A great photograph is a powerful tool to promote a brand and quickly convey a message to an audience. But how do you personally brand a website? The first step is generating a diverse portfolio of images of yourself.
This article will help you understand how you can use a portfolio of images to tell your story in a flash. Websites that have been personally branded take into consideration the whole picture, so to speak, of who that person is, what they like, and what they do.
Size Matters
A small photograph wrapped in text may show your client what you look like just fine. On the other hand, on a mobile phone it could be very hard to see. Older, non-responsive, websites do a terrible job displaying images on a mobile device. With a responsive website a photograph will fill the display of a computer monitor and also resize itself to fit the screen of any mobile device.
Big photographs can communicate an idea, concept, emotion, much quicker than the words surrounding it. When branding a website to get your message across quicker here are some great tips.
Create a fully diverse portfolio
Use more landscapes:
I don't mean photos of pretty mountains, I'm referring to using your portraits in a landscape orientation so the image fills your widescreen device. They are handy in so many ways because you can also place message and use these types of images in banners or sliders on your landing page.
Go High-Key:
Having portraits taken against a high-key or all white background will allow you to be placed within a page instead of having a box around you. You can integrate messages with the image itself or just around you. You, in this case also become the "product" and your audience is expecting you to give a specific message.
Be Real:
Smiling, talking, and laughing portrays you more authentically. Your more likely to be seen as genuine, honest and simply happy. Of course what you do for a living may make a difference on how much you want to "ham it up" in front of the camera. On the other hand, you'll look more personable when you're seen reacting in the moment.
Look Away:
Bring your gaze to where you want your audience to look. An effective marketing tactic which literally draws the viewer in the direction your face and eyes are looking. The key is to put something like your blogs name or a call to action right where their eyes end up.
Capture Yourself Working:
Be photographed doing what you do best in the right environment or a studio setting. The aim is to be captured in a situation, real-life event in a complimentary manner and the art of the everyday. The goal is to tell a story about what you do to inspire and/or validate yourself in your profession. Whether you're a public speaker in an auditorium, an author, or a head chef in a busy kitchen.
Define your personal brand:
Furthermore, one major step when branding a website is to define your brand and what is stands for and profile yourself. List all your personality traits and quite literally write a bio for each one. Then create a visual reference with photos or sketches to help you create the look you want to portray. For more information go to my other blog on personal branding photography called building your brand.
How to make it happen:
The important thing to remember is personally branding a website is having a defined brand and what it stands for as well as defined goals in mind for your marketing. Branding is not just about your website alone, be consistent with your entire portfolio of all your internet accounts, social media platforms and even printed marketing materials if you incorporate that into your marketing plan.
Want to personally brand your website?
If you would like more information on branding a website email me at info@ginicistudios.com, give me a call (805) 440-3655 or sign up for a Free 30 minute marketing consultation. We specialize in creating a fully diverse portfolio by photographing you in a way that makes you more visible online.