9 Top Tips for Creating Content

Providing high quality professional content is vital for small businesses. When you book a photoshoot for your business it is important to think about where and how you're going to use those images.

So, how can you use images to create content for your business?

Here are 9 Top Tips for Creating Content, using professional images.

All the images are taken by me and used by my clients on their websites and social media platforms.

1. Make it personal

Showing your face and where you work is a great way to introduce yourself to clients and build trust. I don't know about you, but one of the first things I do when I'm researching a business is to go to the 'About me' page and have a nosey. Below are some examples of how my clients have used the images from their shoots to introduce themselves.

2. Inspire and motivate

Provide content that will make users feel good. Give great advice, answer questions and provide solutions to problems. I love the way that my client, Laura, from Unleash Your Potential has used her images across her website and social media platforms.

3. Stay Fresh

Images aren't just for your website! Make sure that your social media profile picture is up to date too. Potential clients love to see what you look like. Show how you value and invest in yourself with a great image. Use on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

4. Behind the scenes

Images of you working, creating and interacting with clients make great content and always get a brilliant reaction.

Upload a gallery of images to show the workplace, staff and clients too, like this dental surgery in Cardiff.

5. Consistency

Social media platforms encourage regular posting. Try to post consistently and authentically. Having a collection of images from a photoshoot can help you to tell your story.

6. Brand consolidation

Use your images to highlight your brand identity. Show off your style and personality! I love this Facebook header, created by my client with images from her shoot.

7. Be helpful

Giving free, useful advice is one of the best ways to create engagement with your content. Do you have any useful tips for your followers? Create a free PDF guide or helpful blog post (like this one!).

8. Advertise

Use images to showcase your products or service in a professional way. A well planned, styled shoot is a great way to generate pictures that you can use across your website and social media.

9. Marketing and PR

Use your images to advertise or feature in print marketing. Images below an example businesses featured in Cardiff Life Magazine.

Of course, there's lots more ways to create content for your business too, from videos, to podcasts! I'd love to hear from you with examples of what works best for your business? How have you used images to promote your business?

Want to see more of my work with businesses? Check out my headshot and personal branding portfolio.

Follow my business Instagram account!

by Gemma Griffiths

Top tips on how to style your headshot photo shoot

It's very important to prepare and plan for your personal branding or headshot photo shoot. Your images will say a lot about you and your business and so you need to style yourself correctly to be able to attract potential clients.

I've worked with a lot of businesses this year and I've absolutely loved it. I've had shoots all over South Wales, including Cardiff, from the Bay to Central Square plus Penarth, Cowbridge and even Abergavenny.

Clients need images for a whole range reasons. It's not just a headshot for your CV anymore. You need images for your website and social media as well as a new profile picture!

Book your headshot session today!

Packages start at £249 for a 1 hour photo shoot.

Here are my top 7 tips on how to style your headshot photo shoot

1. Branding

Think about your brand. I don't mean your logo, I mean the core ethos of your business. What are you trying to portray to your clients. Are you bold, professional, reliable, traditional, quirky, warm, friendly, experienced? Once you've nailed this, you can start to think about what location might be good for your shoot. You can choose from your home workshop, or a modern cityscape. Maybe a traditional garden setting or quiet countryside views might be more suitable.

Avril wanted to showcase her fashion styling skills and chose Penarth as her location, including the pier and marina.

Cat, The Unstoppable Success Coach, wanted a friendly, professional and approachable look. We chose the stylish Rocket & Rye in Cowbridge and then used the High Street and Old Hall Gardens too.

2. Logo and brand colours

Try to incorporate your brand colours into your images. Either use a similar colour or use a complimentary colour. If your images are going to be displayed on your website, with your branding colours, then it's worthwhile planning either outfits or props that will enhance the overall look of the website.

When working with With Music In Mind, we asked everyone to wear blue so they would be co-ordinated with the logo on their website and Facebook page.

3. Outfits

Styling your outfits is super important. Not just in terms of colours, but in making sure that you are wearing clothes that are appropriate for your work. You could choose a business suit or something less formal. If you work in an office then your choice of outfit is going to be different to someone that has a home workshop. Make sure that you have a number of outfits to choose from. You'll get lots of variety from your images if you get changed a few times.

We chose a high end luxury feel for Abi's shoot. A gorgeous location and fabulous outfits.

4. Hair / make up

If you're paying for personal brand shoot then you need to prioritise what you look like. Lots of clients feel more comfortable if they have their hair and make-up done professionally before the session, whilst others are happy with a more natural look. Once again, it's all about how you'd like your clients to see you, so choose an appropriate look.

Elizabeth and Alex looked amazing for their shoot showcasing the Eliza Eliza products.

5. Think about your clients

Most personal branding shoots are done with the intention of bringing in more clients. As well as thinking about how you'd like to appear, it's important to visualise your potential clients. What will attract them? Are they looking for someone friendly and approachable or efficient and professional? What will be at the top of their list when they are researching who they want to work with?

Yasmin runs several businesses, including Healthy HR, so we used a variety of locations and outfits to cover all the things she needed from her headshot photo shoot.

6. Show your true self

Although it's important to showcase your persona in terms of your brand and your clients needs, it's also important to include some authenticity. Depending on your business, clients might want to see the real you, not a polished version. Are there aspects of your personality that you want to show? If you want your images to bring your personality to life, then make sure you include elements that will highlight the real you. You could use clothes or props to do this.

Dietician and Pilates expert Fran wanted to show her true self. No make-up, no fancy hair do and her usual exercise clothes. She looks amazing and the images are perfect for her brand.

Although Ryan wears a suit every day, that doesn't mean he can't mix things up a bit and look very stylish in his headshot photo shoot.

7. Show how you work

Clients love seeing behind the scenes or workshop images. If you have products, then they will love to see how you make them. Clients will also be interested in seeing where you work - whether you have an office or you work outside. Do you work alone or employ staff? Including extra details of your business process in your images will always be interesting.

Elizabeth wanted images to show her creating her products at home.

Glass artist Chrissie, from Glass at the Spinney, wanted to show off her working process at home.

To see more of my commercial work, follow my Business Instagram Account - Cardiff Business Photographer

Book your headshot session today!

Packages start at £249 for a 1 hour photo shoot.

by Gemma Griffiths