Is a mini branding session right for me?

If you're interested in my mini branding sessions but not sure if it's the right option for you, read on. In this blog post I will explain who my mini branding sessions are ideal for and tell you more about what you can expect from these sessions.

Firstly, let's recap what my mini branding sessions actually are. It's a max 1 hour session that takes place in Crystal Palace in South East London (SE19) and includes both indoor and outdoor images. Sessions are bookable for weekdays subject to availability. You can find out more here, including current prices and what's included.

Is a mini branding session right for me? Let me answer this by asking YOU a few questions.

• What do you do and where do you work? My mini sessions are ideal for small business owners and freelancers who don't have their own office, studio or workspace (or it's not suitable for photos). Basically if you offer an online or remote service where the environment you work in is irrelevant then a mini session should work fine for you. My past mini session clients have included a web designer, life coach, marketing consultant and playwright. If you can do your work from a cafe on a laptop and phone then this is definitely a great option for you. However if you're for example an artist, maker, shop owner or a practitioner who sees clients mostly in person then it would make more sense to have your photo shoot in your own working environment which we can do on a bespoke branding session. I have also had individuals at my mini branding sessions who are employed but need some updated photos of themselves for work purposes and want their photos to show a bit more personality than studio headshots. So you absolutely don't have to run your own business to book a mini branding session with me!

• What will you be using your photos for? My mini sessions are great if you need some updated photos for a website refresh or for your social media to help you be more visible in your business. If you are building a whole new website from scratch and have specific requirements on the type of images you need for your new site in terms of orientation, colour scheme and general look & feel then I would recommend booking a bespoke session.

• What's your budget? If you are on a limited budget then a mini branding session is a cost effective option. Perhaps you are only starting out in your business or you only need a small selection of images and cannot justify a higher cost at this time. On the other hand, if you do have the budget to spend more, then a bespoke branding photo shoot will always give you more flexibility in terms of shoot locations, more variety in your images as we can can include more backdrops and more outfit changes and also there will be more images overall included in your gallery than in a mini session gallery.

• How comfortable are you in being photographed in public? At a mini branding session we will take photos of you in a public indoor venue (i.e. a cafe or pub) and outside on the streets which means there will be some other people around. They will most likely be busy minding their own business and won't pay any attention to you being photographed but if you are particularly self conscious of having your photo taken then a more private location might work better for you which is something we can arrange on a bespoke branding session.

So what can you expect from a mini branding session with me? Firstly, after you've booked and paid for your session I will send you a link to my client questionnaire to find out a little bit more about you and your business and your aims for the photo shoot. You will also receive lots of clothing and other preparation tips by email to help you get ready for your session. On the day of your session we will meet over a hot drink at the agreed indoor venue on Crystal Palace Triangle. I generally use a couple of different tried and tested venues that I find work well for this type of photo shoot. We will take a variety of relaxed portraits and lifestyle shots indoors with and without props such as your laptop, phone, coffee cup, note book and professional books (if relevant to what you do) and then move outdoors to a nearby street for a more portraits with a different backdrop and sometimes some full length and/or walking shots. As a professional personal branding photographer it is my job to guide you throughout the session on how to sit or stand, what to do with your hands and where to look so you don't need to worry about feeling awkward and not knowing how to pose. 

Take a look below of some sample photos from my past mini branding sessions to give you an idea of the types of images that you may receive from your session.

If you're interested in booking a session, get in touch via my contact form and we'll get you booked in!