Apr
13
A few months ago Brenda of Annie Ruffles Vintage Creations asked me to create some new business headshots for her. During her pre-session appointment we chatted about personal brands, her band values & brand personality and decided to shoot at a location that reflected her brand personality, classical, vintage, designer, relaxed… We also talked about wardrobe, creating a Pinterest board to attach ideas to and Brenda even snapped and sent some of her chosen items before the shoot.
On the day of the shoot, Brenda had her hair & makeup done at our studio by Marian of Wedding Heaven. Marian listened to Brenda’s ideas as well as bringing her expertise. An hour and half of pampering and chatting we were ready to head to our stunning location… No 1 Pery Square.
We had pre-ordered the delicious afternoon tea to mirror the her brand with it being served on vintage tableware. We both found it nearly impossible not to eat the “props”… nearly!
During the shoot we chatted about business, family, tea, cake… not only helping Brenda to relax but also to get to know her more. We got through a series of images quiet quickly and when we finished shooting, we devoured the afternoon tea. Yum!
The results were just perfect, a series of images that reflected Brenda’s brand that will serve her and her business well. Click here to check out some more of Brenda’s images from her shoot.
Dec
29
A New Year is all about redefining you, not reinventing. Are you looking for a promotion, a new job or to market your business to a wider audience? If so you need to think about the image you put forward. Think of yourself as a brand, how do people feel when they hear your name? Do they know who you are and what you do?
Follow these steps to help you build your personal brand:
What do you stand for?
Are you funny, trustworthy, creative, an expert in your field? What are your passions? What makes you you? What ever you stand for you need to define it and communicate it. Make a list of “key words” that describes you, what you are about and then use these to help you be more strategic in your communication.
Your Domain
Using your own name is important to build your personal brand, therefore branding your business with your name is recommended. Try and secure your domain name for your website or even a blog and make sure you use it across all social media platforms.
Your Personal Style
Create a style that makes you stand out from the crowd or create a signature look that communicates your “key words”, e.g. are you a creative designer or a confident business woman. Make sure you wear your signature look at meetings and in your business profile. If you are unsure where to start, I would recommend finding a wardrobe consultant that specialises in working with executives. Check out Gaye Moore on Twitter
Personal Brand Kit
Your personal brand toolkit consists of many elements, make sure they represent you & communicate your personal brand key words effectively.
- business cards
- websites/blogs
- social media profiles
- professional headshots
- email addresses
Communicate your Personal Brand
Now you have created a personal brand it’s time to communicate it to your audience. Be active online, create original content, join a network group, speak at public events and ask for introductions.
Best of luck with redefining your brand in 2016, if you need any help please feel free to contact me 🙂
Eva
#personalbrand2016
Oct
09
I have been shooting a lot of headshots recently for various business people & artists. Normally i get a call by someone needing a portrait quickly, something has cropped up and they need one asap. But i utterly recommend not leaving it until the last minute, go look at your profile today and make the decision does this image represent you, your business or the potential job you want.
Yesterday I was photographing Bobby O Connor, Chief Executive of Unijobs, and we discussed the importance of having a good headshot, not just for the self employed but also those who are looking for work. Here is what he told me:
The importance of a clear and professional image on social media sites such as Linked-in is not to be underestimated , particularly in the world of recruitment. Recruiters all too often make snap judgements on candidates with the old saying that a picture tells a thousand words coming into play more often that one might expect. Research has evidenced that society buys from the people it ‘likes’, hires the people we ‘like’, trusts the people we ‘like’ and in general makes the ‘like’ decision within seconds of seeing/meeting someone. Getting your picture right to present yourself in the most appropriate manner is critical to achieving that first impression. I personally was extremely pleased with my 30 minutes with Eva Birdthistle Photography – it was simple and quick and the pictures she produced were excellent.
Get in touch as soon as you can to make sure you get the images the best represent you.
Eva
