So now that you've found me, and have been called to work with me (smart move), what are the next steps, you ask? How do we get from that confirmation phone call to the end results?
In this 3-part series, I will take you through every step of the journey that we will embark on together, when we set to create the portraits for your brand that a) you truly connect with, b) that show you and your brand, and c) that speak to your ideal client.
1. Mood
The entire spirit of pre-production is about collaboration, and coming up with ideas that will help me do the job you've hired me to do, which is to bring your vision and your business to life in stand-out imagery. Having worked with many womxn like yourself, who are fired up by passion for their business, and have a unique approach to what they do - I have a few questions that I ask all my clients before I put together a personalised mood board. What are the core values of your business? Who is your ideal client? How do you want to be perceived by your clients, and what feelings do you want to evoke in them? How do YOU feel about your business and what fires you up about what you do? I then put together your very own mood/inspiration board on Pinterest that will serve us as a reference for mood, looks, poses and angles during the shoot. You can add images to it too, and we exchange comments on it about what we think works or doesn't work.
2. Location
My approach to choosing the right location for your personal branding photoshoot is directly linked with the values and mood of your brand, as well as who you are as a person. I want the location to be reflective of places in London/UK that you feel connected to - be it actual areas or spaces (for example gritty East London streets or an allotment), as well as to provide a backdrop for what values are important to you as a brand. We often shoot at home as well, as many of my clients work from home, or sometimes we will hire a yoga studio or a cafe. No location is a bad idea, it's what we do with it that matters.
3. Wardrobe
What should I wear? The general rule is: keep it simple and be comfy! While I am not the fashion police, I always encourage you to wear clothing that you will feel comfortable and confident wearing, and advise against buying new clothes specifically for the shoot (the opposite of my understanding of comfort!), unless they are what you would typically wear, but you're just in need of a refresh. Prior to the shoot, I will ask you to send me images of what you intend to wear, so that we can plan out the outfit changes. And once we are on location, I will visualise which outfit works best where by looking at the colours, shapes, and textures around me.
4. Timing
It's important to me that you are comfortable in front of my camera. It will take some time for you to warm up, and as we both get into the flow of things, we would usually meet about half an hour before we officially start shooting. We have a good old chin-wag, maybe a cuppa. The shoot is then just an extension of that conversation (I do love to talk, so no awkward silences there!).
Now that we've broken the ice, it's time for me to photograph your fierce self. This is where the magic happens. But don't take my word for it, and watch out for the second part of the Shooting with Martyna series, where one of my clients shares her experience of the process.
I hope this article has demystified the preparation process of a shoot with me a little bit. Is there something I didn't cover, or an element you'd like to know more about before you commit to booking a shoot with me? Do you have any further questions about how to prepare for your personal branding photoshoot? I'd love to hear from you, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Walking into my photoshoot with Martyna like...
