Imagery is a crucial part of creating your brand for any business. While your product or service is the star, quality photos allow you to show off your company and what you and your team can do. We all know that first impressions are everything, and you want to create the right first impression with potential clients and customers by investing in professional branding photography.
Professional branding photos may not be cheap but they’re worth every penny! Having a personalised and tailored library of images gives you a range of options when you need a high-quality photo to promote your brand.
So here are 5 reasons you should definitely be investing in professional branding photography as soon as you are able to:
Your website needs photos, of course, but do you realize how many other places professional branding photos will be the perfect fit? Quality photos on your social media profiles can lead to more engagement with potential clients. These images can also add visual interest to your emails and newsletters, press releases, webinars, and any other content you make available.
This is another reason you might want to look at investing in a bank of images that you can draw from rather than just a single headshot. A good branding photographer should be able to talk you through the different available options and which would be most suitable for your brand and circumstances.
I mean, who doesn’t like saving money? With a professional branding session under your belt and high-quality images at your fingertips, you won’t have to worry about running around to provide an image to a magazine or website. Instead of rushing to book and take brand photos—or taking your own images (ahem, selfies in the bathroom or garden, you know who you are!) —you’ll have images on hand when you need them, a whole library of photos to choose from that make your business and you look incredibly professional.
Don't forget perception is reality! And if you have professional looking branding photos that accurately represent you and your brand, potential clients and partners automatically think of you as a professional and treat you accordingly!
P.s: Remember headshots and business portraits don't have to be boring. A good photographer will help you infuse some life and personality into your branding photos.
All the research shows that we are visual beings! People tend to react more strongly to images than to written content. That’s evident in the higher engagement videos and photos get on social media than posts with just text. High-quality photography adds a level of authenticity and professionalism to your brand that will encourage potential clients to spend more time checking out your website and social pages and allow you to better connect with visitors.
Whether you’re creating a product or offering a service, branding photography can be a great way to show off your process and give potential clients and customers an inside look at your business. Images of your process can help clients feel like they know you and your business better, fostering trust and giving your company a more genuine and authentic appearance. It's all about building that Know, Like, Trust factor!
Big or small, most business owners want their business to grow and expand, and professional branding photography can help you to do just that. By working with a professional branding photographer, you can determine how you want you, your business, your services and / or products to come across to potential clients and your online tribe.
Adding professional branding photos to your website and social media pages can help potential customers and clients trust you more and present the right face to anyone who may be interested in what your business has to offer.
No matter what type of business you have, professional branding photos can elevate your company to the next level. From Facebook to your website to your newsletter emails, branding images can emphasise what makes your business unique and how you can bring your clients the absolute best product or service!
I hope you've found this helpful and have a better idea of why you need professional branding photography. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions I can help with.
Now time to introduce our lovely business owner. I love working with women owned businesses whose key goal is to uplift other women and that's what Image Consultant & Stylist Jane Sumner is all about. Here's a mini introduction to Jane in her own words:
I am an independent personal shopper and Image consultant. I trained with Colour Me Beautiful starting 25 years ago in Sept 1996 and have now worked with 1,000s of women. I help women feel confident with how they dress and what to wear and what's appropriate for their lifestyle. Taking into consideration their style personality, height, scale age etc.
Approachability! I want women to feel able to pick up the phone and have a chat, and feel relaxed about talking to me.
I attract similar women to myself. Often self employed ladies coming out of the corporate area, starting their own businesses and looking to create a brand for themselves. Also those with big lifestyle changes such as significant birthdays (40, 50, 60), marriage, divorce, job promotions, redundancy etc. All needing to feel more confident about their visual look yet feel authentic.
Doing the job I do,I need to practise what I preach keep current and appropriate for my target audience!
No concerns at all! Wani is an expert in her field and makes sure all bases are covered prior to the day. As a very organised detail person this made me feel confident that all would go well on the day. She was super efficient BUT in a very relaxed laid back manner.
Email: Ja**@************uk.com
Phone: 07779 585323
Website: www.imagemattersuk.com
Instagram: imagemattersuk
Facebook: Image Matters
I love working with business owners looking to up-level their brand. If you've been in business for over 2 years and are ready for a brand upgrade, then you can find our more about my personal branding services right here or get in touch to chat about your specific branding photography needs right here. Chat soon. 🙂
Many women think a boudoir photoshoot is just not for them! That boudoir is for brides or young women who look and pose like models! But boudoir is so much more than lingerie and sexy posing. Boudoir is about seeing yourself from a different perspective and finding power and strength in who you are.
There are tons of reasons why women choose to do boudoir sessions, and your reason is unique to you! But here are some milestones and moments that many women have chosen to celebrate with a boudoir shoot.
Have you been promoted at work? Achieved a goal you’ve been working toward for years? A boudoir session can be a great way to capture this moment in your life and help you look back and remember your joy and pride. #yourock
Maybe you’ve lost a ton of weight, and you want to reward yourself for those hours at the gym. A boudoir photo shoot can serve as an awesome treat for you and give you a chance to show off your brand new sexy body! #treatyourself
Boudoir isn’t just for a significant other—it’s for you. If you are happily single or in a rock solid relationship, a boudoir photoshoot can be a great reminder of a great period in your life!
And if you've just gone through a rough breakup or just gotten out of a bad relationship, get your confidence back with some sexy boudoir photos and remind yourself of how amazing you are!
Sometimes, women who work in male dominated fields can find themselves feeling less feminine or attractive. A boudoir photoshoot can put you back in touch with your femininity and show off your inner and outer strength.
Have you ever wanted to try something you’ve never done before or maybe be someone else for the day? Many women feel boudoir is way outside their comfort zone, but that’s what is so freeing about it! Take a chance and let your guard down. The perfect time is NOW! You’ll be so glad you did it.
Boudoir isn’t just for the very young. You deserve to celebrate your beauty at any age, whether it’s 30, 50 or 70! Beautiful boudoir pictures can help you see just how uniquely gorgeous you are.
There are plenty of times in your life when you could use a little more confidence, whether it’s moving to a new city or starting a new job. Boudoir photos can be something you can look back on years later to remind yourself of a moment when you were brave and bold. That confidence will definitely come in handy.Whatever your reason for doing a boudoir session, you deserve to feel beautiful, sexy, and stunning. And I would love to help make that happen!
To find out more about the Wani Olatunde Photography boudoir experience, click right here.
I've always held a deeply rooted belief that every woman at every age deserves to look and feel beautiful. And I absolutely love empowering & uplifting women through photography.
So I am super excited to share my first ever 40 over 40 photography campaign, where I will be focusing on the under-represented demographic of women over 40!
This year I will be photographing and celebrating 40 women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond and I would love for you to join us!
The powerful message behind this campaign is that it's never too late to start living your best life and loving yourself more every day. The message is one of empowerment, self love, self acceptance and celebration of the more mature woman! And I can't wait to share your story!
The 40 over 40 campaign will be taking place at my beautiful and relaxing photography studio in Milton Keynes, UK. It will include a stunning photoshoot, professional hair and makeup styling, a complimentary matted print and a feature in our special edition 40 over 40 magazine. #excited
Click right here to find out more about how you can join other amazing women on this amazing journey with the "40 over 40" campaign!
And be sure to share with the wonderful woman in your life who deserves to be pampered. We would love to start showing her just how special she is.
All the details about the 40 over 40 photography campaign can be found right here.
p.s: Don't worry, if you aren't over 40, "normal" photoshoots are still going on. So just get in touch and we can make it happen. 🙂
Booking a professional portrait session is an exciting step! Portraits give you an opportunity to get all dressed up, strut your stuff, and capture images that you and your family can look back on for years to come. It’s the perfect boost to your confidence and a chance to capture this specific moment in your life.
But having your photo taken can be a little (sometimes a lot!) intimidating, especially if you’ve never had a portrait session before. Maybe your wedding was the last time you got in front of the camera. Maybe it’s been even longer. Maybe you’ve never had a professional photoshoot! (eek!)
It’s okay to be a little nervous. After all, you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying something new. That’s incredibly brave! Regardless of your experience, you can enjoy and benefit from a portrait session.
That’s why I've put together this guide: to help you feel a little more comfortable about your portrait session and to help your nerves give way to pure excitement!
The week of your session is the perfect time to practice a little self-care. 2 or 3 days before the shoot, treat yourself to a facial scrub or soothing mask to refresh your skin or enjoy a luxurious bubble bath. This isn't the time to try something new though so stick to tried and tested products and never the night before the shoot!
Visit the salon for a touchup if you dye your hair and splurge on a manicure to make sure your nails are looking their best.
Taking care of yourself also means drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and fried foods, and getting plenty of sleep. Try to go to bed early the night before your session to avoid any bags under your eyes. The more refreshed and relaxed you feel, the better your images will turn out! #winning
The question I probably get asked most often is What should I wear? While choosing an outfit is up to the individual and depends on what kind of images you want to create, there are some basic tips that apply to everyone:
You do your own makeup every day and know what amount looks best on you, but makeup for photography is completely different. A professional makeup artist can help make sure you look your best on camera, and their skilled work can give you a little extra confident boost for your session.
Even if you want a natural look, basic makeup is required to help even out skin tones and remove any unflattering under-eye bags and shadows that seem to be part of daily life. The goal with makeup is simply to ensure that you look like the best version of yourself! So you can be as natural or glam as you decide - it's completely up to you!
Great makeup is a fundamental part of the styling process at Wani Olatunde Photography, so this is part of the service I offer my clients. This means the only thing my clients need to worry about is turning up with their outfits. I like to keep the process as stress free as possible for my clients.
While you definitely want to stay hydrated in the days leading up to your session, it’s just as important to keep drinking water during your session. When you’re packing up your outfits and extra makeup and hair products, throw some bottled water and a few non-messy snacks into your bag as well. You may find yourself getting hungry later in the day, and having a little snack can help keep your mood and energy up.
We also offer a selection of snacks and alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks at our intimate Wani Olatunde Photography studio in Milton Keynes. We like to make sure our clients are well taken care of and have the best experience possible with us.
There's nothing worse than feeling stressed even before the photoshoot has begun! The day of your session should be a relaxing one. Don’t make other appointments or commitments and instead spend the time before your session leisurely getting ready. Speak to your photographer about how long the shoot will take so you can plan accordingly.
Here are a few other tips for keeping your day stress-free:
It’s okay to have questions about your photography session. Feel free to ask! When you wait until the last minute to voice your concerns, your photographer may then struggle to meet your needs. Instead, stay in touch with your photographer from the day you book your session right up until the photoshoot itself. Let them know what you expect, what you want your images to look like, and ask any questions you may have.
At Wani Olatunde Photography, I have created several touchpoint with my clients including our pre shoot consultation to talk through styling, the shoot and any concerns my clients may have. My goal is to ensure my clients have a great photoshoot experience and they walk away with images that they love!
So remember your photographer is here to help you. Most photographers really just want to make sure you truly enjoy your portrait experience!
Hope you've found this useful, if you need more help on preparing for the photoshoot itself, then be sure to check out this helpful blogpost right here.
Stay in touch via Instagram or Facebook for more helpful photography tips. Enjoy your photoshoot! 😄
Portrait photography - what is it and why is it important?!?
Many families book annual family portrait sessions to capture the growth of their kids and the changes in their family unit over the years. But most people (read most mums) are far less likely to book a professional portrait session unless it’s to mark a specific milestone for their kids like an 18th birthday or even further down the line like an engagement.
Portrait photography may seem unnecessary on the surface, but these images are just as important as family photos. Instead of capturing a milestone, they capture the personality and essence of the person being photographed and can freeze a moment in time, creating memories you’ll cherish for years to come.
There are a variety of reasons why you would choose to invest in a portrait session. Maybe you want to have images for your children to look back on when you're gone. Perhaps you are working on your personal brand and want photos for your social media. It could be you've gone through a big life change like significant weight loss or a divorce or an empty nest and want to change how people see you. Or maybe you just want your pictures taken! And why not?!? With one life to live, what's wrong with celebrating yourself? There isn’t just one reason why portrait photography is important, but lots of very valid reasons! Here are some of the most common reasons why people invest in professional portraits:
A professional portrait can evoke emotion and take you back to the moment when it was taken. Photography remains one of the best ways to freeze time and capture memories, making professional photography incredibly valuable.
Take a look through the photos in your phone’s camera roll. Chances are those images include things that are important to you. We take photos of the people and things that matter most to us, and when we go out of our way to invest in professional photography, we know that the people in those photos are the most special of all.
Photos tell a story in a way that words can’t. They capture the emotions we feel and the person we were in the moment the image was taken. When you look back on your portraits years later, you’ll remember how you felt and see your history told through images—a story that you’ll want to share with your loved ones.
While the thought of stepping in front of the camera can be nerve-wracking, it’s often an opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and express yourself. Whether through the clothes you wear or the way you smile, you can have fun with your portraits and boost your confidence in yourself through imagery.
Whether you hang your photos on the walls of your home or share them on social media—or both!—your photos can help you connect with your friends and family across the world. They can serve as a way to update those you love about your life and to include them in your own personal story.
Want to find out more about booking your own portrait session with Wani Olatunde Photography? You can start right here to learn more about our birthday and makeover portrait experiences. Want to stay connected? Then join me at my favourite hangout over on Instagram. 🙂
A mother daughter photoshoot is a great way to connect with your loved one. For mothers, it can be an opportunity to reconnect with their babies who are growing up way too fast! For daughters, it’s a chance to spend some quality one on one time with your mum and capture some really lovely and oh so precious moments between you.
I loved having Bisola and her teenage daughter, Morenike, at our beautiful Milton Keynes studio recently. Bisola is a business consultant and lifestyle photographer and mum of three. Morenike is a lovely teen living her best life. As the only two ladies in the house, I loved that they were able to take some time out to enjoy a girly day out with just the two of them! #noboysallowed 🙂
The goal was to capture unique images that not only reflected their mother daughter bond but also created some beautiful memories they could cherish. I also love observing and documenting the similarities that run through from mother to daughter from their smiles to their eyes. As everyone gets older, these similarities only become more comforting.
Now, even though it was a mother daughter photoshoot, I believe it's equally important to have individual portraits too. These pictures can serve as a daily reminder that we are beautiful even when we don't always feel like it!
At the end of the day, selfies and phone pics may be great for every day use. But I'm a firm believer that every woman deserves a beautiful professional portrait that makes you feel good about yourself. An image that shows the world how you want to be seen and makes you smile every time you look at it. It's a gift I'm glad Bisola and Morenike gave to themselves. #existinphotos
Here is a short video showing what we got up to on this mother daughter bonding day and what Bisola had to say about her day in the studio. Enjoy! 🙂
p.s: Mother's Day is just around the corner. Why not give the gift of a photoshoot experience? Beautiful portraits are a gift that lasts a lifetime as they form part of your family history. Get in touch right here to enquire about our Mother's Day gift certificates.
For more pretty pictures and mother daughter photoshoot outfit ideas and inspiration - let's connect over Instagram or Facebook.
Self-care, self-love, love yourself, treat yourself etcetera etcetera. We hear this all the time - from TV shows, magazines, blogs, podcasts, books and the list goes on! And to be honest, in a world that has become increasingly uncertain, self-care has never been more important! But what does self-care actually mean? What does it really mean to love yourself? How do you make self-love a part of your everyday life?
The best way to truly love yourself is to treat yourself just like you would your best friend. When it comes to our closest friends, we only see the positive in them. We don’t criticise them or point out their flaws. We love to help them feel empowered - always encouraging them and cheering them on.
But we rarely treat ourselves this way. We’re often hyper-critical of every mistake we make! We magnify every minor flaw and our insecurities distort the way we see ourselves. If we treated ourselves more like we do our best friends, then maybe we’d feel stronger and more empowered and see ourselves as we really are.
So here are a few ways you can start practising self-care in your life today:
How many times have you tossed and turned at night, thinking about a slip-up at work or a poorly-thought-out remark made to a friend or family member? (guilty!!!) We run our mistakes over and over again in our minds, punishing ourselves until we feel like we can’t do anything right.
It’s important to accept blame for the things we’ve done wrong. But there's a difference between accepting responsibility for something we can fix and beating ourselves up over a mistake we can't change. We need to stop being so hard on ourselves and to also stop taking the blame for things that aren't our responsibility.
When your best friend screws up and apologises, you’re ready to give her a second chance. Show the same kindness and understanding to yourself. Remember that one mistake doesn’t erase all the good things you’ve done or any of your fantastic qualities. Forgive yourself and move on.
When your bestie is up late the night before a big exam or work presentation, you tell her to go to bed and get some rest. You make sure she doesn’t drink too much when you go out and offer her advice when she needs it.
Your own body and mind let you know what you need to stay healthy. Listen to them. Too often, we push ourselves too hard, trying to get everything crossed off our to-do list. I get it - I do it all the time too! But sometimes you need to slow down, for both your physical and mental health. Just like taking care of your loved ones shows them you love them, taking care of yourself is how you show self-love. It's important!
Ooh - I could talk a while on this topic! The people we let in our lives have a huge impact on how we see ourselves. If you spend your time with people who don’t respect you, you won’t respect yourself. #facts #chooseyourtribecarefully
If your best friend had relationships that were toxic or hurtful, you’d tell her to drop those poor friends. But when it comes to yourself, you may think you deserve what you’re given. Instead, try to make sure your life is full of people who genuinely care about you. When you’re well-loved by others, it’s easier to see how deserving you are of that love.
You wouldn’t allow anyone to tell your best friend she’s unattractive or terrible at her job. Why would you allow someone to say those things to you?
Unfortunately, the meanest person in your life is sometimes yourself, which means you have to stand up and remind yourself of your own worth and value. Standing up to your inner critic can be scary and it's tough but it’s well worth it!
Some of the kindest things our best friends do for us are unexpected surprises: bringing you your favorite drink or inviting you out for a spontaneous lunch.
Show yourself that same love with the occasional treat. Sometimes you just need a cappuccino or a massage to make a tough day a little better.
Your best friend is your best friend for a reason. She wouldn’t stick around if you she didn’t love everything about you and vice versa. If you learn to show yourself the same care and kindness you show your best friend, then you can truly learn how to love yourself. #winning
One of my favourite ways for hard working ladies to treat themselves is to a photoshoot. I believe this is one of the ultimate acts of self-care where you spend time falling in love with yourself all over again. Click here to find out more about the photoshoot experience with Wani Olatunde Photography.
As a women's photographer, I am incredibly passionate about empowering and celebrating women of all ages and sizes. I'm on a mission to help women feel comfortable with being seen and stepping into their power. And I do this in my small way with my clients one photoshoot at a time.
This was a great conversation with Alison Moore about the challenges of self acceptance, self empowerment and learning to be comfortable in your own skin. We also touch on the importance of representation and seeing yourself in the environment around you.
It's part of a great series called "Reconnect Your Life", which is all about helping women live their best lives. So very much in alignment with all WOP stands for.
Be sure to check it out right here and let us know what you think.
Thanks for having me Alison. 🙂
Interested in having a photoshoot of your own? Contact Wani right here for a complimentary no-obligations consultation.
One of the things I love the most about what I do is the confidence boosting power of a photoshoot! Honestly it's like every woman's secret weapon but you do have to be ready to use it! 🙂
Let's face it - most of us hate having our pictures taken! A lot of my clients start off unsure, uncomfortable and sometimes a little awkward in front of the camera. So one of the best parts of my job is being able to watch a client unfurl and blossom like a beautiful flower as the photoshoot progresses.
In a world that constantly sends the message - "you are not good / beautiful / slim / thick / fit / smart / fill in your blank" enough, it feels really good to watch women fall in love with themselves all over again and embrace all that is beautiful about them.
Like I always say, with a little bit of confidence, you can take over the world! And I like to think I play my part in helping my clients step forward with their heads raised high with these confidence boosting photoshoots.
This week - I'd love to introduce you to Ute! She's a librarian and an author. During her pre shoot consultation, she mentioned she would like some personal branding images that worked well for both roles and of course a little bit of glam. I always think if you are going to spend all that time getting ready for a shoot and having your hair and makeup professionally done - you might as well go for at least 3-5 different looks. These can then be used in a myriad of ways over the year.
Anyway, enough from me, here's Ute! 🙂
Hi Ute, tell us a little bit about yourself, what do you do?
I work as a Learning and Teaching Librarian at the Open University.
What inspired your interest in this field?
I've spent a lot of time in Higher Education teaching and studying so I decided one day that I would like to share my enjoyment of learning and knowledge by developing other people's information literacy skills. I've also always loved libraries.
What's your favourite book?
This is a really hard question, as I love so many books and my favourites continuously change. Most of Salman Rushdie's and Haruki Murakami's books are amongst them. 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories' by Rushdie is one of my favourites, as it's all about the power of storytelling, humorous and a joy to read. Having originally written it for his son, it can be read as a children's book but it has another level to it, which can be appreciated as an adult.
How was the lockdown experience for you? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
Lockdown was difficult for me. I'm not sure whether I learned something new about myself, but I think it sharpened my awareness of us being social beings in the world and functioning as such even if I need and enjoy my own space. When this social connectivity is almost taken away, at least in person, it's challenging and can only be counteracted by one's more solitary pursuits and enjoyments like reading and writing up to a point.
So your photoshoot...did you have any concerns or worries before the photoshoot? Or did anything surprise you during your shoot?
Maybe I was a little concerned that I would look too self-conscious and unnatural, as I'm not used to being photographed much or posing. Wani has made it really easy for me though and I looked natural and happy in the end.
Let's get more personal - what meal could you eat every day for a year? #foodiealert
Indian vegetarian food. I love it so much. It should be at least medium spicy.
What is one thing guaranteed to make you smile?
Cats, particularly one that I visit regularly. <aww>
How can people find out more about you?
I've got a website with a blog on which I do book and film reviews and write about writing and the creative process. https://utemanecke.wordpress.com/blog/
Here is also the link to my first novel: http://www.lulu.com/shop/ute-manecke/the-snowstorm/paperback/product-23855364.html
I'm currently writing my second novel, which is a bit slower, as I'm also doing a creative writing course at the same time. More details will emerge on my website in the future.
Our "model for a day" photoshoot comes with some serious confidence boosting benefits. It gives you the opportunity to rediscover the woman within and fall in love with yourself all over again! You'll leave the session feeling uplifted and beautiful and all the fab comments from your nearest and dearest won't hurt when they see how fabulous you look in your printed pictures afterwards.
Interested in having a photoshoot of your own? Then click right here to get in touch for a quick chat on how I can help.
New Month, New Series!
I'm a pretty lucky gal! As a headshot photographer in Milton Keynes, I get to work with and celebrate amazing women doing fantastic things every day! I'd love for you to get to know them like I do so I've decided to have a Client Spotlight twice a month where I introduce you to some of my favourite clients. 🙂
We start off this series with Social Media Manager and Facebook Ads Strategist, Natasha Leonards of AWE SOCIAL! I met Natasha at a local networking group back in January and we hit it off pretty much right away. Natasha is based in Milton Keynes and needed updated headshots for her brand new website. She wanted her images to come across as professional but approachable. Natasha is warm and vivacious and we had so much fun working together - I can't wait to do so again!
Since then, I've had the opportunity to work with Natasha on setting up my Facebook Ads for a headshot campaign and I love the way she is able to break down FB Ads into simple, digestible concepts that even simpletons like me can digest - lol. Natasha's highest priority is helping her clients achieve their goals as opposed to getting them to spend as much money as possible. This approach is priceless and I can highly recommend Natasha's services for all things social media and Facebook Ads! #thankmelater
Enough from me - here's Natasha!
NATASHA LINKEDIN PAGE
Currently updating your website and in need of some brand new headshots in Milton Keynes? Then get in touch right here and we can have a chat about how I can help.
