BLOG.jpg

John DeMato Blog

Welcome to the Deliver Magic blog, where experts who speak, coach, train, consult, and write books will find actionable insights to elevate their personal brands through visual storytelling. From strategy tips and branding photography to live event coverage and storytelling techniques, discover step-by-step guides designed to help you align what you say with how you show up in photos. Get ready to unlock the magic behind creating a cohesive visual identity that drives engagement, builds credibility, and inspires your audience. #DeliverMagic

Back in the saddle again, :)

 

A camera, subject and location to shoot?

 
 

Ah - to be back in the saddle again, :)

 

One of my favorite songs as a kid was “Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone” by Cinderella - a hair metal, power ballad classic for those of you scoring at home.

Yeah, I loved all that shit and am not ashamed to admit it, :) 

Despite the tight leather pants and the massive amount of product in the band member hair, that song still resonates with me today. 

This pandemic has thrown a massive monkey wrench into all of our years, to say the least. 

It’s prevented me from doing the thing I love to do most in this world - take pictures of people in the same room. 

And I miss it so much. 

While I’m grateful for those with whom I’ve worked through the years, that sentiment has shot through the roof to unimaginable heights during a time where collaborating with people in person has proved difficult, if not impossible. 

I now have a deeper sense of appreciation for everyone that sets foot in front of my camera. 

I’m sure many of you can relate to this feeling.

That’s why I was doing cartwheels - um socially distanced cart wheels, of course - the other day when I got a call to conduct a branded lifestyle portrait session.

It had been over 4 months since I conducted an in-person session. It had also been over 4 months since I hopped in a cab and been in Manhattan, too. 

So it was a magical day on many accounts, :)

And who better to get back in the saddle with than Deb?

She is a magical human being who speaks on inclusion, diversity, leadership - you know, important stuff!

She needed image content for a website overhaul and needed them quickly. 

Yay - a project!

After a lengthy strategy call several days before, we put together a shot list of photos that accounted for all the specific images needed to complete the project. 

And from there, we made some magic, :)

Although I felt a little rusty, a little out of practice, and wore a mask throughout an entire session, it still felt like home. 

Deb now has the image assets her website team needs to completely renovate her site, as well as a library of photos she can use to promote her services throughout social media, and the rest of her online touch points.

After reviewing the selected photos, Deb commented that she had never had photos like these before. She couldn’t stop talking about how expressive, dynamic and beautiful the photos felt to her. 

She was already talking about the next round of photos she wanted to capture in a couple months. Needless to say, that inspired a warm and fuzzy feeling inside me. 

Working with someone like her reminded me what I’ve got with the community I serve, because it was gone...and I will never take them for granted, :) 

What about you?

How do you feel when you look at your image content? Do they feel expressive, dynamic and beautiful? Do they position you as the authority in your space of expertise?

If not, then let’s have a chat and see how I can help.