Anita called me towards the end of 2019 when her career had come to a crossroad. She was unsure what her next step was and as a way of preparing for 2020, she made the decision to have a Personal Branding Session to create fresh, current images that could be used for a range of purposes including LinkedIn and also her CV photo.
We spoke at length about what message she wanted her Personal Branding images to portray and how important the photos were in expressing her beliefs and values. Top on the list was that the photos needed to show connection and a feeling of being personable.
A wide range of images were taken over a period of a couple of hours. Some were full length classic portraits while others were relaxed and fun ‘doing’ shots. By choosing a location with a variety of different yet complimentary looking backgrounds, we were able to produce a cohesive collection of images that worked well with Anita’s branding ethic.
If you’ve ever wondered how many images you might receive from having a Personal Branding Session done then the answer isn’t the same for everyone. There are so many things to consider including the how long you want your session to go for, how many locations you’re after, if you need to travel to those locations or if they’re nearby and so much more. To give you an idea though, Anita’s Personal Branding Session lasted just under 2 hours. She had several different locations but they were all walking distance from each other so we simply went for a walk and discovered them together. She did have a change in clothing too.
Enjoy this slideshow which features all of the images taken during Anita’s Personal Branding Session.
Here are some of my favourite photos from Anita’s session.
I chatted to Anita and asked her thoughts on the Personal Branding experience. Here’s what she had to say –
1. Did you have any hesitations about working with me? If so, what were they?
I had some hesitations about the process and working with ANY photographer! After returning to career post-children, I found myself at a crossroad and was contemplating venturing out on my own after working in big corporates for almost 20 years. The importance of all the ‘socials’ meant that I simply needed to get in front of a camera (as confronting as that was) and have some images that reflected who I am now.
2. What did you like best about working with me?
You took a less than comfortable subject (me) and found those little moments and expressions that showcased my personality. I liked that you encouraged me to take the time and think about what I wanted from the personal branding session well in advance and had good advice to get me prepared. On the day, you really put me at ease and so that didn’t make the shoot feel awkward or forced and by the end of the time we spent together, I felt like we knew each other really well!
3. Would you recommend my services? If so, why and to whom?
I would absolutely recommend you. You’re so personable and patient yet professional and your style of working together with you throughout the process gets a great result. We had a really lovely rapport from the beginning and you listened to all of my concerns and ideas. I think that is really important when you are doing something like this.
4. Is there anything you’d like to see me do differently? If so, what?
If anything, there are things I would do differently. It would have been good to have a ‘bag carrier’ on the day as we tested out quite a number of locations. I was quite hot and trying to look unwrinkled was a little challenging. Maybe a glass of wine before we got started might have loosened me up a bit faster!!!
5. What is something people should know about working with me?
You are very relaxed which definitely rubs off.
6. What made you choose to work with me instead of another photographer?
Having seen you photograph my children who at the time, were jumping around everywhere and the results you were able to create with them, gave me confidence that despite my hesitation about the process, you would be able to get a good result with me. We are now booked in for a family session and I can’t wait to see what you’ll be able to do with my husband who barely cracks a smile in any photo!
7. How have you used the images that you chose from your Personal Branding Session?
I’ve used them a lot. The pandemic has meant that we need to rely on channels other than face-to-face in the employment market. I have changed roles since the personal branding session and was able to set up my LinkedIn profile and application to include some of the photos to showcase not just who I am, but what a ‘day-in-the-life-of’ might look like with me. Having done most of the interviewing process over the phone, it was really helpful to have the visuals to match. It completed the story!
Also, I know my mother is going to love these. She has plenty of photos of her grandkids on top of the family piano but not many of her own children as adults.
8. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you Leanne. I’m still not a natural and it’s highly likely that I never will be, but now I have seen what is possible when you work with the right person. It was a great experience.