How Brand Photography Can Strengthen Community Around Your Business
Let’s face it, community building is key to creating a successful and rewarding business. We need people on our side, rooting for us, and spreading the word.
Whether they’re supporting on the inside through being a loyal customer, or from afar through engagement and word of mouth, having a community at your back is essential to grow your business and your brand. Helping you show up to build those connections is where brand photography can play a massive role in your business.
Planning a personal brand photoshoot that peels back the curtain on your values and personality gives your audience allow your audience the opportunity to connect with the heart and soul behind the business and that’s what we want!
We humans are nosey AF, and we tend to grab hold of interesting facts and things we have in common with people, so allow your watchers to get to know you to build deeper trust and connections that will allow your community and, ultimately, your business to grow!
Building Trust in Your Brand Photos
The word authentic is thrown around all the time in the online space, and many people hate seeing it, but I’m going to defend it for a sec.
Authentic means we want to see who you are beyond the trends. We want to see your quirks, charismatic personality, pets, and hobbies - things that are true to you because YOU make up your personal brand - duh.
This allows your followers to find commonalities that help them remember you and become a loyal fan. We want them to engage with your content and believe you’re the go-to person for your magical service (or product).
Sitting at a cafe with your laptop and hot bevvie of choice is a lovely shot, sure, but it give us absolutely ZERO insight into who you are and what you stand for.
How do we know you’re an excellent coach, VA, financial advisor, property investor, recruitment specialist, etc. from that cafe shot? It gives us nothing to grasp onto, no idea of what you do, and frankly, nothing to remember you by.
Getting Noticed Through Purposeful Brand Photoshoots
So instead think of your values and keywords in your branding, or even your business goals. For instance…
a brand designer client of mine wants to “smash her clients’ branding” - we are having her smash a mug that her audience has come to know her through her daily IG boomerang stories
a public speaking coach - we put her in a big open space with a megaphone
a marketing client with an adventure motif and package called Summit Up Nicely - we did her shoot in Iceland and made sure to include a shot of her summiting a peak
Sometimes these ‘on the nose’ shot concepts can sound (and even feel) a bit cheesey during the planning and shooting phase, but I promise you they will be noticed by your community for showcasing a bit of your personality, for standing out as something different, and for showcasing your commitment to creativity and brand building.
High-Quality Images Matter
As much as I am for the DIY life when it makes sense (and will happily teach you how to DIY your brand photos if that’s where you’re at right now), you’ve got to prioritize quality.
If you’re building a community and suddenly start sharing shotty images that are low light or grainy, you’re kind of letting your community down and we don't want that! They’ve come to love and expect content that is quality and personal, so make sure you’ve hired help or your DIY skills are at a high that will keep your community satisfied!
Involve your Community in your Brand Shoot
Wanna show your community that they really matter to you and the growth of your brand? Ask them for advice! Set up Instangram or LinkedIn polls to ask them:
What do they want to see more of?
What do they love about your business?
What creative shotlist ideas do they think should be captured?
These are excellent ways to increase engagement and allow them to follow along in your business story. They’ll have a sense of ownership and pride in being a part of your community and seeing their ideas come to life.
Feature Community Members in your Branding Photoshoot
Some of my most successful branding images on pinterest (and for my clients) are ones where they are interacting with a client, whether they’re having a meeting, going for a walk and talk, or grabbing a celebratory drink.
I ALWAYS recommend that we include images like this in shotlists as they give your audience a unique view into what it’s like to work with you.
And here’s a unique way to get your community involved - run a competition on IG to gift them a model spot on your brand shoot. They get to spend time with you, share content, and even get them some individual headshots (check in with your photographer first!)
It’s a fab way to foster community, build trust and engagement, and get your audience excited about your big brand shoot reveal!
Here are a few things I would consider if you’d like to offer this:
make sure that you choose someone who you vibe well with - consider interviewing them first
share your brand color palette to make sure they’re in line with your branding
be clear on what’s included - consider having them sign Ts and Cs
I would only have them join for a portion of the day - maybe the end when you’re winding down
ensure you have good communication and they know if you or the photographer have any specific expectations
Create Opportunities for your Community to Shine
This may sound a bit funny at first but the trend I’ve been seeing lately is online businesses creating and hosting in-person events and retreats. These are fabulous ways to connect IRL with your audience and demonstrate your expertise in a way that helps you stand out from all the other businesses that are sticking to just showing up online.
If this has sparked an idea for you to offer an in-person event, consider hiring a professional photographer, not just to capture the event content, but to also offer your guests mini-brand shoots /headshot sessions.
I’ve done these at a number of events and it’s a fantastic way to:
intro your community to a photographer of your choice (because, let’s face it…finding one is HARD)
give them the opportunity to trial a lil shoot with low risk (at a small cost) while they’re already dolled up for the event
build community because the guests cheer each other on and connect through the shared experiences of shooting together
Sidenote - I would also recommend having someone there separately who can film b-roll content on your phone
Building Community through Consistency in your Brand Photography
Your fans want to see you show up.
Through the highs and the lows - they truly want to see it all and cheer you on throughout. That said, it’s your choice how detailed you want to share your life, but remaining consistent in how often you show up will do wonders with your community's growth.
And when it comes to keeping your visuals consistent, that too is important. Cohesive and recognizable visuals help your business remain top of mind and build trust.
When your audience sees the same style, colors, props, locations, and tone across your website, social media, and email newsletters, it makes your brand feel like a familiar face they can count on.
Over time, this consistency allows your audience to feel like they’re part of something. They know who you are and what you stand for. Before you know it, they’re sharing your posts, tagging their friends, and showing up for you just as much as you show up for them. It inadvertently reassures potential clients that your business is intentional, reliable, and organized - in other words, they would be in great hands hiring you!
To make consistency easier:
Build a library of brand photos you can pull from any time.
Use templates and presets to keep edits and layouts cohesive.
Plan quarterly or monthly shoots to keep content fresh without starting from scratch each time.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, people want to feel like they know you, trust you, and are part of your journey. And that’s what personal brand photography helps you do—build connections, tell your stories, and show your audience that you’re here, ready to show up for them.
Just remember that we are all connection-craving humans so don’t be afraid to showcase real stories that will allow us into your world.
If you’re feeling ready to create a library of photographs that reflect your vision, your personality and helps grow your community, I’d love to help you bring your dream brand shoot to life - let’s plan a shoot that feels personal, intentional, and totally you!
Not quite ready for a shoot but want to put your ideas into motion? Check out my How to Plan a Brand Shoot Course, or my Brand Photo Intro Kit to help you get intentional with your brand shoot plan!
Are you looking to book a personal brand photoshoot?
I'm here to guide compassionate entrepreneurs like you through fun and relaxed personal branding photoshoots that boost your confidence and save you time with loads of gorgeous content. Together we plan your shoot around your story and passions in order to build trust and connect you to other beautiful souls by showcasing the authentic you.
Check out what's involved in Personal Brand Photoshoots reach out when you're ready to learn more!
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