile. Perhaps your LinkedIn profile still mention that you’re with a former employer? Does your Instagram bio contain links to your other content? Do Facebook and Google have your most current work hours? Set a tasker at least twice a year to check yourself on all the platforms you’re using. This is an easy brand refres

    3. update your Elevator pitch

    Always be ready to talk about your business. If you’ve been using the same pitch for months on end, you may come across as stale or stagnant. Having a key phrase you always use, that people automatically know you by is great. But if they can recite your pitch verbatim,it might be time to shake things up a bit.

    4.update your visuals

    All of these avenues will most likely need to be updated with a refresh — or if you haven’t had them updated in several years.  This is where I come in! I can help you update your headshot, branding images, product photos, print and digital media, etc. Set up a consultation with me so we can discuss if new visuals are needed.

    5. update your logo, fonts, and colors

    This is the biggest and most drastic change. Updating these shouldn’t happen often, otherwise you risk confusing current and potential clients. Tread lightly here. I would recommend talking with a professional like Brand Mirror or C Liston Communications to make sure you’re on the right track with what you’re wanting to change. This tends to lead to more than a brand refresh but a brand rebirth.

    Let’s talk your brand refresh
  • Pets at Your Branding Session

    Pets at Your Branding Session

    8 tips for adding your pet to your branding photos

    woman sits with her dog in front of a couch

    Adding your best friend to your branding images can say so much about your personal story or your business’s. Staci here wanted her dog in a couple of her images because her business is called Black Dog Financial. And these images help tell her brand’s story perfectly.

    Here are 8 tips to know before bringing your pet to your session.

    1. get permission

    We need to have approval from the session location. It’s important that your photographer knows you want to include your pet so we can plan our shot list and so that we can get permission from anyone involved.

    2. groom your pet

    Make sure your pet is clean and neat. Schedule any grooming a couple days before the session.

    3. Consider accessories

    Would Fido look cute in a bowtie (see above, YES!)? Is he used to wearing one? Consider accessories your pet is comfortable in. You don’t want the day of your session to be the first time you’re trying out something new for him to wear. If you go with accessories, make sure they’re on brand.

    4. Have a handler

    Your photographer needs you to be focused on the camera. Your photographer needs to be focused on taking the shots. A handler who knows your pet and help keep him or her comfortable is great to get and keep your pet’s attention and to help keep your pet in line at the location.

    5. bring treats

    Today’s the day to reward your pet for any and all cooperation!

    6. Bring Fido for only part of the session

    Your pet doesn’t need to be at your session for the whole time. It can get pretty boring for them, or it could be pretty stressful. Minimizing their time at the session is key to their comfort. We’ll plan out the shot list to know if he should be there at the beginning, in the middle, or near the end. This is also where the handler is so important!

    7. Your pet might be freaked out

    Your pet probably isn’t used to seeing someone standing in front of them with a big black box (camera) covering up their face, staring at them, talking to their human, lights potentially flashing, etc. This can be stressful and scary to them. Realize that this is most likely the first time you’re asking them to do this. They don’t know what’s going on. Have patience and a soothing voice.

    8. Have patience

    Again, have patience. If you’ve been to any amusement park with an animal show, you’ve heard the animal handlers say that they don’t force their performers to do anything. They guide the animals and if the animals want to participate that day, then they do. If not, they don’t. If we aren’t able to get the shots you were imagining it’s ok. We can either try again another day or at another location, or you can rethink having your pet be a part of your brand imaging. Most likely we’ll get the perfect image!

    Let’s talk about pets, baby
  • Different Headshot styles

    Different Headshot styles

    Different Headshot Styles

    three different headshot styles

    Having a current headshot is vital to maintaining your image and your brand. You need to look like you to increase your know, like, and trust factor.

    That means several different things when it comes to headshots:

    1 – You want to have a current image of yourself. I think we all prefer how we looked when we were younger, slimmer, not as grey, etc. But your clients are doing business with CURRENT YOU. Not the you of yester-year.

    2 – The style of your headshot also makes a difference. Look at the three images above. The image on the left is a more traditional headshot. It’s great for executives in corporate positions or for people in more traditional or conservative industries (banking, law, etc).

    The image in the middle is a little more relaxed but still presents a more tailored impression. She could be in a career any number of businesses.

    The image on the right is every bit as professional but has a casual vibe. This style of headshot is great for those in more artistic fields or where you are encouraged to allow your personality to be part of your business or brand.

    When it’s time to update your headshot, take a minute to consider your profession, your brand voice, and your personality. I can help you pinpoint exactly the style you’ll need to put your best face forward.

     

    Let’s chat about headshots