Priorities over preferences

During a recent strategy call, I chatted with a client who's a speaker with multiple facets to his business — workshops, virtual keynotes, one-on-one consultations, an online course, and a podcast.

The diversity of his activities meant a variety of lifestyle photos were essential, alongside the standard promotional headshots and portraits. As we strategically mapped out the photo session during the call, he expressed a desire to include some outdoor shots. "I just love the idea of being outside for some photos," he mentioned enthusiastically.

I enjoy capturing outdoor settings too, but I had to outline the logistics involved.

Shifting a photo session outdoors isn't just a quickie location change.

It involves packing up gear, finding the right spot with optimal lighting and minimal visual distractions, identifying the activity engaged while outdoors, and then, resettling indoors to continue with our planned shots.

This transition eats into our tightly scheduled session, potentially squeezing out more critical visual assets.

After considering the trade-offs, he decided the priority had to be on the lifestyle photos that more directly supported his business's varied aspects.

He chose to skip the outdoor adventure to ensure we could capture everything essential for his team to implement into his online presence.

This decision-making process highlights a fundamental principle in maximizing the value of branding photography: always choose priority over preference.

While it's fantastic to explore every creative avenue, the constraints of time and logistics often demand a focus on what delivers the most value.

In your branding sessions, how do you balance creative desires with practical limitations? What tough choices have you had to make to ensure the most impactful results?