You know when you want some really good photos of yourself? Just because? Because the average insta or facebook shot taken on your iPhone doesn’t cut it? Or because you think you aren’t that photogenic (like who doesn’t think that?) and because you need a headshot for your Linkedin profile that doesn’t feature a cocktail or a strapless dress?

That.

And then I met Prue Aja who does personal branding shoots. Beautiful photos that represent who you are and what you are about. But hold on, what is personal branding and why does it need photos?

Well. Personal branding is about marketing yourself as a brand to support your career. The Khardashians have mastered the art of personal branding!

It probably sounds a little narsisstic but with the rise of the internet and social media, our online presence and images are becoming more important to manage, particularly when managing your career. Employers are increasingly using social media tools (rightly or wrongly) to check out applicants on Facebook, Twitter and others, and there is definitely a shift from submitting a carefully put together cover letter and resume to applying for roles directly with your Linkedin profile and having a personal blog (like me).

So I wanted some new fancy photos for my new fancy website and a chance comment on Prue’s facebook page had her coming to Singapore to take them! She did some corporate work and I got to tag along and see what happans behind the scenes on another personal branding shoot.

What happens before the shoot?

Quite a lot actually. Prue doesn'tjust rock up and start taking photos. There is a lot of thought and details that get worked out before hand. I had a call with Prue first to talk about what I do and who I am. We discussed what I wanted to use the photos for and how did I want to come across. From there I selected a package that suited my purpose (Prue has some set packages on offer but I'm sure if you wanted something different she would tailor something for you.)

After selecting a package I had some work to do! I completed a questionare about what I do and who my market is. I answered questions how the photos would be used and what my 'look' is. I wrote about the clothes and accessories I wanted to include in the shoot and was asked about make-up and hair styles I like, and where I would like to go for some location shots.

After that Prue set up a shared dropbox for us to collaborate on how I wanted my shoot to go, and the kind of images I wanted. We also set up a shared Pinterest board for me to share the hair and make-up looks I like and the clothes and shots I like. This was lots of fun. I also had some very thoughtful questionaires to complete on my purpose and who I am.

A bit closer to the date of the shoot Prue produced a creative image brief which summarised everthing we had discussed and worked on together. This was the blue print for the shoot to come.....

In my next post I'll tell you what happens on the day of the shoot!

Lisa xx