Winter Portraits in Rochester, NY: Rochester NY Family Photographers

So what do you do for your family pictures in Rochester when it’s winter in a pandemic? We recently wrote about this in a recent post: 5 Safe Outdoor Winter Family Portrait Ideas

You go outside and play in the snow! Using a telephoto lens allows us to get great images while easily keeping our distance. This awesome family decided to take us up on the idea, and we were so excited to work with them.

With a football and 2 dogs floating around, this session was extremely relaxed. Some sledding, some cuddling, some masks… it was a great excuse to get out of the house, even if it’s your own back yard.

Your turn! Whats your fun outdoor, pandemic family portrait idea?

Branding Photography in Rochester NY: Entrancing Inspirations

If you have a follower on your social media account, they didn’t find and consciously decide to hit “follow” by accident. Something about you, or your business caught their attention.

This is one reason why your personal brand needs to stand out from the crowd. How is your business unique?

Personal brand photography can help you with that, like we did for Kim here. She wanted people to see that there’s more to her skill set than meets the eye, and that there’s research and training involved with her services. She wants people to see that she goes above and beyond for her clients.

The branding photographs we took, combined with the right captions on social media can elevate her as an authority figure in her field.

I can’t wait to see what she does with them.

Holiday Family Picture Mini Sessions: Winter Family Portraits

The last time we saw our family portrait member families in 2020 was… well, cold.

We made it as fun as possible, and we were able to give back to our community at the same time. We photographed holiday family portraits in a real setting, rather than a horse drawn carriage or with perfectly posed props. We prefer a more candid portrait approach. Thankfully, it had snowed just the night before giving us a fresh coating of pretty snow and the perfect setting for some safe winter family portraits.

And along with the family mini sessions, we created tons of ornaments to share with the seniors at The Friendly Home. Even though we weren’t able to hand them out in person, I hope the recipients felt a little bit of love from us to them. Thank you to all of the families who contributed ornaments!

We’re ridiculously grateful for our families, and are looking forward to another great year of Candid Member Mini Sessions. We’d love to see you there!

5 Reasons You Need Quarterly Personal Brand Photography

You already know that personal brand photography is about more than updating your headshot. (And if you don’t, you can find out the difference in this previous blog post).

So once you’ve completed a branding portrait session, why would you need to do it again? Well, we’ve got answers.

Here’s 5 reasons why we think annual, semi-annual or even quarterly personal branding sessions are not only important, but necessary.

1) Seasonal / Style changes

You know what changes in Rochester NY? The weather. Using a sunshine filled summer branding portrait in the dead of winter may not resonate to local clients. It’s hard to talk about pumpkins and apple pie on your Instagram feed if your attire shows you in beach wear and flip flops.

2) New Products

Branding photography isn’t just about new headshots for your LinkedIn page. Are you an artist or a maker? Do you own a physical storefront? Did you create a 5 step productivity program? What new offering have you come up with in the last 3 months that you need to put out in the world?

3) Fresh content

You’re going to need to show more than the same 10 pictures. Eventually people will start to notice if you’re always showing up in their Instagram feed in the same outfit.

4) Stay Relevant

Current events are always changing. What was important to talk about yesterday, might be totally different today. Besides that, your field of expertise might change too. Stay on top of the changes in your own brand with timely branding photographs.

5) Growth

Is your business the same as it was when it began? Are you the same person you were when it began? Hopefully not. Hopefully, you’ve grown and evolved over time. The brand you created when you started your business should evolve as well. Your branding photos should reflect your growth.

So why is it important to update your branding photographs on a regular basis? In a nutshell? Change happens.

What's the Difference Between a Headshot and Personal Branding Photography?

A common question we get when people inquire about photography for small business is: What’s the difference between personal branding and headshots?

We’re SO glad you asked. A personal branding photography session differs from a typical headshot session in a few different ways..

When you have a business headshot taken, it’s usually a portrait from the waist up, smiling at the camera. You’ll use it on your social media profiles, and maybe a business website. That’s it, all done. It takes 30 minute at most.

Personal branding sessions do include some headshots, but they are also so. much. more.

To start, there are planning meetings. We ask questions about you, your business, and brand that go beyond your appearance. We go deeper into what your story is. Why do you do what you do?

You typically get generic backgrounds from a standard headshot session. Which is fine, if that’s all you need. However, a personal branding session is a customized experience. We help you choose the location, props and even help with outfit suggestions to help you elevate your brand.

Then, we take the photographs that tell that story. We take detail shots, lifestyle shots, behind the scenes shots, product shots and more all to further the story you want to tell your audience. You don’t get that with a business headshot.

Check out Jessica’s recent session to give you a better idea of what personal brand photography is all about, and what she got out of it.

The goal of a personal branding session is to give you a library of image options that will help your business be more profitable. You can use them in so many places. For some ideas, check out this previous post: 8 Ways You Can Use Your Branding Photography

Personal brand photographs are an investment, versatile and customized to your unique brand.

Because “generic” isn’t a word your brand should use.

How to Repurpose Branding Images Across Your Marketing

You’re a small business owner / entrepreneur. You have a great idea, and you want to get it into the minds of your audience.

So you write something for Facebook and hit post. Then you wait… but all you hear are crickets. What else can you do?

Here’s five ways to repurpose your idea while using your personal brand photographs across your marketing.

1) Blog

Whether you like it or not, blogging is a great tool in your marketing tool box. It can improve your position on Google while you share about what it’s like to work with you. The brand pictures you use in blogs should compliment you as a professional.

2) Share on Instagram / Facebook

Now, take that blog post and break it down into easy to follow social media posts. Link back to your website and use your photos to elevate your perceived value. Posts that include an attention grabbing photograph are always more likely to get noticed. Create several to share your content on social in different ways, because one post alone isn’t enough to get your message out. This is also why having an accessible variety of branding images matters.

3) Pin to Pinterest

Same information, but now create a graphic to go with your “3 Reasons You Need XYZ” blog post, and pin it! There are many ways to create valuable Pinterest content using your brand photographs.

4) E-mail Marketing

Do you have an email list you’re not utilizing? Never know what to write in your newsletter? Are your phone pictures cutting it? Level up your newsletter with your both content and photographs. These people chose to follow you in their inbox, so engage with them!

5) Printed Materials

Create a product catalog, or brochure that you can leave behind with current clients. Share a tip with them that keeps them coming back for more. Professional images will never not be useful on a printed brochure.

Getting your message out takes time and more than one marketing tool. The beauty of personal branding is that you can use this set of professional images anywhere across these platforms. Check out 8 Ways to Use Your Branding Images for some other ideas.

Because unless you have mass amounts of social media followers, there’s no button that magically brings people to your doorstep. Use the tools (and photographs) you have.

8 Ways to Use Your Branding Photography: Rochester NY Photographers

You’ve had your personal brand portrait session taken. Now what? Where do you use all of these gorgeous new branding images? Here’s just a few suggestions!

1) Your About Me Page Needs Updated Photographs

Obvious? Yeah, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to update their own website with their branding photographs.

2) Put Your Branding Photos on Pinterest

Bloggers. creatives and entrepreneurs of all kinds use professional branding photography on Pinterest to create graphics and share their content. Unique images will get noticed faster, while poor iPhone pictures get scrolled past.

3) Blog Posts

Use your personal brand photography in graphics, or stand alone in your blog posts. Written content requires great images.

4) Use Brand Photographs Facebook

Your cover photo and profile pictures are the first thing people see when they visit your page. Make them stand out! On top of that, posting with text alone isn’t going to show up in someone’s feed. You need something eye catching to get people to stop their scroll.

5) Instagram and Personal Branding

This is a platform based on pictures. First you have to catch their eye with your brand photos. Then tell your story with your caption combined with personal brand photography. Show people your personality. Share tips with your audience.

6) Brochures and Printed Materials

Print is NOT dead. Give someone a printed brochure that uses professional level photographs you’re showing them you mean business. And you can put these images on more than just an informational brochure. Use branding photography on business cards, postcard reminders, or even thank you cards.

7) Email Newsletters

Step up your newsletter game with more than text on screen. Show the people who chose to follow you that you’re a real person, and a professional by incorporating personal branding photography.

8) E-commerce and Product Branding

What do you sell? And are you selling it online yet? If you are, product pictures are a must.

These uses are just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more ways that personal branding photographs can be used. Need more? We share a little bit about the HOW to repurpose your branding images here.

We’re here to help with your create these images. The work that we do before we ever take a single shot is what makes us different, and we invite you to find out how.

Family Pictures at Webster Park: Rochester NY Family Photographers

You know what’s perfect? When siblings set up a portrait session, so they can surprise their mom with pictures on her birthday. What’s better than giving portraits as a gift?

These three are basically every parents dream, right?

We visited Webster Park with the family pups, and created portraits, as well as some more candid scenes. We had to sneak these in before these three left for school in August - so I’ve been waiting to share them for what feels like forever.

But now that I can, I’m smiling all over again at the reminder of those happy dogs, and a great family.

Branding Session for Art Therapist in Rochester NY

Therapy that doesn’t feel or look like therapy.

Sounds pretty good to me right now. Sarah wants those who come to her website to know that therapy doesn’t always happen in a sterile office environment.That’s exactly what it felt like walking into Spotted Rabbit Studio.

Brand photography isn’t always about a clean, tidy office space with white everything and perfectly manicured to do lists. This space felt down to earth, real, surrounded by art and supplies. It felt like creatives work there, and they do - but it’s in a way that helps others grow and feel more confident.

And all of that needed to be translated to images for their new website, so that’s what we did.

How can we help you show up for your business?

5 Ways to Make Your Holiday Card Stand Out

Ready to switch out your fall scented candles for your Christmas tree scent? If so, then I’m going to assume you’re planning your holiday cards too. This year, it feels like getting mail is a treat again - so why not do something to make your card stand out in the sea of 2020 holiday cards. Here’s a few ideas.

1) Make it Interactive:

If you’re going to send a holiday card, why not make it interesting? We have some fun designs to get you started. Or - what if you included some sort of activity for those with young kids? (Think coloring!) There are options out there - think outside the glittery holiday box!

2) Candid Portraits

Tired of seeing the same holiday props and smiles? Let the pictures on your holiday show off something real! Do something fun - snowball fights or ice skating, show off your moments, not your poses. If you need some ideas, check out our latest post: 5 Ways we can safely photograph your winter portrait session!

3) Make it Frame Worthy:

If you do it right, the beauty of the right size holiday card, is that Grandma can lovingly put it into a frame and keep you on display forever. We can help you out with that if you want!

4) Think Local:

Is there a local artist that you know of selling card designs? Show them your love this year, and encourage your friends and family by showing up for your local small businesses.

5) Send it in January:

You know when people need a pick me up? AFTER the holidays. After the tree comes down, and all that’s left is the wrapping paper bits you find throughout the house until February. Bonus factor: You don’t have to rush to get them completed. Some call it procrastination, I call it genius.

Thanks for stopping by! Let us know if we can help you create your holiday card, or it’s gorgeous photos this year!

Apple Picking Candid Mini Sessions: Victor NY Family Portraits

We took a lemon of a year, and turned it into safe family mini sessions. How about them apples?

Ok yeah sorry, that was terrible. What wasn’t terrible, (in fact it was the complete opposite) was our annual apple picking, candid mini member event.

We’ve been photographing our member families long enough to remember when some of our older members were our youngest members. I distinctly remember images and moments from those portrait session events.

That’s what I love about our candid member mini sessions; I love capturing these same smiles, year after year as they go from babies to little kids. It’s such an honor to stay a part of their lives on a regular basis.

Curious about what I mean by “candid member mini sessions” yet? Don’t be shy, find out more information!

Holiday Picture Gift Ideas: Rochester NY Photographers

It’s not even Thanksgiving - yeah, we get it. Believe us, we don’t love the idea anymore than you do. This year though, don’t we all need a little extra joy in our lives? And let’s be real, pictures will NEVER not be a great gift.

So if you need some ideas on what Grandma/Aunt Susie/Mom/etc etc would love to get from you here are a few of our most popular products this time of year:

1. Ornaments! We offer metal and loft ornaments. They're a perfect small gift for anyone on your list. Put your favorite photo on one side, with the year and a message on the back. Boom, custom, easy and done!

2. Float Wraps! This item has a wow-factor. It's unique, ready to hang (no worrying about frames!) and easy to order in any size from 8x8 to 24x36.

3. Holiday Cards! Don't waste hours searching through, and fighting with online sites. Let us create exactly what you are looking for. We have a lot of customizable options to fit the color and wording choices exactly as you desire.

4. Their own session! Maybe you don’t have the perfect gift yet. Guess what, no parent will EVER say no to a gift certificate so they can have their whole family together for a family session. (Or in this time of quarantine, for a future safe session.)

Need more ideas? You can browse our full catalog for inspiration!

Then call us and we'll make your holiday shopping personalized and thoughtful as well as easy, and most importantly, DONE!