What Images Do I Need For My Business?

Portraits of Practioner Liisa photographed on location at the Lan Su Chinese Garden and Tanner Springs Park in downtown Portland Oregon. View Portraits

How Does It Work?

Photography is a tool to tell a story without words that adds depth to your marketing message. Businesses use photography specifically to build a brand and to use as a way to reach their customers.

My goal is to create photography to show the viewer your product or service. Your images show them where you are and what you are doing, they then resonate and become familiar with the work. Ultimately, we want our images to sell our work when we aren’t showcasing it in person.

There is a way to photographically tell your story to grab the attention of your ideal clients. Let us look at how.

Rhythm on the Rails Johnnie Mazzacco by Erica J Mitchell Photographer

Published editorial images of Rhythm on the Rails writing retreat with Johnnie Mazzacco. A Rhythm on the Rails participant enjoying the expansive river views via Business Class. View full post

First, what images do I need for my business?

Photography can be a creative new way to grow your business, attract and stay competitive in the marketplace. Let’s take a look at your story and answer these photographically to be able to share your business with your target audience.

Who are you?
What do you do?
What do you offer?
How do you do it?
Why is it important?
What does it look like?

Women with Moxie Networking in Portland Oregon

Marketing photography for the networking business Women with Moxie during their 2018 promo video. View Women with Moxie’s promo images

What’s Your Story?

Business Portrait – Who are you?
You’re a consultant and expert in your field, find a location you love, and outfit your feel amazing in and show off that smile. This image is the most important because it tells your viewers who you are. If there is only one image you need, it’s this one. The traditional headshot can be a portrait that you use in all your advertising and social media needs.

Service or Product Feature – What do you offer?
What you sell needs to be seen. If you sell the most amazing chocolates or the best website customer service, your product and your service can be photographed. For example, if you create websites, details of your brand or working style can be a source of understanding for your clients. We want to know how you work. If you sell chocolates, of course we want to see what we are getting, yum!

Development and Production – How do you do it?
Sometimes how we do our work is the highlight. If we are creating one of a kind hard wood pieces by hand, the tools we use can bring in interested buyers.

Lifestyle and Culture – Why is it important?
Perhaps your mission is the driving force behind your images. You take a stand for women’s health and wellness. Focusing on images that empower women can inspire a connection and bring you opportunities to make a difference.

Storefront, On-location – What does it look like?
The classic brick and mortar. If you have a fantastic spot nestled in the neighborhood or on the corner in the city, we want to know where you are. Your place in the community can be a source of connection and can make it easier to reach you.

Event Coverage – What happened?
One of my favorite types of images for a business are the events the business hosts or participates in. Events are a place for connection to community members, a space for bringing like minded people together or a place to celebrate. Event photography is a way to spread your brand and reach your community.

Kathy Stanley Portrait Photography by Erica J Mitchell

Artist and education Kathy Stanely walks in Laurelhurst Park, a favorite spot of hers, for her portrait and branding session to add to her collection of images to promote her upcoming art projects and classes. View her session images

Time To Share Your Story

Being Published?
Use Your Photography in Printed or Online Articles

Need Photography for Your Website?
Be Visual and Professional Online

Want to hand out that amazing card?
Elevate your Digital or Print Presentations, Business Cards and Brochures

Need to make a post to your channels?
Use Your Photography in Social Media Platforms to Market to your Fans

Meeting new clients or have business networking opportunities?
Have Personalized Photography when you are Networking In person 

Inspiring Women's Conference in Portland, Oregon

Inspiring Woman Leaders was an annual conference held in Portland, Oregon whose goals were to promote women in leadership positions, as well as those who lead women. View their event

Interested in Working Together?

Let’s answer these photographically and then share your story with your audience on your website and social media platforms to generate higher connectivity of your business.

Natural Light Headshots: Outdoor vs. Indoor

Lighting is everything and in photography it’s the source of our (photographer’s) work. So when considering professional photography for your new Headshot, start with the light.

You wouldn’t think that physics plays a role in how a natural light photographer works but it’s essential.

For example when photographing outdoors during high noon the photographer has to consider the following: the yellow colored sunlight and the direction it shines, the sunlight hitting green grass and reflecting up, the cool blue sky color reflecting down and any other surfaces reflecting color.

When indoors photographing can be a lot more simple but so can the background. The warm sunlight hit’s the white transparent curtains and diffuses onto the subject.

Left: On Location in Client’s Workspace
Right: Indoor Natural Light Studio

Location is the next thing to consider. Where you choose to be photographed plays a part in the outcome of your headshot. Do you want a natural environment or background to enhance your surroundings? Do you want a white background? Do you want to journey a city block or park?

Outdoor portraits made in the downtown Pearl District, Portland, Oregon.

One reason to work with an indoor studio is base sometimes solely on weather. Here in Portland, Oregon we can get a lot of cold and rainy weather which makes outdoor locations harder to achieve. You definitely don’t want to be freezing and smiling at the same time.

Indoor studios provide controlled lit lighting, temperature controlled spaces and the ability to change into other outfits.

Indoor studio lit portraits made in Northwest Portland, Oregon.

So now it’s time to think about your next Headshot. Do you want to play in studio or adventure into the great outdoors, city blocks or your own workspace?

Want to work together? Contact Erica by email (ericajmitchell@gmail.com) for Indoor and Outdoor Headshot Sessions starting at $249.00. Let’s play with some light!

Outdoor and On Location Headshot Examples

In Studio Natural Light Headshot Examples

The men of the Portland Beardsmen Club

Art Direction and Photography by Erica J Mitchell.

Client

Portland Beardsman Club
Website: https://www.facebook.com/portlandbeardsmen

About: The Portland Beardsmen defend the good and fight the evil. They travel the country battling beards, breaking hearts and raising funds for local charities. Always looking for new supporters, fans and whiskers.

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Photo by Erica J Mitchell