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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

Friendly fire with a fellow photographer, :)

 

It’s an awesome opportunity collaborating with experts of all shapes and sizes…

 
NYC Branded Lifestyle Portrait Speaker Author Jeff Shaw Smiling to camera
 

…but I hold a special place in my heart for my fellow photographers, :)

 

When I first started out as a hobbyist photographer who shot anything that caught my eye, the last thing I wanted to do was share my photos with professionals.

I was intimidated and self-conscious that I wasn't good enough. I wasn't emotionally prepared to be told that my skills needed more seasoning. And God forbid a photographer asked me to take their photo!

For years, that was a nightmare scenario full of anxiety for me.

And then, one day, I decided to own who I am as a person and how I capture my clients, and all of the BS stories I used to tell myself went out the window.

The idea of collaborating with a fellow photographer is now a joy, not an immense burden.

Enter Jeff Shaw, :-)

I met him a couple years ago at a TEDx event I was covering in NYC: 

I made a comment to him about his fancy vest and shoes, and that began a conversation that hasn’t stopped since. 

Jeff has become a trusted advisor who not only understands why I do what I do behind the camera, but also has helped me shape the way that I communicate my value to speakers like him. 

That’s why I’ve been champing at the bit to get him in front of my camera for a while, :)

And recently, the opportunity finally presented itself. 

I flew down to Miami to capture a series of speakers and authors and, at the top of my list, was him. 

During our strategy call, he talked about his need to truly reflect where he is with his business and his life in his image content. The photos he was using felt old, outdated and out-of-place. 

He wanted images that screamed “Personal Brand Expert,” while also illustrating various confident and approachable aspects of his personality.

With respect to how he planned to leverage the photos, he wanted to update all of his speaker submission photos, refresh his website, and have a pile of other images he could use to visually punctuate the sentiments of the stories he shares through his social media posts. 

When I posted online about my Miami branded lifestyle portrait sessions, he commented on my post:

speaker

The house guest part is the icing on the cake, :) 

Curious to see the photos we created together?

I posted a gallery of some of the more delicious ones here.

Take a peek and let me know what you think of them in the comments section, :)

PS - If you found this article valuable, I invite you to join my email list so that you save yourself from commuting to my blog every time I post something new, :)