3 Differences Between Brand & Portrait Photography
I launched Uncommon Collaborative way back in 2019 when brand photography wasn't a common practice for businesses yet. To be honest, I had a really hard time explaining exactly what brand photography was and what made it different from product and portrait photography.
The concept of pulling back the curtain of your business and highlighting all the little details that make it unique and extra special for consumers just wasn't a thing then! Even though 2019 was pre-pandemic and seems like ages ago, but Games of Thrones series finale happened in 2019… and that seems like yesterday!
Flash forward 3 years and brand photography is a standard expectation for businesses. Websites, social media, and email newsletters need to be visually branded to create a feeling, not just highlight something to buy.
Photography needs are different for every brand. Personal brands tend to rely more heavily on portraits for their posts, but those images don't often cut through the noise (and uber short attention spans) they way other brand imagery can. Portrait photography is still important for product brands and service providers, but showcasing their customer and client experience is far more impactful overall.
The differences between the two are found in the stories they tell and how they make your audience feel.
Whether you realize it or not, you’ll get more than just your photos after your brand session!
Keep reading to learn what!
Portraits show the Who
Portraits highlight you. It gives people a crystal clear picture of who is the person behind the brand.
On-brand portraits are vital to building trust with your audience. They remind people of the real people their dollars are supporting when buying from you.
Brand photography show the Who, What, Where, & How
Brand photography takes it a step further to showcase the who AND all of the other pieces that make your brand unique.
This is how you can quickly and effectively share what you do, where you do it, how you do it, and build trust with your audience faster!
Consider how these pieces impact your consumer in the end and why seeing these parts of your brand is important.
When starting a project with a client, this is something we dive into during our strategy phase!
Not sure which makes the most sense for your brand right now?
It depends on a few things.
As a service provider, you've likely had to justify your prices at least once since you've been in business.
If you're in need of some photos to immediately build trust, opt for portraits! Put yourself in front of your consumers’ eyes through confident and welcoming portraits to jumpstart your know, like, and trust factor.
How will you know when it's time to take it a step further and write the whole visual novel? Here are a few milestones that are a great time to book a brand photo session:
Launching a new service
Prepping a promotion
Opening a physical location
Rebranding / new website
Leveling up your brand visually as your brand grows!
Inspired?
Contact us to starting planning your Client Experience brand photography session!
