The 3 Stages of Entrepreneurship and Which Photos You Need for Each

Nov 10

*Megan Costa is a singer and songwriter. She recently launched her website and needed branded portraits for her website, social media, and gig promotions.*
*Kim Brundage Photography 2022*

There’s a lot to think about as an entrepreneur. People often push “branded photos for my business” to the bottom of their “to-do” list simply because they’re too busy to think about them. While I realize that business photos may not be something you’ve been told you need as an entrepreneur and as a branding photographer, I know they are absolutely essential.

Depending upon which stage your business happens to be in, you have different photographic needs. Part of my job is to help you determine what you need for each of the following stages:

Stage 1 - The Birth of Your Business

*Neemit Shah is a Commercial Real Estate Agent*, *and he needed new headshots to launch his career. He wanted a relaxed and approachable non-traditional headshot*.
Kim Brundage Photography 2022

At this stage, you’re truly creating your business, choosing your business model, building a support team, getting your online presence and website done, and deciding on branding for all of the above. It’s a lot. At this stage of your business, you need at least one or two really good headshots to use online, on business cards, in your email signature, and anywhere else where you need to “show up.” My Headshot Branding appointment will help you nail down your “anchor image” to make the first impression you want to make.

I can’t stress enough how important having a good headshot is. In fact, in certain ways, the importance of a good headshot is actually measurable. LinkedIn, which enjoys more traffic when profiles are more engaging, reports that bios with headshots get 21 times more views than those without, and users receive nine times more connection requests when they include pictures of themselves.

Stage 2 - Building Your Brand

*Reagan Tomlison is a Compass Real Estate Agent and her niche is the historic district of Jackson Ward in Richmond, VA.*
Kim Brundage Photography 2022

Once you’ve started your business, building your brand should be the focus of everything you do. You’ll need more variety in the photos you post, and you’ll need to ensure your brand is represented in specific ways. Personal branding is personalized for your personal brand!

With my Personal Branding services, I guide my clients through my branding process to determine the best wardrobe, location, and props to ensure their photos convey their brand. The more your brand is represented in your photos, the easier it is to connect with your ideal clients and build your following.

*This was Reagan’s first time getting her branded portraits taken. We wanted to show a wide range of locations and how she walks with her sweet dog, Lucy, around Jackson Ward in Richmond, VA.*

Stage 3 - HyperGrowth

Belinda Ellsworth is the author of “Direct Selling for Dummies.” Belinda is a marketing genius, and she has a huge following. It had been several years since she updated her images. I always encourage my clients to include a personal or hobby image to allow their fanbase to get to know them better.
Kim Brundage Photography 2022 in Pinckney, Michigan

This is the most exciting time in any business…when you start to see your hard work pay off! You’re getting more followers, booking clients or selling your products and services, and seeing more opportunities for business growth.

At this stage, you’ll need to have several images (at least 15) so you have branded marketing assets for your website, social media, and all your online marketing needs. Because your marketing is only as good as your visuals, great branded photos can grab your audience’s attention, stop them from scrolling, and memorably position you with them, so you’re the one they call when they’re ready to hire.

Even if we can’t work together for your actual photo shoot, you can book a Brand Consultation with me, and I can bring my expertise to your photo shoot with another photographer to ensure you get the branded photos you need.

The bottom line is that any serious, high-performing entrepreneur should get new branded photos every six months to keep their content fresh and engaging. If it’s been longer than that since you last have professional photos taken, get on my calendar for a consultation, and let’s fix that!