Tag Archives: Boston Photographer

Personal Branding vs. Headshots

A headshot introduces you;

Personal Branding introduces your business. 

 

Personal Branding differs from headshots in many important ways. Headshots serve as an introduction to you as a person, while Personal Branding photography provides a vast array of marketing resources for you and your business. Continue reading to determine which one is best for you.

 

 

 

Headshots present what you look like.

This image presents a person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Branding conveys the essence of who you are and what you do.

This image presents a photographer.

 

 

 

What is personal branding?

 

“A personal brand is rooted in the minds of people in the market. Personal branding is the effort to communicate and present your value to the world.”

 

Branding, or personal branding, is more than just a headshot or logo. Branding is the visual representation and definition of your business and what it has to offer. We believe that personal branding is essential for individual entrepreneurs and business owners to “soft-sell” their business and services in a visual market. Resources abound when searching for soft and personal branding solutions.

 

 

The term “personal branding” was introduced in 1997 by a gentleman named Tom Peters. Peters told us that no matter what industry we work in, or where we live, we’re all CEOs of our own personal brand, and that means that we must market ourselves just as vigorously as any product or service.

 

 

If you are an entrepreneur or business owner, you’re probably reading this to determine if you need to expand the visual library of your brand. We believe you already have the notion of “your brand” as an individual or a company that you now wish to share with your clients/customers to give them inspiration and confidence in you.

 

 

In order to gain a customer’s trust, you need to let them know that you provide wisdom, compassion, guidance and true value.  We are here to help you do that.

 

When planning your personal branding session, we work with you establish goals:

  • How do you want to be seen?
  • What is it that you do/provide?
  • What do you stand for?
  • Do your photographs represent you/your brand and the energy you bring to your business?
  • Will they make potential clients want to meet you in person?
  • Do your photographs create trust in you?
  • Do they show the real you now?
  • Will your photographs show the real you that you are becoming?

 

If you are ready to take your brand presence to the next level, we would love to work with you to create your perfect personal branding session. Give us a call, drop us an email, or click the button below to receive our personal branding magazine to help you prepare for your session!

If just a headshot makes more sense for now, we would love to help you there as well.  Click below to get started right away!

 

Fashion Portrait

Fashion has always been something that has intrigued me, especially when it comes to portraits, and especially portraits that are fashion inspired.  I often comb through Vanity Fair or Vogue publications for inspiration and unique portrait ideas. The photo below was created using a custom portrait background we painted here at our studio. I love the movement in the gown.  This effect was created using special lighting and an industrial fan and is inspired by Annie Leibovitz and her Vanity Fair portraits. Tell us about what inspires you and together let’s create a beautiful portrait of you.

 

Call the Studio at 978-594-1728 to find out more about it.

Beautiful fashion inspired portrait.
Beautiful fashion inspired portrait.

A Springtime Hawthorne Hotel Wedding

Springtime is a time for renewal and new beginnings, making it the perfect time to start a journey. Lana and Kevin celebrated a beautiful new life together with a historic Hawthorne Hotel wedding, taking advantage of our warming weather to also snap some great shots in some of the iconic Salem, Massachusetts, locations.


Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography, Hawthorne Hotel Wedding

We absolutely love to see the green coming back to the Salem Common and surrounding areas–the lighting in this photo makes it one of my favorites from the day!TQ9A0684-Edit-Edit

Both Lana and Kevin are professors, and I think you can see from the energy between them that they were a kind, wonderful couple to share such a special day with.

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The dress Lana chose was very unique–a light grey with custom lace. Her stunning hair and makeup were done by Makeup Eden and Salon Sage here in Salem.

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography, Hawthorne Hotel Wedding

 

Of course, who could resist a snapshot of this little fellow escorting his bridesmaid down the aisle?

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography, Hawthorne Hotel Wedding

 

Those of you familiar with the Hawthorne Hotel will also notice their own fresh look in the Grand Ballroom–the walls have been painted, lightening the room significantly. We absolutely love it!

Congratulations, Lana and Derek! It was a pleasure celebrating with you.

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LMP Wedding Planning Timeline (Part 5 of 5)

This post concludes my very special Wedding Planning Timeline–enjoy!

The Day of Your Wedding

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography

Present your parents and one another with any gifts you have to give.

Give your wedding bands to the Best Man and Maid of Honor.

Give the Best Man the Officiant’s fee envelope to be handed off after the ceremony.

Bring light snacks and water to keep yourself satiated throughout the day. This is very important! Many brides get so busy that they forget to eat and stay hydrated—take care of yourself

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography

Breathe—this is a special day. The planning is over and whatever will happen will happen—so let go and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

 

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography

Stay tuned! We’ll be doing another post with a timeline specific to working with your photographer with details about how we typically work with our wedding couples here at LMD.

LMP Wedding Planning Timeline (Part 4 of 5)

As you get closer to your wedding, no doubt part 4 of the LMP Wedding Planning Timeline will prove helpful to you. Have additional tips? Let us know!

The Month of Your Wedding

Review your RSVP list and contact anyone who has yet to respond.

Meet with your photographer a week or two prior to go over the specific details of what you want and how they will photograph the wedding/ceremony, etc. You’ll want to provide them with a Must-Have list of shots. (More on this in a later post.)

Have a pre-wedding haircut (and color, if applicable) about two weeks prior. This is true for the bride AND the groom—you don’t want to be getting this done too close to the wedding day.

Give your venue and caterer a final guest count. Make sure to include the vendors who will also be present the day of your wedding—photographers, band members, DJs, etc.

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography

Plan the reception seating chart. Don’t wait until the last minute to do this!

Attend your bachelor and bachelorette parties. We recommend that you avoid holding these the night before the wedding (consider 2-3 days out instead).

Press and/or steam your wedding gown, if necessary.

The groom should have a final fitting and pick up his formalwear. Always try it on before you leave the store—sometimes pieces are missing or sleeves are the wrong length. Find out before you go so corrections can be made.

Ask the Best Man and Groomsmen to attend fittings as well.

Hand off place cards, table cards, menus, favors, and any other items for the tables to your caterer and/or reception site manager. They’ll take care of this for you.

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography

Call your transportation company to confirm pick up times and locations.

Ask friends and relatives to help collect out-of-town guests at the airport.

Deliver the welcome bags or baskets to the hotel concierge. Avoid individualizing your welcome packages—while it may be a nice touch for your guest, it proves difficult for the hotel check-in staff when they have to find the right bag for the right guests!

Have a mani/pedi a day or two before your wedding. Enjoy the time to just relax.

Pay off any final balances to vendors prior to the wedding day—you don’t want to be worrying about this the day of your wedding.

Attend your rehearsal ceremony/dinner. Let everyone know what time they need to be ready for the photographer and where they need to be—this is especially important if your formals will be done before the service. You don’t want to rush your photos because someone is missing from the wedding party.

Hand off your marriage license to your Officiant.

If you have gifts for your attendants, give these to them the night before the wedding—especially if it’s something to be worn during the wedding.

Louise Michaud Photographer, Salem MA Wedding Photography, Boston Wedding Photography