The Power of Creative Direction: Brand Photography for a rule-breaking Business Coach
As the business and online world become increasingly saturated, it's becoming more important than ever for entrepreneurs to stand out from the crowd.
This is where creative direction comes in - a powerful tool that can transform a brand and help it truly resonate with its audience.
In this blog post, we take a closer look at the latest brand photography I did for a rule-breaking business coach, Brooke Monaghan, who encourages her clients to break the mold and do things differently. Through the lens of her edgy, sassy, and unapologetic vibe, we explore how smart Creative Direction makes a huge difference in the resulting images and has been used to bring her brand to life and communicate her unique approach and personality.
From bold wardrobe choices to unconventional poses, we showcase how Creative Direction can uplevel your brand photos and set you apart from the competition.
I’ve actually worked with Brooke in the past as HER client and was THRILLED when she came to me. She is a total badass, and her approach to working with clients breaks all the rules. One of her signature business coaching offerings is even called "The Rule-Breakers crew."
The wrong vibe in her current brand photos
I was already intimately familiar with Brooke's brand and understood when she said to me she felt like "burning it all to the ground" in regards to her visual brand aesthetic.
It just wasn't giving off the right vibe. At all. But she also wasn't QUITE ready for a full-blown Brand Identity & Website Design project yet.
This is where having something in place like my Brand Blueprint comes in super handy. Because we were able to identify that Brooke could get a big bang for her buck just by updating her Brand Photos with ones that strategically conveyed the right vibe and mood to her potential clients. The images she was using at the time were more of the generic "smiling with a cup of coffee in my hand" variety. And that just wasn't going to cut it quite frankly.
Developing the Creative Direction Plan
Step one was strategically pinning down the overall mood and aesthetic for the shoot.
Based on Brooke's brand personality, her programs, services, and content, these are the creative objectives I outlined for the shoot:
To embody in a visual way what “transcending your dichotomy” looks like. (Transcend Your Dichotomy is the name of her podcast, and the foundation of a lot of the work she does with clients.)
To capture your authentic, “rule-breaking” personality in a way that’s uniquely you.
To elevate brand photos to the level of the vision you have for the future of your brand- not for just where you’re at right now.
To telegraph a “don’t give a fuck” (but still caring) attitude to potential clients who are sick of everybody else they see in the industry.
The Brand Photoshoot Plan
Next was creating detailed outfit inspiration for her. With this blueprint, she was able to pull from her own closet and source any additional wardrobe pieces on her own before the shoot.
The plan also had a guide for hair and makeup, some posing inspiration and several shoot locations to choose from that could be booked for the day.
We also discussed various props that could be used in the photo shoot to convey the message she wanted her brand to send. We didn't want this to be another "basic" brand photo shoot, so, after some brainstorming sessions, we decided on props that would capture more of her personality like tarot cards, piles of costume jewelry, slogan buttons & pins, and high-end rum.
photoshoot Day
On the day of the shoot, I helped her style the outfits and then jumped behind the camera to capture the shots. She did her own stunning hair and makeup as that's something she loves to do. And these are some of the final results! (You can also scroll down to see a gallery of images at the end of this post.)
Afterward, this is what Brooke had to say:
"I honestly can not describe the impact that working with Sarah had on me and my business. Even if she had not done the photoshoot itself, the support she offered leading up to it would have been enough to seriously change things. As I was driving to the shoot, I felt so incredibly grateful that the shoot itself felt like a gift I was receiving on top of an already transformative experience. She is a brilliant, genius creative director."
THIS is why it's so important to approach branding decisions in your business through a strategic lens.
Because you don't want to be following the trends, doing what everyone else is doing. You want to STAND OUT. To carve a place for yourself within the industry that has people stopping and wanting more.
And that's more important than EVER because we spend our days scrolling through a bunch of same ol', same ol'. And quite frankly, it's boring. It’s clear that taking a strategic approach to your brand can have a powerful and positive impact on how you are perceived in the marketplace.
The ONLY thing Brooke updated was her photos, and her story is evidence that one change can breathe LIFE into your brand, totally transform how you feel about your business, and create a space for you to stand apart from the rest.
Want to feel inspired by the brand you're building?
A great place to start is with a Brand Blueprint. Learn more about them here.
And if you're local to Southern California and want to book Creative Direction and a brand photoshoot with me, check out my services page, and fill out an inquiry form.
Meet Sarah
Sarah is an award-winning Designer, Creative Director & Brand Strategist for billion-dollar companies turned entrepreneur. She loves exploring the areas where business, branding, and personal growth comingle to create magic. And she’s also passionate about empowering entrepreneurs with easy tools to transform the way they do business.