If you need to know one thing about me, my friend, it’s this: I’m a bit of a data girlie. I LOVE gathering facts and numbers, being creative with my solutions, and diving deep into the “why” behind many actions that happen in my business. This is a bit of a #spicytakealert and a humble brag post mixed together, but I think by the end of this you’ll see the reason why.

I didn’t realize how outdated the branding world could be. Specifically in the photography space, branding is unclaimed territory haunted by the memories of 80s headshots. There’s been no fresh vision or life brought into this world and the few photographers that have realized this are making BIG leaps forward. I am one of those photographers.

These are all of the reasons I consider myself a game changer in the branding photography industry. Some of these weren’t even completely intentional on my part, it’s just what actually *made sense* do to for my clients to bring them the most value I possibly could.

Number 1: I’m strategizing with you.

During any process, it’s important to understand the reason why you’re going through that process for your business. A branding shoot is no different. It has to both make sense for the season you’re in and align with future goals. That requires strategy. This is one thing I knew I had to capitalize on in order to serve you well. If I don’t get to know your individual business and yourself, that leaves me replicating the same process for every client and churning out the typical headshots every week.

In order to provide the full value and unique experience I have an onboarding day where we chat about your business, your clients, your needs, and the gaps you need help with. Not only that, but I’ll also have another quick powwow before your session to make sure your outfits are on point, all extra props have been thought about, and all of your questions are completely answered. You can even DM me photos while you’re out shopping so I can help you make clothing decisions. The guidance that I provide is engineered to be inclusive and relaxing. I won’t leave you hanging, ever!

Number 2: You’re going to get way more than you bargined for.

Babes, this is not a drill for me. Actually, maybe it is, because every client I’ve had is blown away by the amount of content I can shoot in a day. It’s my personal goal to serve you with SO much in your gallery and B-roll that you don’t even know how it’s physically possible to have that much. And not an overwhelming kind of a lot, it’s an intentional curation meant to be used for months at a time.

As I began in the branding photography space, I made the same mistake that everyone does. I would take a ton of headshots in one or two outfits and send off 50+ photos of someone’s face.

This is actually NOT helpful, unless you’re a public speaker who really loves having too many options for which headshot to send in!

These days, I’ve had many clients tell me that they are really surprised at the amount of stuff I tell them to bring!! Because I know that you’ll need a lot of variety in your feed, I recommend you bring between 7-10 outfits to a branding session with me. Alongside of those outfits, I give countless ideas for props and other additions to your session that will expand the kind of content that you get back. Myself and my shoot team set up and breakdown scenes and backdrops so that everything shifts and changes, creating a revolving door of on-brand visuals to serve your audience. That leads me to my next point 😉

Number 3: The Team

There’s something about being served well that just makes a girl feel good. I always say the details are our job and we take that literally. From moving pieces of hair to moving pieces of furniture, I wanted my clients to feel like they don’t have to worry about a thing.

Not only do many of my sessions come with a relaxing hair and makeup experience, but I have team members on site ready to make this session the BEST. From my assistants shooting behind the scenes on their phones so you have B-roll ready to turn into reels to my associate photographer Alyssa & I behind the cameras paying attention to every little detail. It’s worth the investment into my employees to have a full and well rounded experience for you!

Number 4: My dedication to making it known that you are the baddest baddie that ever baddied.

You are so worthy of this experience. To be able to show up for your business, put your best foot forward, and step up as the face of your brand is always a little nerve wracking. My heart is to make you feel seen, create space for any vunerabilities, and correct any lies anyone has ever told you that make you doubt how beautiful you are. I’m so proud of you for going for this big leap and I strive to create an atmostphere where you can feel confident!

I’ll take into account your angles, never pose you in an uncomfortable or revealing way, and make sure that you feel solid about the photos through constantly showing you the back of my camera. That way if you want to adjust anything, you can do it in the moment and guarentee that you’ll adore the images when they come back. I share this with you because this is something that is close to my heart, as we women often struggle with our bodies. Your body deserves grace and celebration for everything it’s carried you through and I’m here to help you show up as the best version of yourself, you baddie you!!

So how does this mean that you’re changing the game, Lily?

That’s a great question. I told you at the beginning I loooove me some data, so I’ve sneakily been gathering insight from every client chemistry call. Here’s the round up of most surprising reactions to my process that I thought were a no brainer! Clients are surprised by:

• The amount of forethought put into why you’re doing new photos. You can use photos for a lot more than an updated profile photo and I challenge my clients to think for longevity. Odds are you won’t go to this much effort for a session for a good while, so capitalize on every cent and minute.
• A deep dive into your business and understanding who you are as a person and why your business is different from all the others. Your uniqueness is your superpower and I will never suggest anything that goes against that. Your session will be curated specifically to your uniqueness. I will also not photograph a brand that doesn’t align with my values or style of photography, as that just causes bad vibes.
• The rapidness on which we cycle through outfits and scene changes. I don’t waste time over-photographing a certain thing. Once I’ve got it, we move on to the next thing so we can capture as much unique content as possible.
• Providing strategic insight into outfits & props to help you coordinate the session better. I’ve heard from several clients that the guidance through what to wear and what to bring is the most helpful aspect to getting rid of their overwhelm!
• That it’s not your job to know how to pose. That’s what you’re paying me to know, sis!
• A serving atmosphere where you can feel completely taken care of from hair and makeup to every detail about the session thanks to my team!

If you don’t have a branding photographer yet, I’d love to be the one that equips you with all the tools you need! Reach out today right here!