Tip #1: Sear Your Brand

Over the years, I have had many people come to me for advice/suggestions/humble opinions, so I figure making a section of my blog for tips would be a great way to help others - and to continue to brand my company. Brand, brand, brand!

Branding your company is more than merely putting your logo on your stationary, business cards, website, mailers, etc. Absolutely everything from your website, positioning statement, press releases, resumes, and photographic style needs to be a solid, consistent representation of your company’s image.

So, what can you do to further brand your company? It is a huge topic, but here are some of the things to consider:

Create a color scheme for your branding, maxed at three colors.
If you haven’t created a logo, create one and stick with it. Error on the side of simplicity. Do not get too graphic. You’re a photographer, not a graphic designer. Even your logo (colors and typeface) should represent your photographic style.
Develop a positioning statement which can be used as your “elevator pitch”
Regularly write updates to your blog, or social media site (new photos, editorial, campaign, things in the works, etc)
Develop a “dream client” list and create a marketing plan to develop an attack plan to get your work in front of them
Create an easy-to-remember slogan/catch phrase/tagline. Mine is simply, “beauty.fashion.advertising.”
Create a calendar to maintain your goals for the month and stick to the calendar. Treat your business like a business.
With your calendar, add relevant niche events that fit with your style and let your network know where you will be.
Pitch ideas Photo Editors/Art Directors at magazines
Attend as many professional networking events as possible. Consider joining professional associations (American Photographic Artists (APA), American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), … there are many more). Personally, I am on the executive board at the APANW chapter. It has helped me attain contacts otherwise extremely difficult to reach.
Ensure your photographic style and branding packages are adaptable across various markets
Consider contributing artwork to charities for auctions and get your name in the press associated with the event.
Network not only in your local market, but internationally as well. Keep them updated on your career. This network should include corporations, ad agencies, designers, magazines, graphic designers, photographers, retouchers, makeup artists, hairstylists, fashion stylists, models, modeling agencies, PR agencies, etc.
Update your professional websites (and others) on a regular basis.
Do not let your work go stale.
These are just some of the things you can do to brand your company’s image. There are many, many others…

Brand, brand, brand! The quality of your branding will not only show everyone your updates, but it will (hopefully) increase the name-recognition of your company and it’s value. We have all seen the shots in high-end magazines and campaigns that are really quite simple to shoot, but those artists are getting the jobs because of their name recognition (perceived value, consistency, quality, professionalism, etc). Those artists are well branded. The next time you ask yourself why they got the job and you didn’t - the answer is because they are BRANDED.

Hope this helps. Now go brand yourself.

Cheers and happy shooting,

Kyle Goldie - www.KyleGoldie.com