Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

How Do Realtors Stand Out, Get Noticed, and Attract More Clients?

The number one thing you can do to change that is to find a way to stand out from the crowd. That means your personal brand is more important now than it’s ever been. People want to do business with human beings, and the more real and authentic you are, the more people will want to do business with you.

Since social media marketing is always visual, your first step toward putting yourself “out there” in a more authentic way is to get awesome, personal, branded photos that allow people to not only see you but, more importantly, to see who you are.

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

5 Signs It's Time to Update Your Headshots

Chances are good there are some areas of your online branding that you just sort of take for granted. If you’ve worked with a branding expert, “personal brand” is probably something you’ve checked off of your “to-do” list.

That’s fine for most elements of your brand (like your logo and signature brand colors and fonts that you use consistently online), but there’s one area where you need to continually stay up to date. Your headshots.

I get it. When you created your brand, you probably invested in professional headshots. Isn’t that also “done?” Probably not. Your personal image and how you look are the one part of your brand that’s constantly changing. Old headshots can hurt your brand. Outdated photos show a lack of investment in your business and damage your credibility with current (and more importantly, potential) clients.

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Are You A Speaker? It’s Time for Headshots That Start A Conversation With Your Audience

If you use speaking as part of your personal brand, you’re an expert at showing up and connecting with your audience live (either in person or virtually). That’s great once you’re actually in front of people, but in order for your brand to reflect who you are as a speaker, you need still photos that capture the essence of your speaker persona.

You want your branding images to make people feel like they’re already part of the conversation you have with your audience from the stage. Without these photos, your dynamic speaker personality won’t come through to potential booking agents or clients who are looking for exactly what you deliver from the stage.

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

How an Old Headshot Can Hurt Your Brand

Key Reasons to Keep Your Headshots Updated

Here are some recommendations and reasons to make sure your headshots are always updated and on point for your brand:

  • Ideally, you should update your professional images every one to three years. NEVER use a photo for your business that’s more than three years old

  • Professional photos are a must if you’re doing business online. No matter how great you look in a candid, amateur shot, there is no substitute for professional-looking images when it comes to your business brand.

  • Not only do your looks change over time, but so does your life experience. A good photographer will make sure your personality and interests shine through in your headshots. The only way to ensure these reflect who you are NOW (and not who you were ten years ago), is to have updated professional photos taken.

  • An up-to-date anchor image (or headshot) that you love and are proud of builds your confidence, which is also a huge business asset. I've seen my clients put themselves out there more often once they’ve gotten images they’re proud of.

  • Photos that are updated regularly are a clear indication that you’re active and engaged with your business, something potential clients want to know and is looking for.

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Headshots, Personal Branding Kim Brundage Headshots, Personal Branding Kim Brundage

10 Tips to Get the Most out of your LinkedIn Profile Image

It’s a new year with new goals. It’s time to update your LinkedIn profile or at least make sure it checks these boxes.

You only get about 3 seconds to make a first impression on LinkedIn. Your profile image will be the very first thing your potential client or employer looks at.

Fun Fact:

Did you know that humans process images 60,000X faster than text?

Be sure you’re telling the story you want which is consistent with your personal brand and putting your best foot forward.

Your profile image should position you as the professional and the authority figure you are.

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

4 Headshot Photography Myths You Can Discard Today

Let’s talk about your headshots.

I know, this probably isn’t one of your favorite topics, because having your picture taken probably isn’t in your top 10 (or even 25) list of things you love to do.

The hard truth is, though, if your current photos are more than two years old, they’re out of date and need to be updated (especially if you are a professional of any kind).

Whether you’re thinking about taking headshots for the first time or you want to refresh your current photos there are some common myths about headshots I’d like to debunk so you can book your next photoshoot with confidence and peace of mind.

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

This Branding Photographer Puts You at Ease for Your Executive Headshots

Very few people in this world actually enjoy having their pictures taken. The minute a camera is aimed at us, we tend to feel self-conscious and uncomfortable. I’ve even had a handful of professionals tell me they used to skip school on picture days! That can relegate “Update my executive headshot” to the very bottom of your “to-do” list (right below having a root canal or paying a late fee on your credit card bill for a mistake your bank made) headshot.

I get it! I’m an award-winning professional photographer and I feel the same way about having my picture taken. Since I specialize in executive headshots, part of my goal is to make even the most nervous client feel comfortable, confident, and as relaxed as possible. Most of my sessions even actually end up being fun for my clients.

Here’s how I accomplish this:

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

5 Questions to Ask Yourself if a Personal Brand Photo Session is Right for Your Business

Nowadays, having an intentional personal brand is more important than ever.

But does that mean that everyone needs to work hard at building their personal brand? How do you know if scheduling a personal brand photoshoot is right for you and your business? Here are five great questions to help you find out.

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Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Executive Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

From Executive Marketing Pro to Executive Branding and Headshot Photographer Nationwide

Every quarter in Richmond, Virginia, and nationwide, I get to work with amazing leaders and companies throughout our country to help their brands to shine. I do this with my photography practice. Of all the ways I could serve my clients, I focus on creating branded portraits for executives and entrepreneurs.

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Photography, Personal Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Photography, Personal Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

5 Business Headshot Mistakes to Avoid Today

Visuals are an integral part of making a lasting first impression online. When potential clients, business partners, or employers want to put a face to your resume, what would they see?

A professional headshot session is a sound business investment for a number of reasons, but only if you use it to your advantage.

Here are the mistakes you should avoid.

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Photography, Personal Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage Photography, Personal Branding, Headshots Kim Brundage

6 Tips to Help You Look More Confident, Relaxed and Engaging in Your Headshots

As a professional headshot photographer, I know from experience that you can have the best photographer money can buy, but if you don’t look relatable, comfortable, and engaging in your photos, they’re not going to have the effect you’re hoping for.

I’m sure you know that being relaxed before and during a headshot photo session makes it easier for your personality and professionalism to shine through. The question is, how do you get to a relaxed, comfortable state while doing an activity that most people avoid and dread? Great question! Here are some ideas I share with my clients that have made a huge difference in how their final photos turn out.


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Don't like your Smile? Try these 5 tips instead

Most of us probably have more about ourselves that we’d like to change than things we truly love. For example, lots of people don’t like their smiles. It’s not something they dwell on, but it becomes an issue when it’s time to get a headshot or have their picture taken with their loved ones. For someone who hates their smile, being told to smile or having someone shout, “Say cheese!” instantly creates tension and elicits something more akin to a grimace than an actual, genuine smile.

I was recently working in Richmond, VA, doing what I love to do best (capturing the perfect branding photos for corporations and entrepreneurs)! I noticed that lots of the clients with whom I was working didn’t like their smile. This could have adversely affected their shoot if we hadn’t identified and handled it before they stepped in front of the camera.

So, I thought I would share my favorite tips for feeling comfortable during your next photoshoot.

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5 Lessons Learned: My first "on the Road" Branding Session in New Orleans

My previous beloved branding clients, Tek Chix, wanted to add to the marketing assets and update their branding images. Here are some quick lessons I learned while doing my first out of my home state of Virginia branding session. You can also apply these to your branding session, wherever you are at!

Lesson 1: Always do a site location preview the day before

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Executive Branding, Headshots lauren west Executive Branding, Headshots lauren west

From Executive Marketing Pro to Executive Branding and Headshot Photographer

Every week from my photography studio in Richmond, Virginia, I get to work with amazing leaders and companies throughout Central Virginia to help their brands to shine. I do this with my photography practice. Of all the ways I could serve my clients, I focus on creating branded portraits for executives and entrepreneurs.

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