AZDesign

Personal Branding Photography: A Bold & Monochrome Session with AZDesign

Angela on a pink backdrop with card cut out brand asset shapes to add interest.

It’s just over a year since we worked on this shoot together, and it deserves a post. Personal branding images are more than just profile pictures; they are essential marketing tools. Whether for business websites, social media, or promotional materials, the right portrait can tell a compelling story.

Last year, I had the pleasure of photographing graphic designer Angela Zebellos at my Ealing studio, crafting a striking monochrome shoot with a pop of pink, designed to stand out in both business and social media marketing. Angela even came by the day before and hand-painted her backdrop so we could use it in situ, adding a unique, personal touch to the shoot.

The Importance of Energy in a Shoot

A successful personal branding session isn’t just about great lighting and poses. It’s about capturing personality and energy. To maintain this, I ensured Angela had rest breaks throughout the session. Additionally, if I notice someone getting uncomfortable during a shoot, we don’t just power through. Instead, I use a technique I call “photo yoga”, incorporating playful movement, shaking, and laughter to reset the energy in the room. This helps bring back a natural ease and expression, resulting in dynamic, expressive images that truly reflect the subject’s brand.

Studio Lighting & Creative Direction

Using carefully controlled studio lighting, we created a bold aesthetic that complemented Angela’s brand identity. The monochrome theme with pink accents added a modern, sophisticated touch, allowing for versatility in how these images could be used. Beyond capturing stunning portraits, we designed compositions that left space for marketing copy, ensuring Angela’s images could work seamlessly in a variety of digital and print formats.

What You Don’t See in the Final Images

While the final photographs look effortlessly polished, every shoot has its behind-the-scenes challenges. On this particular day, a group of gardeners was making quite a bit of noise for a while! Though it didn’t affect the final product, it’s a reminder that the process of capturing the perfect shot isn’t always as serene as the end result suggests. We turned up the music!

The Power of Personal Branding Photography

I delivered 52 images in this set, and it’s been a joy seeing Angela get loads of use out of them. Personal branding photography is an investment in visibility and marketing impact. Angela’s session highlights how intentional imagery can go beyond aesthetics to serve a business purpose; enhancing brand recognition, storytelling, and marketing cohesion.