Picture Perfect: Paula’s Rules for Capturing Your Personal Brand with the Right Photos

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Description

Oftentimes when we talk about personal branding on the show, we’re talking about the image you present metaphorically, in terms of the attributes and qualities you choose to embody and express. However, the literal image you present of yourself also plays a crucial role and can significantly impact how others perceive you. So how can you use photography as the powerful tool it is to help you build and maintain a compelling brand?

In this episode of the Branding Room Only podcast, you’ll learn about my insights into how to ensure your photos work in your favor. Drawing from my lifelong passion and experience with photography, I’ll cover everything from the importance of professional headshots to practical DIY tips for taking great pictures with your smartphone.

Chapters

00:49 - Why photos are such a critical component of your personal brand

3:07 - Photo preparation tips to get you ready for your close-up

8:47 - Why investing in a professional photographer can elevate your brand (and how to choose one)

10:31 - DIY photo tips for using your smartphone to capture high-quality photos

13:31 - How selfies can add a personal touch to your brand while complementing your professional photos

15:14 - The importance of a cohesive, up-to-date photo strategy across social media and professional platforms

Mentioned In Picture Perfect: Paula’s Rules for Capturing Your Personal Brand with the Right Photos

“Paula's Top 10 Rules for Perfect Photos: Prep, Posing, and More”

Jirel “Jay” McClinton (Dos Ojos Media) | LinkedIn

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Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.

PGE Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to providing a practical hybrid of professional development training and diversity solutions. From speaking to consulting to programming and more, all services and resources are carefully tailored for each partner. Paula Edgar’s distinct expertise helps engage attendees and create lasting change for her clients.

To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at info@paulaedgar.com, and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.

Transcript

Welcome to The Branding Room Only Podcast where we share career stories, strategies, and lessons learned on how industry leaders and influencers have built their personal brands. Now, let's get started with the show. Welcome to Branding Room Only. I'm your host, Paula Edgar. Today we're going to dive into one of my favorite topics, photos, and how they can make or break your personal brand. Whether you're a lawyer, a leader, an influencer, a student, or a professional in any industry, the photos that you take and share can speak volumes about who you are and what you represent. Let's explore how your photos are working for you, not against you. Let's start with why photos are such a critical component of your personal brand. Basically, in today's digital age, first impressions are often made online before you even get into a room with someone. Whether it's LinkedIn, Instagram, or your professional website, the images that you choose to convey messages about your professionalism, your confidence, and your personality. You really want to be thoughtful about what you choose to be out there representing you when you are not there to give additional context. For those of you who know me, you know that I've been taking photos my entire life. My dad is a photographer. Yes, I'm a little obsessed with this, but it's because I've always understood just how important good photos are for your brand. A photo speaks on its own, like I said before, without context so it must be representative of what you want to convey. That's why putting thought into how you show up in photos is crucial. Think about it. Have you ever Googled someone before meeting them? Of course, you have. What impression did their photos give you? What impression are people going to get when they Google you? A polished well-composed photo can communicate professionalism and attention to detail while a casual or poorly taken image might send the wrong message. That being said, I'm not saying that you shouldn't have casual photos. Of course, I'm saying that I love casual photos, but I do want you to put thought into what you're putting out there. Studies show that visual content is processed much faster by our brains and text. That's why you see a lot of videos and photos. Because we're in such a world that goes so critically that it's easier for us to take in images than to sit and read, which says a lot about where we're in the world, but that's a whole other story. This means that the photos you choose to represent yourself are likely to leave a lasting impression, often more so than any written content because they might even get there. I think so much about this and care so much about this that I wrote an article about this. If you want to check out Paula's Top 10 Rules for Perfect Photos, you can check them out on my website at paulaedgar.com. This podcast is talking about certain aspects of it. I'm sure I'm going to talk about this again on my podcast because I have thoughts about photos and lots of different contexts. But let's jump in. It's important to prepare when you're thinking about capturing the perfect photo. Here are some tips to get you ready for your close-up. Number one, grooming is essential. You want to make sure that you look the way you want to be perceived. My mother used to say all the time, you have to have a minimum that you engage with the world with. That means that I tend not to go outside looking with my lip Sacheu or my hair not combed and neat. What is that for you? Then particularly when you're in a photograph, what do you want it to relay? You want to make sure you're comfortable and confident in your appearance. That includes your hairstyle. If you wear makeup, your makeup, of course, the attire, the clothing that you're wearing. You want to choose clothing and a pose that aligns with your brand and the image you want to portray. Now, our brand is multifaceted. It's not always going to be the same thing, but there should be consistency towards it. You shouldn't have something that is outside of how you want to be perceived at all. Otherwise, you want to think about location. That's an important factor. The background of your photo should complement, not distract from you. If you're trying to take a picture in a group on purpose, do so. But consider that the surroundings that you have reflect your personal or professional life. Maybe as you're choosing an office, a vibrant cityscape, a natural outdoor scene, in a group, or at an event where there are a lot of people, you want to think about and understand the purpose of the photos. What are they for? Are they for your professional profile or your LinkedIn? Are they for social media? Are they for a headshot for a website? Are they for a specific campaign? Or are they promoting an initiative or organization that you're connected to? Knowing and thinking about the intended use can help you decide on the style and tone of the images you select. Finally, practice. Now, okay, I know you're thinking, “Paul, I'm not going to practice every time I take a photo.” What I'm saying is when possible, practicing in front of a mirror might feel a little bit awkward, but it can help you to discover what your best angles are and also to see some of the expressions that you have. When I was in law school, I remember the person in career service saying that when you're wearing the suit that you're going to interview in, you should sit, stand, bend, turn, and do all kinds of things in front of the mirror so you can see how you're reflected when it comes to somebody looking at you and perceiving you. I think the same about photos. You want to know what your lines are and your angles are. Lots of times, I take a picture with folks and I tell them, “I want to stand on the left side because that's my side.” Some people are like, “What side? I don't care what side.” You don't have to have a side. I'm not asking you to take it to 10, but I am asking you to think about, “Is there something that you prefer? Is there an angle that you like better?” Then try your best to get that into the photos that you take. While I'm asking you to put thought into your photos, I am not asking you to be obsessive about it, just aware. A little awareness goes a long way in how you present yourself visually. Speaking of poses, let's talk about this. Your pose can significantly impact the outcome of a photo. Here are some tips that you want to use to ensure you're posing naturally and confidently. I talked about practice, but even if you can't practice, find a pose that feels comfortable to you. I'd see lots of photos where people look stiff or awkward. I don't want that to be you. Thinking if you want to stand up, you want to sit down, if you want you have your shoulders back, you have them relax. You want to find a position that feels natural to you, whether standing or sitting. Also, think about your facial expression. What's your face doing? My face tells you a whole story without me saying anything. But if you have a genuine smile, whether teeth or not, although I prefer teeth in every smile, or thoughtful expression, that can add warmth in your personality to a photo. I love, love, love to smile. But I know that a lot of people don't. What I will say to you is that anthropologically, people reflect and connect more with photos where they can see your eyes, no sunglasses, etc., unless it's casual and your teeth because it's just how we understand and connect with safety. We can feel as if we can understand what your mood and tone are based on those things. Try to avoid forced smiles or expressions that don't match the context of the image you're trying to portray. Also, your posture. You can have a posture that can communicate confidence with your back straight and your head held high. If you’re standing, I like to have my hand on my hip and point my toe. But some folks like to stand with their legs apart in a power pose. Whatever it is that you choose, you want to have a more relaxed look in order to seem more comfortable and a little less stiff. Finally, think about where your hands are. One of my biggest pet peeves and group photos—which, again, I'm going to do a whole other podcast episode on—is when people put their arms around each other if they're dressed in formal wear. What happens is oftentimes the clothes that you're wearing will bunch and then look odd. Now, again, if you don't care and you're just trying to do that and you just want to be in the group, that's fine. But if you want it to be a smooth picture and to have everyone look the way you want them to look, then think about what your hands are doing, what your arms are doing. That could be on your hips, by your sides, in your pockets, or clasp in front of you, really think about what you want to relay. As I mentioned, my dad is a photographer and I really truly believe in the Art of photography. Now let's talk about why investing in professional photography can be a game changer for your professional brand. A good photographer has the expertise to help capture you in the best light, both literally and figuratively. They can understand the composition of a photo, lighting, colors, and if they're good, how to bring out your personality in a photo. When you're choosing a photographer, look for someone whose style matches your vision. Do they specialize in corporate headshots, lifestyle photos, or something else entirely? Check out their portfolio and see if their previous work aligns with what you're looking for. I'm also a big fan of asking previous clients how they interacted with the photographer because collaboration is key. You want to communicate your goals and any specific ideas you have for a photo shoot that you're taking and a good photographer will be able to guide you while incorporating your vision into the final product while also using their understanding and their knowledge of both how people stand, what their angles are, and lighting, and the camera shot and background. So many of you know I have a favorite photographer, Jay McClinton, who has taken most of my professional shots. His info is in the show notes, and yes, he does travel, so check him out. The reason why we connect so much in terms of appearing is because he is not just good with his eye in terms of taking the photo but he's really good at reminding you of the angles that you have and that you want to promote and thinking about how your clothes are showing up and asking you to smile a little bit, a little bit bigger and you change your angle. Those things can help you get a lot of different options in the photos that you end up receiving in the end. Let's just say you're not ready to hire a professional photographer yet. Okay, no problem. Here are some do-it-yourself tips that can help you take great photos with your smartphone or personal camera. So many of you know that I am an Android lover. I will always ruin the group chat because I love photos. Android's cameras are just outstanding. I'll always have an Android and I'll ruin your group chat. That being said, with anything, you want to make sure the lighting is there and it's crucial. It's crucial to a photo. You want to have light. Natural lighting is often the best. Try to get yourself near a window where the light is coming towards you or outside and not in so many shadows. Or you want to avoid those shadows by facing light directly. You want to think about the light is on you as opposed to it being behind you, depending on the type of phone or a camera that you're using. Also, the composition matters. Smartphones these days have guidelines, et cetera. But you want to think about dividing the frame into three parts. You in the middle, what else is in the background, and so that it's a very balanced photo. Folks tend to take pictures so quickly, they're not really thinking about that. My phone has a best photo or best shot option that lines it up for you, which is great. Thinking about keeping your background simple and uncluttered, unless the purpose is for you to show clutter or you want to show the busyness of the background, I'm a big fan of the focus being on you, not the things in the background. These days with folks being so into everything on social media, people will be looking at what is that on the ground, what's that in your background, who is that over there, whose arm is that? Try to keep your photos as clear as possible unless your choice is to have them a little bit busier. I'm going to say this, and I want to say this clearly, I'm a fan of editing your photos. It can enhance them, but please don't overdo it. You want to look at adjusting lighting and brightness maybe and contrast and maybe cropping to get some things out. But let's not make your photos look over-edited. With AI and all the different options that exist today, people are doing a lot of wild stuff. I love the option that I have on my Android where I can remove some things out of the background. But I don't love some pictures where I see folks so you're making themselves look skinny or smaller. You are who you are. A part of branding is really connecting with that self-awareness about who you are and promoting it the way it is as opposed to having this not authentic representation of you. Hold off on the over-editing, please. Also, think about some apps. There's a lot of great apps online that can help you with getting the picture precise and right as opposed to ruining it by over-editing it. So now that I've gone through that, I want to talk about one of my favorite ways of taking pictures with this is selfies. They are my favorite. I love it because it helps to show a different angle. It helps to really show the fun and personality, and it's a powerful tool for your brand and engaging with your audience. I love when I'm doing speaking engagements and afterwards, folks will come up to me, we can take selfies. Or usually when I'm on a stage and talking to audiences at conferences or my clients, I like to take a selfie with everybody in the background just to remind myself of the event and also to show a little bit about the fact that it's my personality and the personality of people who are in the photos. Selfies, I think, are a really great way of sharing those authentic and special moments in your life. It could be a candid shot at someplace you love going to, a selfie with a colleague, something behind the scenes at your work or an event you're going to. Selfies, I find, I think, humanizes your brand and makes you more relatable. Similarly for the best selfies, you want to pay attention to lighting and angles. The lighting is your friend and holding the camera above eye level. So holding it at face level, not down, above eye level. I try to get to the point where you can hold the phone with one hand as opposed to with two. It can help with a better perspective and better shot. Remember, selfies should complement your professional images and not replace them. I still think you should have a headshot and that should not be a selfie. Use them strategically to add personality and some spontaneity to your online presence while maintaining a cohesive personal brand image. Speaking of that, I want you to think about how to use all of your photos strategically in branding. Consistency is key. You want to use photos that align with your brand's message across platforms so that your brand is considered cohesive and consistent and recognizable. For example, if you're thinking about online social media like LinkedIn, you want a professional headshot that conveys confidence, approachability, and maybe relays a little bit of what you do depending on what that is, but it should be welcoming. Remember, these photos have no context. For other forms of social media like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok, of course you want to mix in some candid shots and selfies so that it can showcase your personality and your other interests. If you have a website or if you are at an organization where there's a headshot or photos of you, you want to make sure your photos are updated. I have a lot of folks come up to me and say, “Oh, well, I love that photo from 15 years ago. Do I need to change it?” The issue is that you don't have brand alignment if your photo is not representative of what you look like now. Like if I Google you and then I'm trying to find you in a room where I know you're going to be and I can't because you don't look the same or don't look similar, then that's brand misalignment. I think that outdated images can send a wrong message about your brand and how you are supporting and taking care of your brand. That being said, as you will know, I can talk about this forever. But to wrap up, remember that the photos you use to represent your personal brand are powerful tools. They can communicate professionalism, confidence, and personality in an instant. By preparing and effectively mastering your posing and using your photo strategically, you can elevate your personal brand and leave a lasting impression. So I encourage you to take a moment to evaluate your photo strategy, your current photo strategy. Are your photos up to date? Are they sending the right message? Is there anything you need to purge? Is there a new content that you need? What changes can you make today? As always, my friends, thank you for joining me in this episode of Branding Room Only where I talk about photos. If you found this episode helpful, please share it with your network, especially those friends you know who need new photos. Let me know your thoughts. Also, as always, remember to stand by your brand. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share this podcast. Thank you for listening and see you next time in The Branding Room. Bye y’all.