“2023 New year, new you!” Now if that is not a damn positive affirmation then I don’t know what is.
2022 was a better year than the previous two and 2023 is going to build on that, but you need to capitalise on your strengths to make it happen for you, your brand and your business.
In the next series of posts I will show you how you can dominate in 2023 whether you are a one man band, “mom and pop shop”, entrepreneur or even a large company.
I have put together some pointers to help you make a difference and stand out from your competitors, or if you have struggled in the past to get to the top rung, at least give you a fighting chance for customers to find and love you.
#1 Team photo updates.
Portraits | 2023 New year, new you is the first in the series to show how you can dominate this year. When was the last time your team photography was updated or have you ever had high quality, consistently photographed team photos?
Many businesses have an about us page on their website where some portraits are taken in the office canteen, at a party or against a wall in the reception area.
Customers are looking for professionalism, trustworthiness and attention to detail and by having a consistent set of team photographs, existing and new customers can be assured that you will apply the same values to their business.
P.S. don’t diss the reception areas – many of my portrait shoots have been done in the company reception area with great success.
Studio-style portraits
A studio-style portrait does not have to be shot in a studio. It is a term that describes the ‘look’ of the portrait, rather than where it is taken. It is ideally created in a studio but I can take the studio setup to the client and with the backdrop and lighting create the same studio style corporate portrait.
The basic principle of a studio-style portrait is having a clean, non-distracting background – usually white but often grey or even black. The objective is to eliminate all distractions so that you are the only subject.
This style of portrait is a mainstay of fashion photography, in a studio with a controlled lighting setup. But it is also commonly used in corporate photography for portraits where a consistent and uniform look is required.
So when should you opt for a studio-style portrait?
- If you require multiple portraits of different people and need a consistent background.
- If you prefer a minimalist, classic look.
- If you have decided for a black and white portrait. This is a personal opinion but I don’t think environmental portraits are quite as effective in black and white.
Environmental portraits
Whereas studio-style portraits remove any sense of place, environmental portraits embrace it. These portraits incorporate elements of the surrounding environment in which the photograph is taken, e.g. the office, home, or outdoor space.
The objective of this type of portrait is to give some context – to reveal a little more about the subject. That is why they are so popular, and used almost exclusively, in personal branding photography. They are a very effective way of telling a story.
This is not to say that the surrounding environment, whatever it may be, is a distraction. It should fit in seamlessly and intentionally – shot in such a manner that it does not detract from you as the main subject.
One benefit of environmental portraits is that they are very versatile. Whereas a studio-style portrait is best suited for more formal headshots and portraits, environmental portraits are a bit more flexible in their application, e.g. on social media, profile pics, or for marketing materials.
The other benefit of an environmental portrait is the variety you can get from the session. Because you are not restricted by the lighting and the backdrop, you could have multiple poses in multiple locations within the area the environmental portrait session is being photographed.
So when should you choose environmental portraits?
- For your personal branding photography or any situation when you want to reveal a little more about who you are and what you do.
- If you want a more modern, contemporary look.
- If you want images that have a more diverse range of uses.
I hope Portraits | 2023 New year, new you has given you a few reasons to consider updating your team photography.
Every bit helps and in the next series of posts I will show you how you can use photography and video to dominate in 2023 whether you are a one man band, “mom and pop shop”, entrepreneur or even a large company.
Remember, 2023 New year, New you!
