I am a crafter, gardener and Photographer who is a cat-momma to Sebastian. When I’m not at home with Sebastian, you’ll find me traveling the world or creating beautiful photos for solopreneurs and small business owners. I’m obsessed with helping them tell their story through custom on-brand images.

How did I become a Personal Branding Photographer, you ask? Well, let me tell you!

I LOVE to help people, it’s in my nature. I started off as a social worker and even got a Masters in Public Health. I loved my clients and through my work, I was able to make a real difference in their lives.

Eventually, the life of a social worker began to take a toll on my own health. I LOVED helping others, but I realized the way in which I was helping them was actually hurting me. And we all know how important it is to have balance in our lives. I found myself gravitating toward my camera.

Enter: major career change! I left my job as a social worker and went back to school for formal training in photography.

I mainly photographed families and weddings, which I enjoyed. But because the connections I made with those clients were short lived, I craved that one-on-one connection I felt with my clients when I was a social worker, as well as have an impact on their lives.

That’s when I discovered Personal Branding Photography. It allows me to combine my two loves- helping people and being creative with photography! I am able to really connect with my clients, get to know them, their business, the issues they face and their goals. Then, we get to create beautiful photos that tell their story and clearly and purposefully communicate the message they want to send out into the world. 

A big part of marketing is giving a peek behind the curtain. Your clients and potential customers don’t just want to know about your product or service. They want to know who you are, what you do, how you do it and why. This is the “Know, Like, Trust” factor. The more they know you (see and learn about you), the more they like you (connect with your personality), the more they trust you (feel that you will provide them with quality and value for what they pay you), the more successful your business will be.

People connect emotionally with images, especially images of YOU. There’s a reason why celebrity gossip is so popular! People love to know about the people they are curious about or admire. 

Now, you may not be a celebrity and I am not the paparazzi, but you can probably see where I am going here. People are curious about you (even if you don’t think they are), and the more they learn about you, your philosophy/what you stand for, the more opportunities they have to make a connection with you. Those connections lead to sales.

For me, my “Why” comes down to this: I want you to succeed. I want you to put yourself first and give yourself every tool you can to run a profitable business. I am here to support you in your efforts to show up and market yourself in a way that feels right- feels like YOU. Nothing phony or forced, just beautiful photos of you and your process that truly communicate the value of what you have to offer.

Whether it’s email blasts, blogs, newsletters, social media, websites or print marketing, Personal branding Photography is a vital component of any business marketing strategy and can help propel your brand and business to a higher level!

1. Pre-session consultation Let’s discuss you, your business, your brand message. We’ll go over everything you need to know about what a personal branding session is, how it can help you and all that is involved so that you feel confident from the start! We can then choose a collection that suits your needs.

2. Branding Questionnaire. You’ll complete the Personal Branding Questionnaire, which answers all of the questions we need for a successful shoot. Things like- location ideas, brand colors, vibe and other details that are important for the message you want to convey.

3. Planning Session. Going through the Questionnaire, we’ll plan out every detail of the shoot. From your your props/clothing to your stories, message, goals and shot list to assure the session goes smoothly. You will have access to me during the process to ensure you have everything you need before, during and after the shoot.

4. The Shoot.  I will coach you through it all- posing, expression-all you have to do is show up! It’s actually a fun time- I promise!

5. Photos.  I will turn your photos around within a few weeks. You’ll have a private gallery to view them in and you will choose the ones you love most so you can get started posting on social media, website or in your next blog!

Most people don’t like having their photos taken and they don’t know where to start when it comes to personal banding photos. That’s ok! It’s my job to walk you through every pose, prop and detail of your shoot. You don’t have to worry about anything- I will pull everything together so that you are understand the process, you are comfortable and everything looks just right! 

My client Laura, a web designer, was nervous about having her photos taken. She had been putting it off for a year! She had a list of reasons not to, like- wanting to lose weight, finding the time, having everything “just so” before scheduling a shoot.

Well, let me tell you, she finally realized she wasn’t doing her business any favors by putting it off. She really needed photos for her own website, her blog and newsletters. She understood that she was only holding her business back by avoiding a shoot, she wasn’t allowing her audience to see the real Laura or give them ways to actually connect with her in a more authentic and natural way. She knew sharing branding photos customized just for her, would make so many great connections!

So Laura booked her shoot! She and I discussed her goals and visions. I planned out every detail and we created a shot list. Although Laura had never done a personal branding shoot before, she knew exactly what to expect walking in. What she didn’t expect was how thrilled she’d be with her photos!

Here’s what Laura has to say:

“Amy completed branding pictures for my business Web Luminary.  I love how calm and reassuring Amy is.  She came up with many poses and styles.  She also gave me great suggestions on props to bring and everything looked coordinated and I looked like I was in my office.  Most of all I am thrilled with my photos and I will have lots of options when posting on my website, social media, email campaigns and any print material I may create in the future.”