3 Reasons to Book a Branding Photographer for Your Next Branding Photo Session
There’s More to Selecting a Photographer than Having a Camera
While it might seem like common sense, I find it’s extremely common for brands to hire any photographer to do their branding imagery. Don’t get me wrong — a wedding photographer can create beautiful branding imagery, but it’s important to think about a few key elements when booking a photographer for your branding session.
1. You Wouldn’t Hire a Vet to Take Out Your Appendix
While I’m sure a veterinarian could perform emergency surgery in a dire situation, it’s likely not your first pick (or theirs!). The same type of common sense can apply to photographers too.
Yes — I know this analogy might sound a little dramatic but it’s true!
When hiring a professional to perform any type of service, you want to make sure they can do the job backward, forward, and with their eyes closed! Your brand shouldn’t be the one they are building their portfolio with — your business is too valuable and too important for that.
To go a step further, I have a lot of experience in different types of photography, but I would never take a job in real estate photography. First, I’m not passionate about real estate photography and I believe that a lack of passion for the subject can come through in a photographer’s images. Second, I’m simply not very experienced in that style of photography. I could do some quick Googling beforehand, but the client will likely not be as happy with what I create as they would be the work of a specialized real estate photographer.
2. Your Confidence & Satisfaction
I’ve found that there are two important goals for every branding session. Of course, capturing great images is important, and they should blend with the brand’s aesthetic, but images, aside, there are two major goals for every session.
The client trusts me and feels comfortable with me (and my camera)
The client is happy with the final images
These are the two goals I have in mind from the first time I meet with a client.
When I booked my wedding photographer back in 2018, I instantly knew I wanted to hire her because we had an instant connection. We had a similar sense of humor, had similar interests, and she shared her experience and her journey as a photographer without me even asking. I knew she had worked her ass off to get her wedding photography business to that level and I knew she had those same 2 goals in mind.
Being on camera is always a little stressful. Regardless if the camera loves you, or you hate the camera, it can be a tricky relationship. It’s vital that you can at least feel comfortable with your photographer and trust that they know what looks good for you, your body type, and your brand.
Your photographer MUST take this extremely seriously. The rest of the details of the session are just that — details. You being vulnerable AND comfortable in front of the camera is the most important part!
(P.S. Hire Caitlin Mathis of Cait ‘N Her Camera if you’re getting married! She’s fantastic — but I may be partial 😜)
3. Specialized Workflow from Start to Finish
As a branding photographer, I have created a specialized workflow that I take every client project through to ensure I don’t miss any steps along the way.
Each step is important to the process so that I can learn what the client wants, the type of look and aesthetic they want, what they’re excited for and what stresses them out, and how I can support them from start to finish.
Having done this work for a while now, I can trust that important pieces won’t be forgotten because I can rely on the process I’ve created.
This means never meeting a client for the first time at a session to find out that they’re painfully camera-shy. With my process, I find out any fears during our planning session and help them to learn how I counter and subdue those fears.
Booking a seasoned branding photographer for your branding session means not having to deal with surprises on the big day!
THE CHOICE IS YOURS!
While these examples don’t apply to every photographer, it is important to consider them. I’m a branding photographer, but I’m also a pet portrait photographer because I’ve spent the time specializing and educating myself in both areas of photography.
When you begin the process of finding the perfect branding photographer for you, always ask to see the full gallery they created and delivered to the client. Sharing a handful of stellar photos is easy for any photographer — but showing an entire gallery of 40+ images that connect the person to the brand, the brand to its audience, all while connecting with the original brand aesthetic is more difficult and more important overall.
Whatever you do, do your research thoroughly before signing any contract!
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