Rochester NY Brand Photography for Consultants

After her personal brand session was complete Jessica said “Your process helped me take a more thoughtful and intentional approach to my brand.”

She also said “We laughed, we posed, my hair got frizzy…you made what can feel like a completely unnatural and awkward experience fun.”

That’s high praise coming from a business and personal development consultant. It’s also exactly how we want you to feel about your personal branding session.

She’s the Owner and Chief Transformation Officer of ApPROach Consulting. We recently caught up with her to review her personal branding photography session. We asked her five questions that might help a business owner decide if this is a worthy investment. Here’s what she said:

What do you do, and why did you choose to invest in your personal brand?

“apPROach Consulting is a strategic planning and business development consulting practice that serves individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.  I believe that a great strategy for building your business is through creating a personal connection between the business owner and the client.  This is something that can be uncomfortable for business owners.  In my business development classes we spend a lot of time talking through how vulnerable it feels to put your words and your face out there.  Showcasing products and services is usually much easier.  I wanted to put my philosophy into practice by using my personal image to connect with my own customers and demonstrate the value to other business owners.”

Did you learn anything about yourself?

“Completing the personal branding questionnaire in advance of the photo shoot was a great opportunity to reflect on how I do business, engage with clients, and project my values through my services.  It is important for every business owner to pause and evaluate their values and their vision regularly.  Lori and Erin’s personal branding questionnaire is a tool I will revisit in the future to assess my brand as my business evolves.”

What did you enjoy most about your session? 

“Being photographed is usually an uncomfortable experience for me, like most people.  Lori and Erin made a typically awkward and unnatural photo shoot feel fun and exciting.  Because we had met and discussed my business and my goals in advance of the photo shoot, I felt connected to them both and at ease.  They truly partnered with me on my personal branding journey.”

How are you using your images? 

“I have featured my images on social media, approachconsultingllc.com, and I’ve updated my profile pictures in the many online meeting tools we’re all using these days (Teams, Zoom, GoToMeeting, Webex, Hangouts, etc.)  I have received great compliments on the updated images.  The new images capture my essence so much better than the traditional headshots I used to use.”

Would you recommend Lori and Erin Photography?

“Not only would I recommend working with Lori and Erin for any photography service, I would recommend stepping through the personal branding process with them to any business owner or organization.  The same way strategic planning helps align a person or team around goals and priorities, completing the personal branding questionnaire helps to solidify the image you have for your business.  Lori and Erin can take your vision for your business and help you craft the visual content you need to connect with your audience.”

We focused on more than updating her headshot. We planned, we worked together and created stories in images that she could use to connect with her audience.

And it wasn’t hard, in fact - it was fun for all of us. So if you want to learn more about your business, show up in front of your clients, and have fun doing it - we’re ready for you.

The importance of personal branding photography in growing your side hustle

When we started our businesses 12 years ago, we both started out running side hustle photography businesses. We wanted to know everything and learn as much as we could. We learned about lighting, posing, and sales - but no one ever really stressed to us the importance of having a strong personal brand.

Now that we are more established as photographers in Rochester, I often wonder how much faster would we have grown, if we had known way back then?

To all of you out there making your dreams happen, hustling your way to where you want your small business to be - We’re here to tell you that you need brand photography. And here’s five reasons why:

1 First Impressions

Plain and simple: If you look fresh, polished and professional, you’ll grow faster. Show up for yourself, and your brand. What is the first impression you want to give your audience?

2) Grow Up

I’m not trying to insult you, I mean as a business. Brand Photography is about more than what you look like in a headshot. A session with us is a process. We dive into learning about your ideal client. We brainstorm and plan. Along the way, you might learn something about your business. You might grow in ways you never considered before.

3) Stop Their Scroll

People have short attention spans. In the time it took you to read this sentence, someone has scrolled through Instagram twice. How are you going to catch their eye? Engaging images can do that for you in a way that your selfies can’t.

4) Be the Expert

Quality images create a mindset that you are the expert in your field. Ultimately, this mindset raises the perceived value of your work - and that’s the goal right? Do what you love AND make more money?

5) People Buy Who You Are, Not What You Sell

Once you have their attention, how are you going to keep it? Constantly selling your product is one way to turn a customer off real quick. People want to know the person behind the product. Even in a pandemic world (maybe more so), people want to connect to real people. They want to invest in you before they trust what you’re trying to offer them.

Now, we know you don’t have a professional photographer following your every move. That’d be weird. So occasionally selfies and phone photographs are fine.

But if you want to level up your side hustle, step up your visual brand. Connect with your people, but do it in a way that conveys the story of your business that you want to tell. You are the face of your brand, and it’s you that your audience wants to see.

So now that you know why, what are you going to do with the information?

Branding Photography for Therapists in Rochester NY

Before her branding session, Laura told us that people fascinate her. She told us that she loves their stories, and seeing something in it that they didn't see.

Same! Our style of personal brand photography is very much the same. We loved looking at her brand, and hearing her stories to see something she hadn’t thought of about her brand.

And then, we took those stories and created images to support them. For example: As a therapist, she believes that life is messy, and we’re all a little bit broken - like a chipped coffee cup. But, even though the cup has a chip in it, it still works and still functions as a coffee cup.

So we incorporated some of that idea into the imagery. We included some mess, some learning and growing, and her favorite chipped coffee cups.

We combined it all together to create both updated headshots, and stories she can use on her own platforms to show people who she is and what she believes.

The images don’t have to be neat, tidy picture perfect scenes if that’s not the right story. Because real life includes chipped coffee cups and messiness.

Personal brand photography is all about connecting to your audience. So show them your real you, and you’ll attract your ideal clients.

Pittsford NY Family Portraits: Tinker Park Family Pictures

I grew up playing in Kate’s backyard. We were “neighbors,'“ even though we lived a solid 3/4 of a mile away from each other. We were friends through high school, where we were co-editors of the yearbook together.

So imagine how amazing it felt when she moved back to the Rochester area, and asked if I would photograph her beautiful family at play in their new home, and nearby at Tinker Park.

She was worried her littles wouldn’t cooperate, but they were so adorable and amazing. It’s a common fear, and a reason why so many parents hesitate to have family portraits taken. But it’s one that we are always prepared for. We play games, we let them play and we get to know what helps make them tick.

Our job is more than just pushing the button - it’s making kids laugh, and being silly with them so they’ll trust us enough to let us take their picture.

In the end, the pictures say it all, don’t they? Thank you Kate, it was amazing to reconnect with you, and an honor to be part of your world for an afternoon.

~ Erin

Rochester NY Family Portraits: Extended Family Pictures

How many people update their extended family photo regularly? Were your now grown children, babies then? Has it been years?

One of the things that make us happy is when families like these come back to us again and again to update their family portrait. We get to update their growth and their changes as they move through life together.

And after years together, we begin to know exactly how to make them react at the right moment for a great photograph.

So when was the last group portrait your family took?

Maplewood Rose Garden Family Portraits: Rochester NY

They wanted a mixture of fun and family in their family portrait. A little silly and a whole lot of family in a beautiful location. So we visited the Maplewood Rose Garden in Rochester for their extended family portrait.

The evening was warm and full of laughs, and me, trying as hard as I could to get the two littles to laugh at me. It was great to see this family play together, and it was great to capture their time together as well.

Enjoy a little bit from their night, and if you’re ready to get your extended family portrait updated - let us know!

Rochester NY Family Pictures: AJ's One “Plus” year portrait session

It was supposed to be AJ’s one year portrait session. But as many others, it ended up being a one “plus” year session due to the pandemic.

But honestly, just look at that smile - we can’t be mad about much of anything with this little one in the pictures. Roberts Wesleyan College was a great setting (not to mention empty of students) and the perfectly even light that day was on point.

As one of our Candid Portrait members, we’ve had the opportunity to watch him go from baby into toddler. His smile will only continue to grow, and we can’t wait to capture it as it does.

Mini Member Sessions: Fairport NY Family Portraits

In June, we called our Member Mini Session the “Pandemic Portraits.”

We asked our families to show us what or who kept them busy during their time at home together. Because as hard as it all is, it’s real at this moment in their lives. And man, did they ever deliver.

Our members showed us everything from gardening to their brand new puppies. It was the first time in months we’d seen them and it felt amazing to be able to capture their families again, even if it was only for a few minutes.

We don’t know what the coming months will bring, but we know that these families can handle anything, as long as they’re together.

We Are Open Project: Business Photography in Fairport NY

The world shut down. Businesses on pause.

Throughout it all, we kept asking ourselves “How can we help the small businesses in our community?”

The answer was obvious, but we had to wait until our phase allowed us to open. So while we waited, we brainstormed the “We are Open Project.”

The goal was to showcase small businesses in our area on our social media outlets to show the community that these businesses are here, and now that they are able to open again, they would benefit from the community’s support.

We were so pleased with the businesses we were able to meet and photograph. We visited local pottery shops, consignment stores, urgent care and even churches in Fairport.

Just because these businesses are open now, doesn’t mean they don’t have new guidelines to follow that complicate business as they once knew it. The challenges will continue on as they maneuver them all. So they need our support.

This project was one of the ways we knew we could be helpful in a difficult time. We hope that our photographs will shine a little bit of light on our local businesses - and that you’ll check them out too.

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Sweet Charity

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First Congregational United Church of Christ

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Studio East Dance Company

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Lulu Taqueria & Bar

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Nancy Woolver, Financial Advisor

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RV&E Bike & Skate

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Firehouse Wood Works

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Blissfull Balance

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WellNow Urgent Care

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Lift Bridge Yarns

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Created By Us Pottery

Pittsford NY Family Portraits at Mendon Ponds Park

Oh I miss these colorful fall family portrait session days and this little family. Don’t get me wrong though, I’m totally ok if Fall waits it’s turn right now. I’m just reminiscing over happy smiles and family fun.

We laughed a lot as we wandered around Mendon Ponds Park. We visited the fairy houses, we played a game of checkers, and had a blast in the woods together.

That’s what it’s really all about, playing and being together while occasionally taking a great family picture - right?

Rochester NY Senior Pictures: Rochester Public Market, Skylar

After learning a little about Skylar, it wasn’t hard to discover the look she was after for her senior portraits in Rochester NY. The Rochester public market, gave us the scene, Skylar gave us the feeling.

As it should be, hers is a style that’s all her own. Senior pictures are meant to show that style off. Everything from the location, to the wardrobe and the expression all come together to show the world who you are at this important moment in your life.

The results are clear to see - real, personality filled senior pictures.

Churchville Chili Senior Portraits: Angelina, Class of 2020

Meeting with Nina, we could tell that she has the kind of outgoing personality that would make her Rochester senior portrait session super fun. We weren’t wrong.

We met up at the U of R because it’s setting felt right for her love of reading and had great backdrops for what she was looking for. We were also nearby Genesee Valley Park where we incorporated her swim gear and a great natural setting.

But it was her sparkling eyes and adventurous side that really made her senior pictures stand out. What a pleasure it was to get to know her and capture her personality as she celebrates this time of her life. Congrats Nina!

~ Erin