There’s a lot of advice online, usually directed at women and moms, that says:
JUST ASK FOR HELP
Delegate!
Outsource!
Hire people to do the things that aren’t in your zone of genius!
Okay, I'll admit that this blog post is coming from my personal experience. I’ve always been really independent and had the mindset that “it’s faster if I just do it myself”. And becoming a mom 10 years ago took that to the next level.
So I’ve been working really hard the last few years to flip that thought. To not do it all myself.
And what have I learned?
That sometimes it can be a game changer! But also....
Here’s the thing… I don’t have an answer for those either because I’m the person asking it (Lol)
<< brakes screeching >>
(welcome to my brain)
Wait! Does this happen to people who need photos and then don’t get what the need or aren’t happy with the way they looked?
Do I do this to people too?? They're told that brand photos will be transformational and then they don't get that feeling. Ugh. No way, not happening.
So here I am, giving you some answers instead of just telling you everything will be fine 😉
Here is what you need to know before your photo shoot so that you’re not disappointed in the photos:
Your Values
The Purpose
Where Are You Confident?
If you can answer these questions you’re already on your way to a successful photo shoot!
They are the compass behind every decision we make before and during your photo shoot to keep us pointed in the right direction. When you filter everything through those answers you end up with photos that feel authentically you, align with your business and are powerful and intentional.
And if you don’t have answers to them yet then a photoshoot might leave you feeling like you were promised a transformation and all you got were some nice photos and a new Instagram profile pic.
But what if you’ve got those answers and there’s still that thing we don’t talk about that’s putting a damper on it.
I’ve seen people look SO GOOD in their photos, everyone else sees it too, but they can only see their own beliefs about the way their body looks.
I’m not going to pretend that one blog post is going to be the thing that makes you see yourself differently - I know it’s so much deeper and more layered than it ever looks to others.
But I will say that it’s more about mindset than you might think. Practice changing your mindset from them being about your body to these photos being a tool to help you connect and communicate with your future clients. Are they going to base their decision to work with you on your size or are they going to base it on the person who they see is confident and knows what she’s doing? (if it’s the first, is that the kind of person you want to work with anyway)
Mindset flip: use the answers to the questions above as affirmations before your shoot or one like this
Again, I recognize that this is a very real thing that a lot of us experience and it doesn’t change overnight just because a photographer told you that you look great. But it can also hold you back for a long time if you let it.
Lastly, if everything else feels good and something is still off it might just be
Finding a photographer who understands you, communicates clearly and helps you know what to expect before your photo shoot is huge. If communication (both ways) isn’t great then it’s a whole lot harder to get the results you want.
Speak up during your shoot if something feels off to you. Personally, I hate fake laughing. I know, it can look great in photos and usually turns into real laughing which is what the photographer wants. But I hate doing it when I’m getting my picture taken! It makes me feel embarrassed and awkward and then I carry that with me for the rest of the shoot.
Your photographer is probably going to ask you to do things because that’s their job to see what works. Sit on the desk, dance, jump off the couch, lay on the floor, fake laugh… there’s so many things that sound absolutely ridiculous but actually look really good in photos
There’s a balance between trusting your photographer and knowing when you just really don’t want to do that thing. And that comes down to communication. Tell them! Or try the thing and then ask to see the photos on the back of the camera for proof for yourself.
My number one thing on a photo shoot is helping you feel comfortable and at ease. I think that it’s the most important thing! If you have that then the rest comes a lot more naturally. You might feel uncomfortable at the start, but as we ease into it it gets easier and feels less weird. And that’s when the photos feel like you, but at your very best.
Bring it all together and that’s how you’ll get photos that will help you share your values, your business and connect with the people who you want to work with.
I don’t have exact stats, but I’d say 9/10 people that I take photos of tell me “I’m not photogenic” or “I hate getting my picture taken” within minutes of meeting me.
It’s such common feeling and if you feel this way too just know that it’s not just you! Even most of those stunning boss women on my Instagram feed and website felt exactly the same way. And yet, you couldn’t tell from their photos.
So here’s how to get those photos of yourself that you love and that feel like you!
Decide that you’re enough exactly as you are right now. In this skin, with this body and everything that makes you who you are (I didn’t say these would be easy).
We all have things about ourselves, our bodies, our appearance that we’d love to be different. Things that make us uncomfortable. But as much as we’d love to change that immediately there is always a choice to make and you can either let that thing hold you back and make yourself feel smaller and less seen OR you can decide that you are more than those things and that you’re not going to shrink and hide because of it. Let yourself be seen.
Remember that others don’t see us the way that we see ourselves. The things that we fixate on don’t even register to others. They just see this amazing person who is so good at what they do, whose business helps them and who they connect with on a deeper level. Imagine holding that back from them because of our own stuff? You’d never want someone else to do that so don’t do it to yourself.
Here’s the thing: if you let the insecurities win it will show in your photos. You’ll probably still get nice photos, but you won’t get that next level makes-you-so-happy-you-cry looking at your photos kind of feelings.
Find a photographer that you love 😉 You’ll be hanging out with this person in a super personal and often vulnerable way for a couple of hours so how you feel with them has a huge impact on your whole experience! Obviously it’s hard to know this before you work with someone, but you can check out their socials and website to get a good feel of who they are and what they’re like. You can always do a Zoom call before booking if it makes you more comfortable too.
When you do a shoot with me you don’t need to know anything about your photoshoot before you reach out. We’re going to chat about it all and I’m going to plan it out for you! What you do need to know you probably already do.
These are just some of the questions in the questionnaire I send you when you book your shoot.
Then I’ll turn it into your personalized Shoot Plan which will have everything you need to know to get ready for your shoot! What to do the week before, what you need to bring, when to show up and all that jazz.
So that you’re not scrambling around last minute trying to find something to wear or forgetting what you were supposed to bring along.
You get to walk into your shoot knowing you have the right outfits, the right props and that I’ll take over during your shoot so you don’t even have to know what you’re supposed to do in front of the camera. That’s my job!
When your shoot arrives here’s what you do:
Then I’ll be there to take over when we get to the location!
I’ll guide you through the photos, the posing, props, where to look, when to smile, when to change outfits. All you need to focus on is remembering who you are, why you’re doing this for yourself and that you look like your absolute best self! I’ll make sure of it.
Ready for that kind of experience?
When most people think about brand photography, they imagine beautifully designed websites, aesthetic Instagram feeds, or updated LinkedIn profiles. And yes, brand photos absolutely help your business reach people with photos that your clients connect with!
But here’s the part that often gets overlooked: brand photography isn’t just for your business. It’s for you.
Because underneath all the strategy and content planning, what photos really give you is more ease, more confidence, and more space to focus on the things you’re actually here to do.
Here are ten ways brand photography works for you (the human behind the business):
When you’ve got a whole library of photos ready to go, content creation suddenly feels lighter. No more long pauses staring at a blank Canva template. Instead, you have images that already tell the story, so you can focus on the words (or hit “post” and move on with your day).
When you’ve got a whole library of photos ready to go, content creation suddenly feels lighter. No more long pauses staring at a blank Canva template. Instead, you have images that already tell the story, so you can focus on the words (or hit “post” and move on with your day).
Let’s be honest: it’s hard enough to run your business, never mind thinking about fresh content ideas every week. Having photos ready means fewer excuses holding you back. You can show up with ease, without second-guessing how you’ll look or what you’ll post.
You’re already amazing at what you do. (That’s why you have clients!) But you don’t have to also be a photographer, stylist, and content creator on top of that. That’s what I’m here for — so you can keep doing your best work, while I make sure your photos support you.
There’s something about seeing yourself reflected clearly and beautifully that makes showing up online less scary. Your photos remind you: yes, you belong here. Yes, you look the part.
Most of us are our own harshest critics. But through the lens of brand photography, you start to notice the warmth, confidence, and expertise that your clients already see in you every day.
Instead of relying on stock photos or filler graphics, your visuals reflect your real personality. That makes everything you share feel more authentic, which is good for your business and good for your peace of mind.
When you’ve got photos that you actually love, you spend less time wondering, “Does this look okay?” and more time creating, connecting, and moving forward.
Think of your photo library as a cushion of support. On the busy weeks (and we all have them), you’ll have ready-to-go images that buy you time, energy, and sanity.
At the end of the day, brand photography is about collaboration. You don’t have to carry it all on your shoulders. We’ll figure it out together, so you walk away not just with photos — but with a lighter load, too.
Brand photography helps your business grow, yes. But it also helps you feel more supported, more confident, and more free. And that’s what makes showing up in your business sustainable for the long run.
Valerie Hertzog is medical doctor and wellness coach. She empowers busy, driven women to reclaim control of their health through sustainable lifestyle changes with the support they need to feel healthy, more energetic & thrive in all aspects of their lives!
When THAT is your mission it’s so important that the women you want to help can find you!
Like most online businesses and coaches your potential clients get to know you through what they see online. They want to know what you’re all about and feel like they know you before working with you.
When Valerie joined my Branding Membership she already had a website and brand suite. She had professional photos done in the past which were great, but she knew she needed updated photos for launching her new program and all the marketing she would be doing for it.
She saw the value in having branding photoshoots and video shoots to use all throughout the year as her business grew and offers changed.
She totally crushed it like the amazing woman that she is!
Together we created on-brand, relevant photos and b-roll video in a variety of locations and seasons for her to use!
Valerie uses her brand photos in SO many ways. In online masterclasses, social media content, her email list, and website. Her brand videos flow seamlessly with her Instagram Stories and Reels.
Anytime she is creating content or marketing her business she has an entire library of branding photos and videos to pull from.
She can create confidently using photos of herself that she knows she loves!
She saves herself so much time by having everything at her finger tips. No more scrolling the camera roll trying to find something decent or taking 100 selfies and hoping there’s one in there she can use.
She makes it easier to show up in her business with less roadblocks aka reasons not to.
She has photoshoots scheduled whenever she needs them to always keep her content fresh and fun.
She doesn’t try to do it all by herself, instead she prioritizes what she’s really good at: helping her own clients!
The Membership is for business owners who value those things in their own business.
Valerie came to me when she already knew
We worked together to create branding photos and videos that would connect her with her potential clients and make it easier for her to share consistently and with impact!