My Journey to Specializing in Editorial Brand Photography

The year is 2018 and I finally decided to give photography a shot for real. After keeping as a hobby for many years, I thought it would be the way out of my 9-5 job that I commuted 4 hours a day to and from.

I started where any new side-hustler would start: Instagram. I hoped posting a few portraits would bring the clients but it was a very slow start. Since posting complete-photography-randomness didn’t work, I started mimicking what I saw other successful business owners doing. I started posting photos of myself and sharing my story… I didn’t know it at the time but I was starting to build my personal brand.

To my surprise, photos of me performed way better than my actual photography work. Frustrating, yes, but it also sparked an idea that would become the foundation of my business. I could help other business owners develop their personal brand so they could grow their business online as well. 

Personal brand photography was so exciting to me – I had never felt this lit up by weddings or family shoots, and I decided to go all in.

I became obsessed with the topic and turned over all my content to educate on personal branding and personal brand photography. As I was building this, I was able to quit my 9-5, get a part time job – and then 4 years later, quit that to become a full-time personal brand photographer.

I went from saying yes to every photography gig that came my way to making a full-time living helping female entrepreneurs become the face of their brand. It still feels like a dream come true.

WHY I LOVE PERSONAL BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY

I am certain that building a personal brand is responsible for 80% of my success. There’s are thousands of photographers in my area that take stunning photos and stunning photos was never enough to set me apart.

When you build a strong personal brand, there is no competition, because no one can do what you do exactly how you do it (read that again). 

Posting photos of yourself paired with your story and the unique transformation you provide for your clients can never be replicated. If you think your market is over-saturated, it’s not. You are just focusing on the services or products you provide instead of the human life-force and magic behind it.

Personally, I don’t believe I have any competition at all. If you’re looking for just pretty photos then maybe I have competition. But you’re not looking for just photos – you are looking for a someone that understands you, understands what the next level of your business looks like, can be deep and funny and inspirational but unserious all at the same time, and that’s me. I am a unique cocktail of the exact things that my clients need, and so are you.

Personal brand photography eliminates your competition. It allows you to build a business that is aligned with your values and projects a frequency that others want to be a part of. It can be felt on another level.

It’s a type of photography that allows you to imagine who you want to be in the future, what you want your business to look like, and embody that now. I am a big manifestation girly so I consider this a tool in manifesting your dream life/business.

WHY I CHOOSE AN ‘EDITORIAL’ PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE

My photography style is editorial, creative, and bold. I create personal brand photos that have more depth and context to them.

Editorial personal brand photography tells a story or communicates a message and often feels intentional, styled, and expressive.

My style is influenced by magazine spreads, big brand campaigns, and art. I want to encourage business owners to think bigger and understand that they can have any look they want. They don’t have to replicate what they have seen every other business owner doing, and they don’t have to play it safe.

If you’re an ambitious business owner that wants to create something that feels distinctively your own and has a bespoke, editorial feel, then we would be a perfect match.

MY PHOTOGRAPHY PROCESS

All of my personal brand photography packages can be paired with creative direction, which put you on a direct path to getting an magazine-quality, editorial look.

With me as your creative director, I will extract your story and the stories of your business that can be turned into an editorial campaign. We will also look at what the next level of your business looks like so you can embody that now and start attracting opportunities that align with that vision.

The creative direction includes: an intake questionnaire to uncover your story and goals, a custom mood board for your shoot, location scouting, wardrobe and prop direction, and a detailed shot list for your shoot date. 

Before your editorial brand shoot, we’ll have a call to go over all the details and make sure you’re in the right energy to show up with presence, confidence, and magnetism. 

48 hours after your shoot, you will receive a sample gallery and you’ll get to handpick which images you want to edit. They will be delivered within 14 business days after making your selections and submitting them to me.

I service Toronto and all surrounding areas. I’m also willing to travel and have done shoots in New York, Buffalo, and Northern Ontario.

HOW YOU CAN USE YOUR PERSONAL BRAND PHOTOS

The ways you can use your editorial personal brand photos are endless. You are an ambitious business owner so I know you have a million ideas and offers you want to put out into the world. 

These photos are designed to fuel your next big moves – you will be prepared for every spark of inspiration, launch, or pivot that you need to make in your business.

They can be used as profile pictures, social media content, creating lead magnets or resources for your audience, for press opportunities, or paid ads. They can be paired with graphic design to create even more assets.

Most importantly, you use your personal brand photos to share your story, your legacy, and build a movement people want to join.

Leaning into personal branding is something that has transformed my business and I’ve seen it do the same for my clients. Beyond the business growth, it has empowered them to go bold with their content, take up more space, and trust their intuition. The vision you have in your heart was put there for a reason.

If you’re someone like me, who is constantly thinking about their next level and how to build something truly unique, then I’d love to chat.

Get in touch here and we can chat about what your next level looks like. Whether you want photos or not, I just live for these conversations and love to connect with like-minded people. 

Or give me a follow on Instagram @avalonmohnsphoto

I hope to hear from you soon.