Why do you need professional headshots to improve your business? With Victoria Haydn, Personal Branding Photographer

Personal branding photography can elevate your presence online and it can increase your business’ visibility. 

Victoria Haydn is a Personal Branding Photographer, providing services in Manchester and Cheshire. In this article, she provides us with insight on why personal branding is important, why you need good headshots to improve your personal brand and how you can use those headshots to gain clients. 

After ten years of working for one of the biggest brands in global sport, Manchester City Football Club, Victoria decided to share her knowledge with female business owners by helping their brands bloom through the help of her personal branding photography. Victoria helps female entrepreneurs elevate their personal brand to create the business of their dreams. Using her stunning photography skills, she captures the people behind the brand to create engagement and increase visibility. This helps her female entrepreneur clients reach their target audience.

We asked her why personal branding photography is important and why your business needs good headshots to succeed.

Why Your Business Needs Good Headshots?

Victoria says having good imagery can elevate your brand significantly and makes you stand out in today’s competitive market. It can give you a competitive edge.

Your business needs visual imagery which projects you as a female leader in your field. If you want to gain clients that trust you, then headshots which show off your personal brand are the way forward. Once your potential clients get to know, like, and trust you then they will buy from you and book your services. 

By creating a brand portfolio, you will have the choice of photographs you can post across channels which echo your brand’s true values. Your brand portfolio is important; it can remove the stress and time constraints of trying to find images to post and use across your marketing channels. 

How to Look Fantastic in Your Business Headshots

Victoria says preparation is key. Before every shoot, Victoria plans the outfits her clients wear and discusses how she can incorporate their brand colours into the shoot. This is a personal branding service Victoria offers when guiding clients through their shoot. 

Part of looking great is feeling great – many of Victoria’s clients have insecurities, as we all do, and Victoria says it is her job to guide clients into positions that capture their best angles! 

But, how do you know what your best angle is and how do you pose? Victoria says lots of people think photoshoots are stiff and everything is staged but they’re really not. Victoria laughs and has fun with her clients. A relaxed client helps create stunning images. Victoria comments that the candid natural photographs of client’s smiling and laughing are the best shots! People want to see the real you so that is why capturing the most authentic version of you and your brand is important. It helps show off your personal brand.

Best Outfit Ideas for Your Professional Photoshoot?

Firstly, Victoria suggests you wear something which makes you comfortable and also, fabulous! Take your brand colours into consideration so that your personal branding images are a reflection of your brand and are coordinated to your brand colours. 

Victoria suggests you pack four to five different outfits with alternative necklines for your photography shoot. This way you get lots of variety with your images which you can utilise across your social media channels. Maximise time by considering the seasons; include a number of seasonal outfits you would wear throughout the year so you can then have a few stock images which can be used in the colder or hotter months. Incorporate your uniqueness too, for example, if you love bold and bright colours then you should bring clothes which reflect that. Your photoshoot is designed around you and improving your business’ image.  

How to Use Your Headshots to Grow Your Brand 

Victoria says that she encourages her clients to use their branding photography in many ways to engage with potential clients, improve business sales and attract customers. She provided us with a few examples of how you can use your personal branding images from your professional photoshoot to do this:

• Put your images in your Elevator Pitch - they will help show who you are, who you help and how you help them.
  

• Storytelling -  Use your photographs when telling your story, explaining why you do what you do and why you love it. Your images should be a reflection of your personal story.
  

• When trying to get your audience to engage with you, ask your ideal client a personal question in a personal way by using your images.
  

• Ask for the business - use your images to shout about a promotion you have on right now. Using your personal imagery will help give a personal touch to the offer you have on.

Images can be used to create backgrounds, reel covers, website landing pages, about me pages, printables, PDFs, guest speaker slots, profile photos, magazine articles - the list goes on. Your personal brand photographs should be adaptable so they can be used on lots of different platforms for various purposes.

Victoria’s final piece of advice is that you should ensure to update your photographs on all social media channels each month to create engagement, interest and to make sure you look relevant. Showing off your new personal branding photographs creates an image of success - you’re bound to think someone is doing well if they’re having a professional photoshoot every month!

Victoria designs photoshoots with detail and precision, which results in a beautiful library of images that represent your brand values, your business goals and YOU.

Victoria's shoots are a relaxing experience. She aims to capture her clients in a way which shows off their true, authentic nature. Having your photo taken can be a little intimidating but you're in safe hands with her experience and knowledge. If you want to find out more about Victoria’s services, you can do so here.

Victoria is taking part in our 20-day challenge that we run on @femfluence.co Instagram page, which aims to help you DO GOOD, FEEL GOOD and LOOK GOOD. We will be sharing content each day on how you improve your happiness levels, elevate your business and continue on your personal growth journey.

About Femfluence:

Femfluence is a networking and events platform for females who take pride in their personal and professional development. Our membership is made up of entrepreneurs, professional service providers, and business leaders. We have recently launched several collaborations with brands such as Boodles, Mint Velvet, Revibed, Free Soul etc. We host monthly events in Manchester City Centre focusing on three pillars; business, wellbeing and style.