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Sometimes I get an idea to record a tutorial and then it blooms into this whole thing. This is the thought process behind this post today…

I made some bread!

I’m going to eat the bread for breakfast. Oh, it looks kind of nice on the plate! I should take a picture.

I should do a quick set up and actually make this look nice so I can share it on my Instagram.

If I’m doing this much, I might as well record HOW I’m doing it. And share it to IGTV. And Youtube. And throw the video in a blog post and…

This is what it’s like being a content creator. Once you start in on an idea, your brain spirals out into a million directions of how to use the content to optimize the reach.

I’ll probably send this to my email list, too.

In this video, I did a very quick, basic setup in my front kitchen window while Andrew watched our steps being torn apart outside. I’ll link to the things I used below if you want to explore creating an at-home product or flat lay setup.

Whether you’re photographing food, products, or a lifestyle flatlay, all you really need is space on a table or floor near a diffused natural light source. A “diffused natural light source” is sunlight that is coming through a window, maybe filtered with sheer white curtains or an overcast day. You want bright, but diffused light, not full direct sunlight (that would be too bright and create harsh shadows). Think of it like the clouds, or sheer curtains, are creating a soft, even light.

Here’s the video tutorial!

Things I used:

Vinyl faux marble background - This 3 pack is great if you plan on doing different styles of flat lays.

White foam core boards - I like the smaller size to use as reflectors, and the bulk pack because they can get beat up and bent (or stolen by my kids for art projects)

That’s it! I shot and edited on my iPhone using Adobe Lightroom Mobile (free to download and use) and my own editing presets, which will be for sale in my shop soon! If you want to grab them as soon as their available, sign up for my email, because a little birdie told me my email list will be getting early access and a discount code.

I have a couple other backgrounds that give a good variety of options, depending on the look you’re going for! There are solid colors for a clean pop, and double sided marble and stone. I’m also a fan of these square board sets when you are looking for an especially branded look.

Hey there! Just a note to let you know this post contains affiliate links through which if you choose to click through and purchase items, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help offset the costs of running this blog and site. Thanks!

Here’s a little branding tip for you, friend, and spoiler alert, it’s a very obvious one!

Show us your face!

This can be such a tough thing to do for some people. I’ll get into that in a little bit. First, I want you to understand why this is such an important part of your personal brand.

If you are a personal brand - the literal face of your business - we need to actually see you! Seeing your face creates connection. And connection over time builds loyalty. This is a basic, core piece of your branding. It’s not just about what you write, offer or sell. It’s also who you are, where you work, and creating familiarity with how you craft your story.

The difference between a brand and a personal brand…is the person!

Think of it this way...You are your own storefront. With every place you communicate your message, whether it’s social media, email, blogging, networking events or marketing materials, you have an opportunity to greet your audience and welcome them into your business, little stories of your life, and tell them all about the things you love, make and offer. Each post you make is like opening your front door, greeting them with a handshake, high five or hug, and leading them through the door to show them around.

Decide how you’re going to make that connection, and do it regularly. With your face!

Growing an audience is a long game. It doesn’t happen overnight with a single post. It comes with consistently showing up, so you audience sees you over and over and over again. It takes time for your audience to get used to seeing you show up regularly, then for you to become familiar, and then more for connection and trust to build. It can take weeks or months to develop a relationship with your audience, so if you are not getting personal, it’s time to start!

How does this work if you run a shop, or have a studio or other business space? If someone found you on Instagram and decided to pay you a visit, would they recognize your storefront from the street? Same thing. Show your storefront! Create fun displays that are beautiful or interesting to look at! Make sure your sign or name is highly visible. Create an amazing experience for your customers and audience, so when they walk into your store, it feels like home.

Not sure what your brand is? My friend, I have a freebie worksheet for you to help define your brand.

Overcoming Fear

For some people, the idea of showing your face might be less than exciting. You might feel self-conscious, or not feel confident in taking great photos of yourself. You might not know what kind of pictures to take and share. It can actually cause stress and anxiety trying to figure it out and get it done.

We get bogged down by this idea of perfection. We all have an idea in our head of what “perfect” might look like, but the problem with that is it paralyzes us into inaction. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to accept that we are imperfect, flawed, and make mistakes - and show up anyway.

Perfection doesn’t actually exist.

It’s important to me to show my audience that I am imperfect. That is part of my brand. I am not looking for anyone to idolize me or look to me for style inspiration. I am looking to make you feel comfortable, and empower you to show up, just as you are.

We are all messes. I fully embrace my mess! I can do my job, despite my mistakes and “flaws”. I don’t need a big, clean house and expensive styled outfits and a full face of makeup and nice hair (although every now and then, hey, that would be nice!). That’s not me, or my brand. It might be yours! The beauty is in showing us who you are, and sharing pieces of yourself along the way that compel your audience to want to know more. And if I can help you feel better about yourself (“Hey, if Shannon can do it with bags under her eyes and being awkward 90% of the time, I can totally do it!”), I will continue to show up for you!

Here’s my advice:

Start small. But START.

Start with a selfie on a Monday or Friday morning. Find some good natural light and take a picture of yourself. Post it with a short introduction. Tell us your name, where you’re located, and three things about you and your business. Here’s what I would say:

“Hey friend! Happy Friday! I’m so glad it’s almost the weekend, this week has been a busy one in the personal branding world. In case you’re new around here, allow me to introduce myself! I’m Shannon, a personal branding photographer for small businesses and entrepreneurs. I’m based in central Connecticut, and my work takes me all over the state as well as parts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts! I have lived in New England my whole life and couldn’t picture living anywhere else (although I have a long bucket list of vacation destinations). I have been in business for close to 10 years, and truly love what I do. I love doing creative work, and helping other small businesses and bosses feel more confident and empowered to share the heart behind their work. And when I’m not working with my incredible clients, I love to write, work on art projects, and spend time with my husband and kids, going out to breakfast, taking long nature walks and snuggling up with some popcorn to watch Disney movies. I live for the simple things in life!”

Believe it or not, for me, that’s short! But you can easily make it shorter:

“Hey friends! I’m Shannon, a Connecticut-based personal branding photographer, and I thought I’d tell you a little bit about me and my business today in case you’re new around here. First, I love working with small businesses and entrepreneurs. It lights me up to watch their confidence and businesses grow! Second, I am all about the holidays, so this time of year is my jam. I don’t break out the Christmas tree for another couple weeks, but I enjoy making our home feel more “festive” starting with music and lots of baking! And lastly, I have an awesome promo I’ll be announcing to my email list for Small Business Saturday, so make sure you don’t miss it and sign up today! I have a link in my bio to make it super easy!”

Oooh, see what I did there? A little business, a little personal, and a call to action. I’m going to high five myself for that one. Feel free to copy and use those two samples as a template for your own captions! All you have to do is personalize it. The more you start writing, the easier it gets.

A “call to action”, or CTA, encourages engagement by encouraging a like, leaving a comment, answering a question, or clicking over to a website, subscription or link.

And if captions are not your thing, I will have a sweet offering for you. Click here to grab 5 free caption templates for your personal business.

Hire a branding photographer.

This is an incredible way you can invest in your business and save yourself so much time and stress. Have someone else do the work for you! You’ll feel more confident sharing your beautiful images and level up your branding all at once.

Take better selfies.

We all know what a stretched out arm means when we see it in a picture, and you guys, I’m guilty of it, too! Luckily, there are some awesome tools you can use to take pictures anywhere! I use these when I’m at home, and when I’m out and about, because they allow me to frame my picture and then step away to create the kind of portrait I want.

Selfie Tripod with Bluetooth Remote - easily to fold up and take with you, or just use at home for photos and video. It comes with a bluetooth remote so you don’t even have to set a timer and run!

Phone Holder Grip with Adjustable Gooseneck - I love this one for attaching to my desk (I don’t have room for a tripod on my desk) and Facetiming or watching videos while I work. I also throw it in the car and can attach it to a window if I’m driving around and see a great spot for a photo. I roll my car window down, attach it and set up my shot. It can attach to so many things: countertops, tables, branches, railings, lots of possibilities! I even attach it to my kitchen cabinets to record videos or Facetime with my mom while I’m cooking. It’s a very versatile tool!

Ring Light - I do not have this light, as I prefer using whatever light I have available, but if I were to start off with a light, I would try this one. Especially if you do a lot of live videos on Facebook or Instagram, or are recording for Youtube, ring lights are very flattering. These are great if your studio or office don’t get a lot of good natural light, they help give you even, natural looking light so you don’t appear yellow or blue from overhead lighting or lamps. There are bigger, more expensive options, but this one has tons of solid reviews if you just want to give it a try for minimal investment. Just know that it creates a little ring of light in your eyes, which some people don’t care about, but you might not like how it looks. You decide! I think I’m actually going to add it to my cart right now…

Start believing in yourself and that you provide value and are worthy of success.

Confidence sells. It has taken me 36 years to feel comfortable in my skin and showing my face as I am. Some days I wear makeup, but most days I don’t. The more you show up as you are, the easier it will get. I say it to my clients all the time, but we all have things we are self-conscious about. I promise you - PROMISE - people do not see us the way we see ourselves. If you are holding yourself back, do the hard work of breaking down those walls. It takes time, but you can do it.

You have important, helpful and valuable things to say and share. You can and will succeed, it just takes work and real passion, because some days will be really hard, and what separates those who succeed from those who don’t is that they keep going on those hard days. I hope you never let feelings of self-consciousness stop you from sharing these gifts with the world. You are smart, you are talented, you are experienced, and there are people out there waiting to hear from you.

I hope to see your awesome face in my feed. If this post was helpful, tag me over on Instagram and let me know, I’ll cheer you on!