Your +1's for your Portrait Session
When you pack a bag for your next portrait session...
make sure that you leave some room in there for stuff other than your clothes.
Although the point of sharing image content on your social channels is to establish your expertise and create relationships and trust with potential clients...
...you can’t bore the hell out of them with 50 days in a row of portraits taken in the same outfit, in the same location, with the same expression on your face.
You gotta spice it up while presenting an authentic you.
As a result, I help identify other types of image content that my clients should create during their sessions that doesn't just involve their faces. Most of that content is built around props that relate directly to your services, creative processes and brand.
During a portrait session with Jenn Scalia, we talked about a wide range of topics related to her business - what she’s about and who she serves.
We also chatted about her creative process.
When I asked her where she collects her thoughts of inspiration, she responded, “Well, I journal a lot.”
Now, that’s a cool, relevant, endearing and potentially engaging prop! It also gives her followers a glimpse into the inner workings of what makes her the highly sought-after expert that she is.
Nice win-win.
To see the rest of Jenn’s portrait gallery, click here.
As I discussed with her as we reviewed these images, these types of photos would serve as an excellent, visual compliment to captions that illustrate her stream of conscious thoughts that are relatable, informative and inspiring to her followers.
It’s because of how magical these photos came out that I now encourage every client to bring journals to their sessions, and quite a few have taken me up on it. Unlike with Jenn's session, I now have each client who brings their journal to write specific words or passages that I can shoot so that the words themselves are the caption, providing even more creative flexibility with this option.
But, what if you’re like me and don’t keep a handwritten journal?
Okay, then, forget the blog and answer this question - what are the tools of your trade? Computer? Microphone? Yoga mat? Calculator? What objects do you use to positively effect your client’s lives?
Take a second to think about it and jot your answers in the comment section below.
Also, have you ever been photographed with these props before? I’m curious to know, :)
PS - For those of you who aren’t in the know, I mail out these blogs 3x a week, and lemme tell you, they’re a real party, so, if you’d like to get in on this, sign up for it here and I’ll throw in a free gift for you...because I care, :)