Often times, I have people reach out asking for updated headshots and after we chat, they realize that brand photography is much needed in their business because, “It’s More Than Just a Headshot”!

Brand photography tells a story. It’s the story of your Personal Brand. As humans, we are drawn to stories. We all live out our own and we all connect with others through theirs. So let’s look at why “it’s more than just a headshot”…

As buyers, we buy to solve problems.

We need a new bathing suit for the summer…we go shopping…bleh for bad dressing room lights (have you ever purchased based on an instagram-friend’s recommendation…hello influencing and storytelling).

We get a new puppy and we need food and toys and ALL THE THINGS….hello chewy.com.

But there are several kinds of problems buyers are trying to solve.

You have external problems. All the things listed above are the external problems many of us are looking to solve. And you have internal problems. Internal problems are what actually motivate us to buy. They are the ones that address our feelings. And then you have philosophical problems, these are the ones that tap into why we choose one brand over another….it’s where we align with their morals, ethics, and standards…and personal brands. See where I’m going with this?

So let’s look at the top problems I listed above.

The bathing suit: I HATE to shop for bathing suits!!! The internal problem is that the thought of schlepping through department stores and even scrolling through websites and trying to find a needle in a haystack sounds like a nightmare! I’m not super happy with the way I look under the horrid dressing room lights… so when I saw an instagram influencer and her mom and sister all trying on the same bathing suits on her stories one day, I was curious. They all have different body types and she showed the way it fit on each of them, she showed the different colors and then had a coupon code. She helped me solve the external problem and the internal problem…and philosophically (because this brand is for women of all shapes and sizes…not just those who like to wear string bikinis). I feel that I know, like and trust this influencer and that if she’s authentic enough to be on instagram stories in her dang bathing suit to try to help me win in the bathing suit department…then she and the bathing suit company got my buying power. I was SOLD!

The dog food and toys: How many of us are so dang busy with life and kids and work? The thought of hauling a huge bag of dog food, plus all the other things needed monthly for our two boxers makes me literally sweat…we go through A LOT of dog food. But when chewy.com says they’ll deliver all the goods, including the huge bags of dog food to my front door and it can be set up on autoship so I’ll never forget to reorder on time AND at a discount…DONE! External and Internal problems solved.

Now how does this apply to our own personal brands?

Our personal brands go beyond just a few headshots. When building out your personal brand, you are sharing your authentic self and how you can help solve your ideal client’s external, internal, and even philosophical problems. Jessica Zweig who wrote the book Be. tells us that we have “ to show up consistently, constantly, and clearly” time and time again across your platforms. 

You may be thinking that sounds exhausting and too much of a time commitment. Guess what…it doesn’t have to be. Want the recipe for building out your personal brand in an easier way? Here ya go…

1- show up, show up, and then show up again. Share your life, your heart, your authentic self and your passion for what you do. Why? Because that’s what creates your personal brand.

2- have images on hand of you doing what you do. Brand photography solves this problem with a great photo shoot with a brand photographer who understands how to help you tell the story for your brand. These images become the bank from which you pull to create your blog posts, newsletters, marketing materials, social media, press releases, digital products, etc. Images are no longer the stumbling block to getting all the things done and out into the world!!!

3- talk about how you solve problems in your business. Speak to the external problems…the obvious ones that are surface level. Then speak to the internal problems….those that address how the solution to the problems make people FEEL. And then address a philosophical problem…which is the question of Why…why does this brand story matter in the bigger picture?

This is why “it’s more than just a headshot”….when I work with my brand photography clients, we look at all the storytelling parts of their businesses. We assess their content, look at where the stories need to be told and then we focus on creating the brand visuals so they can show up, show up, and show up. We make it easy for small business owners to share their story and build out their personal brand, which helps them make greater impacts in the world! It’s more than just a headshot!

You can check out how we’ve built out some amazing personal brands here: www.corryfrazierphotography.com/

Always here to help…and cheer you on!

Blessings,

Corry