TOVANI DESIGN

Sacramento Photographer specializing in portraits, lifestyle, brand, photography

Headshots

Choosing the Right Props for Your Next Photo Session

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Have you ever thought about adding props to your photo sessions? Props can add interest, depth and an extra flair to your pictures. Get your children to hold coordinating flowers for a spring or summer shoot. Love sports? Then use baseball bats in your next family photo to bring out your passion. Here are a few tips for ways to incorporate props in your next photo session.

  1. Avoid trends. While you might have recently seen a few photos that incorporate a specific prop, try not to use something that will not look really dated in 20 years’ time. Classic is definitely better and there are many fun options to choose from.
  2. Be realistic. It’s easy to go wild when thinking of a theme for your photo session. You should decide on one that you can actually find props for. For example, if you want to use seasonal props, try and source them in that season as they’ll be easier to find and before you decide to remake your favorite movie scene, think twice about whether you’ll be able to find suitable outfits for everyone in the photo. 
  3. Size matters. There are some larger props that work really well in photo sessions such as using your grandpa’s farm tractor as a background piece. However, there are some larger props that can take away from the beauty of the photograph altogether. Make sure that your prop enhances the photo and doesn’t detract from it.
  4. Make it meaningful. If your child has a favorite stuffed animal or if you have a musical instrument that you treasure, try and incorporate it into your photos. This way your pictures will have more meaning to you and your family.
  5. Use what you have. Make the current season work to your advantage by using what’s available. Leaves in the fall make for amazing props in photos and don’t cost a thing.

Remember, using props can be the perfect addition to your photos but make sure that they don’t become the main focus.

How to Find the Perfect Photo Shoot Location

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Choosing a photo shoot location might seem like a big deal but it really doesn’t have to be difficult. A location usually drives some of the other decisions you will need to make about your shoot so it’s important to choose the right place. Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you decide on a location:

  • What kind of theme do I want? If a particular building or natural backdrop would work well with your theme, look around your area for spots that meet your requirements. If you don’t know what kind of backdrop you want, take an afternoon drive around your city for inspiration. It’s easy to overlook beautiful spots that are practically in your backyard. Ask family, friends or your photographer for ideas too.
  • Are you allowed to take pictures there? Make sure that you can legally take pictures at the location that you have in mind. If it’s not public property or available to the public you will need to get permission first.
  • Is it accessible? Consider that not all outdoor locations may be available all year round or you might not be able to get to them at all. Your safety is also an important aspect to think about before you decide on a location. Taking pictures on a mountain ledge may look neat but it’s best not to put yourself in harm’s way.  
  • How do you get to your location? Will it be easy to walk to the session location and if not, are you able to change your clothing and touch up your hair and makeup before the shoot? You should also find out whether there is a restroom that’s close enough in case you need it.
  • Will the photo session be in a public place? If the location you have chosen has a lot of foot traffic, you need to ask yourself whether you are comfortable being photographed in front of others. If not, you might want to rethink your choice in location

Make sure that your location doesn’t become a distraction and that there is shelter nearby if you need it. Your location tells a story so it’s worthwhile to choose a meaningful spot.

5 Things to Look For In a Personal Branding Photographer

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So you’ve started marketing yourself and your career in your own unique way. You want your personal brand to come across as exciting, engaging, and different from the rest of your competition. You want to put the task of capturing your image and your essence into the hands of a capable, professional personal branding photographer. But how can you tell whether a photographer is a good fit for that daunting task? Here are four things you should keep an eye out for as you’re trying to find a good match.

Portfolio
Every photographer has a unique aesthetic and style. Are you looking for classic and sophisticated personal branding photos? Or is your look more bright and colorful? While any good photographer will be able to listen to your vision and try to capture it, it’s best to choose a photographer whose previous work resonates with you.

Specialization
A fantastic wedding photographer or family portrait photographer isn’t necessarily a fantastic personal branding photographer. Look for an experienced photographer who specializes in personal brand photography.

What’s included?
To have a successful personal brand photoshoot, there’s usually a lot more elements that go into it than just you, your photographer, and the camera. Find out whether your photographer offers a brand story consult, styling or wardrobe advice, professional hair and makeup, or studio space as part of their personal brand photoshoot package. If not, consider those potential extra costs when working out your budget.

Connection
During your consultation, focus on how your photographer makes you feel. Do you feel confident in yourself and his or her ability to make you look your best? Do you feel comfortable and relaxed? Do you feel like he or she understands you and your vision? If so, it’ll definitely show in your photos!

Think about the future
As you and your business evolve, you’ll want to update your personal brand photos to best reflect your new look. To keep your brand looking fresh, ask whether your potential photographer offers a monthly or quarterly photoshoot package to regularly update your photos.

When it comes to choosing a personal branding photographer, look for a photographer who knows how to tell a story with the camera, one that will make any future potential clients of yours want to know more. For something as important as your personal brand, you can’t just look for someone who will get the job done for the lowest price — you need an experienced professional who can assist you in representing your unique persona and vision.

5 Tips for Improving Your Personal Brand

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A personal brand is a combination of skills, expertise, and personality and how you present them on different platforms is important. For entrepreneurs, a personal brand is everything, but how do you know if you’re doing enough?

Here are a few ways that you can boost your personal brand.

To really make your personal brand stand out, you need to define it. Jot down what you’re passionate about, what you are known for and what your areas of expertise are. Be as specific as possible. For example, saying that you’re good at baking is too general. Having a niche focus will ensure that people truly believe that you know what you’re talking about.

  • Keep Your Profiles Consistent

If you are present on several different online platforms, it’s important to make sure that your profiles are consistent. Use the same photo, bio, and graphics across all of your profiles so that people will instantly recognize you. If you have made a point of creating profiles on social media, be active on a consistent basis as this will show that you’re trustworthy and reliable.

  • Share Your Knowledge

Seek out opportunities to write and share your expertise. Finding industry related websites and newsletters that you can contribute to will not only spread the word about what you have to offer but showcase your knowledge on a particular topic too. If you don’t already, it may also be a good idea to create your own blog that you can write for on a weekly basis.

  • Engage with Your Audience

Networking is a crucial part of growing your personal brand, which is why engaging with people both online and offline on a regular basis is a must. Whether you participate in discussions on forums or attend networking events, you will be showing people that you are out there, interested, and engaged. The more you connect with people in an authentic way, the more quickly they will recommend you to others.

  • Speak at Events

If you feel confident enough to speak in front of an audience, keep an eye out for speaking engagements in your area. Speaking at events will help you build rapport with your audience and give you the opportunity to network afterward too. Just be sure that you have a professional headshot and branded photos to send with your bio and that your website is looking good before you start sending traffic there.

How to Make Your Personal Brand Photos Really Stand Out

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Creating a personal brand is all about setting yourself apart from the competition. Your personal brand is what makes you and your business unique — it’s what makes you a relatable, authentic, go-to professional instead of just blending in with everyone else in your field. While putting together your personal brand involves a lot of different parts — from how your website looks to your logo to the words you use to tell your story — your personal brand photos can really make or break your entire image. So how can you make sure your personal brand photos really pop? Here are a few things to consider before getting in front of the camera.

Look your best
Put your best face forward for your personal brand photoshoot by hiring a professional hair/makeup artist. Makeup never looks as vibrant behind the camera as it does in real life — a professional will know exactly how much makeup to put on to make you really shine. Plus, a pro will be able to make your vision come to life better than you can, whether you want a look that will make you look fun, young, sophisticated, or somewhere in between!

Choose your wardrobe carefully
Wear something that makes you feel confident and that tells your audience about who you are. Most photographers allow for an outfit change or two as part of their personal brand photography package, which is a great way to try out a few looks if you can’t decide!


Use props
Try using a few props to better tell the story of who you are and what you do. If you’re a blogger, get a shot of you writing at your desk. If you’re a florist, ask your photographer to snap a few shots of you arranging some blooms. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with it!

Remember: your personal brand should be an accurate reflection of you. As long as you’re sharing your authentic self with the world, your intended audience will eat it up. Your personal brand photoshoot shouldn’t be about trying to be something you’re not — it’s about making sure you present the absolute best and most confident version of yourself to the world. So embrace those qualities that make you uniquely you!

How to Protect Your Personal Brand on Social Media

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First impressions happen in the blink of an eye. Whether it’s face to face or over social media, people will quickly and easily form an opinion about you based on what they see. The reality is that social media plays a major role in how people perceive us online, even more so when you’re trying to build or run a business.

If you want to make sure that social media doesn’t damage your personal brand, here are a few guidelines that you can follow.

Reserve Your Handles and Domains

Even if you aren’t using certain social media platforms just yet, it’s best to reserve your handles as soon as you can – the same goes for your domain. If you are just getting started on social media, try and have the same handle, or at least similar handles, across all platforms.

Perfect Your Bio

An inconsistent bio is not going to do your personal brand any favors. The best thing you can do is turn your elevator pitch into a bio and to ensure that you’re using the same bio across all platforms. You also want to have professional headshots taken to create a good and lasting first impression.

Think Twice about Your Content

Be selective about the content and social media posts that you publish. Everything you post online has the potential to be stuck online forever, which means it will forever be associated with your personal brand. Consider the words as well as the images you will be using – are they a true representation of your personal brand?

Be Consistent

If you want to market your personal brand online, consistency is key. You can’t post something whenever the mood strikes, not if you want to build trust and a sound reputation. Plan your social media posts and blog posts so that your audience is hearing from you on a regular basis. It’s also important to keep an eye on comments and to engage with your audience in a meaningful way.

Social media can be a powerful personal branding tool but only if you are committed to keeping your profiles updated and are staying consistent and engaged.