4 reasons why you badly need a personal brand.

Personal Branding is crucially important when it comes to business. It is not limited with that though. Have you ever thought about building a personal brand that tells the story of who you are?

Personal Branding is something that everyone has. It is what people think about you when you are there + when you are not there. 

The ruthless reality is that if you don’t take control of it and not create your own brand, someone else will do it for you. They will do it based on WHATEVER information they can collect and glean about you from your friends, colleagues, social media and web search. 

Taking control of your personal brand puts you in charge of the narrative and allows you to present yourself and showcase your work in the best possible light in an over-saturated marketplace or crowd. 

— ONE — 

HELPS BETTER REPRESENTATION 

Bezos: “Your personal brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.” 

I formulate it this way:
Personal Brand = What people think when they see you + after they saw you + the image that comes to their mind when they think about you. 

Now let’s stop for a few seconds and think about that social image that you have.
It can be LinkedIn, instagram or Facebook. It can also be a published paper, a blog or a website. Does that image represent you well enough? Is that how you want people remember you? 

Especially with the working from home period due to pandemic and the fact that many companies will invest less in office expenses and encourage people to work from home, the social image is becoming more and more important how people perceive you. How they perceive you affects how people view and respond to you. 

Personal Branding takes work and time, but it is a great way to help you stand out from the crowd. Personal Branding Photography is an effective way to create one or a set of images to represent you and / or your business. 

— TWO — 

HELPS HIGHLIGHTING YOUR WHY 

Let’s formulate the Why. 
WHY = SET of beliefs + values + passion that drives you to do what you do. 

How I support with Personal Branding Photography

The first step of personal branding is defining your values and how you show it. I support by performing as a mirror to help defining what they are for you. Take it as a coaching, or a friendly chat. I will listen to what you want to achieve and come with ideas how you can achieve it. 

Yesterday, I received a message from Olga, a client of mine to whom I am helping for creating personal branding albums for marketing and social media. She says: “...they are exactly what I wanted to have, but could never explain to any photographer.” This is exactly what I aim to hear. 

With a well planned Personal Branding Photography you can manage your overall visual impression in every possible platform. 

— THREE —

HELPS REACHING YOUR GOAL. FASTER! 

Different people have different goals and aspirations in their own occupation. 

To name a few goals that you may have: 

• Create a more positive and more welcoming image to have a positive impression and bring in more clients = profit.

  A good domestic example I can think of is Kifli.hu
  Here is one of the images that they use. (In their website though, they are using stock photos for people which I don’t think a great idea. )

  What are a few things you feel when you look at this photo? What catches my eye first; they are in green t-shirt so they are natural and healthy, they carry a paper bag so they are a sustainable option. They are happy and positive so that is a good place to work at. They have earphones so they have a seamless communication. The logo is also in the photo so they showcase the brand. I find this a very strong image:

Source: kifli.hu

Here is a photo that I took for Andi Fabian for social network branding for her hair saloon. I focused on what she wants her audience to perceive her. My main plan for her was to show her as;

1. Professional - we did the session in her workplace where she feels the most comfortable and therefore look the most professional
2. Reliable - the way I asked her to do is to show her face without any hesitation, wear a white shirt to gain trust from the first time you look at the photo and smile only gently. The whole session I kept talking to her to ensure we are following our plan to create the impression she wants to create.
3. Talented. We made sure to add, but not focus on, her work items, the chair where she does hair design, the mirrors, some of her products and magazines that she is inspired from. Also crossed arms show self-confidence due to talent that she knows she has.
4. Leader: She is the centre of this vertical photo where she is the only focus. Also the editing helped her remain the only highlighted subject of the photo. Also the general tones of editing are calm, comforting and easy to the eye.

It is not me deciding how she should look though. I only suggest details as outfits, location, lights and the body language. So how do we decide on the concept?

The answer is communication, and consultation meeting …
What Andi said to me when we had the consultation conversation:

“I don't like unprofessionalism or incompetence, whoever it is. If someone can’t do it professionally, they’d better not even do it”

“‘Finally a place where my hair gets real care!’ This is what we aim to hear from our clients”

Andi Fabian, hair stylist and tutor. InPlace Hair Saloon, Budapest, Pacsirtamező u. 20, 1036

— FOUR — 

HELPS BUILDING A CAREER  

Another goal that I am asked to help achieve is of course photos for professionals in corporate and / or multinational companies.

Here is how you can benefit from Personal Branding Photography as a career beginner, manager, senior manager or a leader: 

1. Have a first class headshot!

People make impressions with eyes. 

It may sound like a contradicting statement but your photo at your resume will make the first impression. Professional leaders don’t decide based on that (mostly...) but it still matters a lot. This doesn’t mean you need to look super fancy or fabulous but the PHOTO itself should be sharp, well-lit, with a good impression and feeling. 

What you want it to come out as is your decision. Some people would like to look strict and serious (maybe that is what the position requires you to be so) and some people want to look friendly, approachable, smart...

It is vital to know because everyone needs a unique style of photos and light setup! 

Think about your photo, what is the impression you would like to create? 


2. Have a banner

Have a what?? What is that... 

A banner is a horizontal image that you can use for organisational announcements, blog posts, publications etc. These photos are usually taken with a negative space that can be filled with a message or header. 

Olga, https://guideinbudapest.info/

It becomes very trendy in social media, LinkedIn and internal communication within your organisation. 

What is more effective? A text? Or a text with a picture of you included? Which one is more personal? Which one is more attaching? We agree which one, I believe...

Overall, your images in many social platforms that people glean and the photos you use in your professional career will create your personal brand. All your colleagues and customers (the entire audience) will have their first, hence the strongest impression with these images. 

If you want to make 2021 the year you master your personal brand, contact me!