Obviously if you are investing in personal branding photos, you understand that it they are an important part of your branding identity. So it’s important to get all elements of your photos right. After all, this is an opportunity to showcase who you are and what makes you special. And what makes you the person your clients want to do business with.

Which means that your personal branding shoot should be unique, just as you are. And a part of this uniqueness is the location where your personal branding photos are held. As a personal branding photographer it’s amazing to be able to offer my clients the option of having their shoot at my studio. After all, sometimes people are not in a position to have a photoshoot at their house or offices. Or perhaps they do not feel comfortable in a shared workspace.

But when we do hold it in my studio we take care to ensure it reflects the client’s personality. And we do this by having a pre-shoot Zoom consultation about their style, their look, and what they hope to achieve with their shoot. We chat about their personality, their brand icons, their brand colours etc. And I encourage them to bring items with them to use as props so that their photos reflect their vibe. I deliberately have a very neutral studio space so we can ‘dress’ it to reflect the client. For It is very important that their brand images do not look ‘off the shelf’. That they do not look like other people’s branding images. Or else what is the point?

And while I do host personal branding photo shoots in my West London studio, I usually arrange them on location in the client’s house or offices. That’s because generally the personality of the home usually reflects that of the client. As does their office which of course, also projects a more professional image if that is what is required. And sometimes we hire a space that reflect where the client wants to be (a bit like the maxim to ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have’. I have even held entire personal branding shoots outdoors. Sometimes there is no product to showcase and it’s about capturing an image symbolic of the client’s skills. For example, oak trees serve to symbolise wisdom. Natural beauty symbolises abundance, and so on.

This is meant to be their story. And it shouldn’t look like anyone else’s. (It’s the same with websites, which all too often feel like they are all from a template (especially, it seems, with women-led small creative businesses).

Whatever the location you use for your photos, make sure it reflects you and your brand, Avoid dissonance between the look of your location and what you wish to present to the world, and your message will be so much stronger.

if you are ready to work with a personal branding photographer, I would love to help! You can email me on serena@serenabolton.com, ring me on 07958511819 or click to book a Zoom or telephone conversation.

“Photography through the lens of a storyteller”

LONDON PERSONAL BRANDING AND HEADSHOT PHOTOGRAPHER