It's okay to fake it sometimes...
Being authentic isn’t just about capturing moments as they unfold naturally.
Sometimes, it's about contriving authenticity - a concept that's not about deception, but about recreating true-life moments in a controlled setting.
This notion is a vital strategy for experts who aim to share their true essence and connect deeply with their audience through photos.
Contrived authenticity is the art of staging scenarios that may not spontaneously occur but are true to who you are and how you serve others. It’s about setting a scene that brings out aspects of your personality or showcases your work in a light that feels both real and relatable.
For speakers, coaches, and consultants, whose opportunities to capture genuine moments of interaction or inspiration might be limited, this approach is invaluable.
It allows for the meticulous crafting of an image portfolio that doesn’t just represent you, it resonates with your audience on a personal level.
In a landscape saturated with content, standing out requires more than just showing up. It demands showing up in a way that captures the essence of your personality and the heart of your work.
Contrived authenticity, then, becomes a powerful tool in the visual storyteller's arsenal, providing a lens through which your audience can see the real you, even if the activity captured is fake.
When embarking on a branding shoot or creating visual content, consider the elements of your work or life you wish to highlight.
Are you a coach who thrives on 1:1 interactions? Stage a consultation scene.
Train in boardrooms using whiteboards? Fake that scenario.
A speaker who energizes crowds? Recreate that moment of connection.
Ensure that the body language is genuine. Do not pose - allow the photographer to optimize your natural positioning within that given scenario, from the way you present to how you sit in a chair.
In the end, contrived authenticity is about presenting yourself genuinely in order to create connection with those you serve.
Through thoughtful staging and a commitment to being genuine, you can create visual narratives that not only tell your story but also invite others to see themselves within it.