Identify the nuances...
When creating a shot list with your portrait photographer…
…identify the nuances that make you uniquely you.
Recently, I had a chance to work with one of my favorite human beings on the planet.
Mike Roderick is not only one of the most generous and kind individuals I’ve ever come across, he’s also been a game-changing advisor for my photography business.
As a result, I take care of him when he needs help…
And that’s exactly what happened.
Since he was gearing up to create a brand new website, it was time to give his image portfolio a major refresh.
So we strategized and put together a shot list of images that he could use for the new site, his speaker sheet, podcast and other media opportunities, as well as create unique thumbnails for his daily blog.
Now, many of the photos that ended up on the shot list are common amongst many experts who end up in front of my camera:
Headshot
Wider portraits looking into the camera
Working on laptop
Facilitating workshop/writing on whiteboard
Presenting virtually, etc.
But, everybody brings their own flavor to the table when creating these visual assets.
And that’s what helps create a more honest and genuine representation of the expert’s brand, personality, business and day-to-day lifestyle.
And these nuances are reflected in various ways.
For example, when I asked Mike, “How do you brainstorm your ideas for your daily blog?” He responded, “I know this might sound weird, but I get my ideas usually when I’m washing dishes.”
Oh, that’s definitely not weird - in fact, it’s magical!
In the hundreds of client sessions I’ve conducted, I’ve never heard anyone say that. I knew we had identified a unique wrinkle to his process and it had to be photographed.
I thought it was funny to tell him to pack dishware for his session, but packed it, he did, and when the time came for him to wash some dishes, we went to work:
While these photos aren’t ideal as profile pictures or for his speaker kit, they are wonderful images to visually punctuate his daily blog, especially considering they capture how he generates the stories he shares in the first place.
Mike’s example speaks to a larger objective when looking to inject more YOU into your lifestyle portrait photos:
Wear the clothing and jewelry you normally wear in life and work.
Use the tools - laptop, phone, pen, paper, book, voice recorder, etc. - you normally use throughout your day.
Show your audience what the creative/brainstorming process looks like to you.
Show your audience aspects of your day-to-day lifestyle
Bring all of your wrinkles and nuances to the table so that when you look at the photos, you feel like yourself from shot-to-shot. That way, you’ll paint a much broader picture of who you are, who you serve, the problems you solve and how you solve them.
This offers your audience an entry point into your life, which gives them a chance to qualify whether or not they want to stick around to see how you can help solve their problems.
In addition, these personalized portraits will increase your desire to actually use the damn things throughout your online presence.
This will go a long way to maximizing the value of your photos, overall. Pretty cool, right?
Now, it’s your turn…
So what are the wrinkles and nuances in your business and life that can be captured during your lifestyle portrait session?
Need some help figuring it out? No sweat - I got your back.
Set up a time to chat with me to see if we’re a fit to work together.