Building a Photography Brand That Stands Out | Understanding What It Really Takes to Go Full-Time pt. 3
- Blink Photography Co.
- Oct 8
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
I'm sure you are well aware that everywhere you turn, every Instagrammer, every social media profile has to do with a professional photographer. It seems as though everyone, and their brother, have become professional photographers.
This begs the question... why should someone hire you?
The simple answer is : your brand. This is not solely limited to a good-looking website, logo, and color scheme. The weight of branding primarily rests on the quality of work that you do as a professional photographer and business representative.
This guide and article will help walk you through how to build a photography brand that stands out from the crowd, gain more clients and bookings, and overall helps you move closer and closer to going full-time with your photography business. Affiliate links may be used throughout, which does not affect you negatively in any way. It does not increase the price of the item(s) we recommend. Should you decide to purchase an item(s) via our links we will receive a small commission as a 'thank you' from the represented company. Thank you for your support! :)
Key Takeaways
Branding is more than just having an aesthetically pleasing website.
Clients will remember you from your certain style of photography and your personality.
Using social media to showcase your work is a free way to market your business to potential clients.
What is Branding for Photographers?
Branding isn't just design. It's actually a collection of things that define who you are, your style, and personality as a representative of your business. I'm sure you can think of several photographers who have a unique style associated with their work. Think of @withluke and @petermckinnon and their style and personality associated with their creative artwork. That is effective branding. Their brands and colors are consistent, cohesive, and their voices and artwork are easily recognizable.
Defining Your Brand and Style
If you're not really sure about what your brand look is yet or unique editing style is, then that is okay! Sometimes it takes time and experimentation to really discover what you like. As you gain experience behind the camera and in front of Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, you will start to get a better idea of what suits your fancy. If you are still searching, brainstorm on these following questions...
What type of photography do I enjoy the most?
What editing style feels the most natural?
Who is my idea client, and what do they actually care about?
Once you've gotten an idea about your brand and style you need to create visuals that align with that. Your visual branding should reflect your style and artistry. This will help you to create a cohesive website, booking platform, or any social media graphics you may make. Again, this may take some time and experimentation to develop. That is ok!
Use Social Media to Showcase Your Brand Personality
Social media is the fastest and freest way to build brand recognition as a photographer. Posting random photos will not work. 99% of viewers will spend more time looking at photos and grids that are cohesive and aesthetically pleasing. (Side note: I like using the Preview app to help plan Instagram posts.) Order matters! If your grid or photos are inconsistent and looks like you vomited photos to your social media profile, chances are you'll turn away viewers. Brainstorm ways that you can organize your photos in a way that is aesthetically pleasing or super organized and minimalistic. Do you favor deep greens? Deep blues? Then lean into it!
Use social media to post other things rather than all portfolio posts. Create BTS (behind the scenes) content or create videos explaining your process. Real people want to get to know real people. There are so many great ways to show your personality and build trust bonds with potential clients.
If you need ideas for reels, be sure to check out the resell package I have created! That's not all thats included either. There are even presets you can resell! Check it out!
Protect and Grow Your Brand
Don't skip out on taking some time to reflect on ways to take better care of your brand and business. Unfortunately some clients nowadays are complicated and often impossible to please. Take extra time to protect your business. Create contracts, terms of service, model release agreements, etc. to protect yourself AND to ensure nervous clients that they will receive the service and package that they paid for. (Also, sample contracts and model release agreements templates are included in the resell package I've created. Linked above:))
At this point in the game I hope that you have already properly registered your business with your governments authorities. Visit your states or countries government webpages for the proper steps to take. Once you've made it legal and official, don't forget to claim your website domain! Do research beforehand to make sure no one else has claimed that specific domain name.
Another rather controversial topic amongst photographers is the issue with watermarks. Many are against them and many are for them. Those against hate the fact it ruins the overall reaction it causes viewers to experience; those for hate the fact that their work is used without permission and without compensation. The decision is truly up to you. I generally recommend using a light watermark somewhere on your photos to protect your work from unauthorized reuse. If you are selling photo prints, don't forget to remove your watermark!
FAQs | Building a Photography Brand That Stands Out
1. Do I need a professional logo to start my photography brand?
No, a simple text-based logo works when you’re starting.
2. How do I figure out my unique photography style?
Experiment, edit consistently, and pay attention to what both you and your clients love most.
3. Should I focus more on my website or social media for branding?
Both. Your website is your “home base,” while social media helps with discoverability.
4. How do I stand out in a saturated market?
By defining your niche, showing your personality, and offering a seamless client experience.
5. Can my brand evolve over time?
Absolutely. Your style and ideal clients may shift, but keep consistency in how you present yourself.
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