#99. Beyond the Headshot: How a Brand Photo Shoot Can Fuel Business Growth with Sandra Costello

Today we’re talking about something that can be really tricky for so many of us - and THIS time, I’m not talking about money (for once!).

Let’s start with a question.

What happens when you’re the one in front of the camera, instead of the one behind it? How do you feel about having your picture taken?

I’m talking about headshots, photography for your website, or any kind of promotional photography for your business.

(Full disclosure: I have left photo shoots in tears more than once, when I was literally just going in for a simple headshot.)

If you’re anything like me, you don’t exactly love it. 🥴

But in today’s episode, we get to hang out with portrait and branding photographer, Sandra Costello - and she gives me hope, lol. She has the most wonderful way of making her clients feel at ease in front of the camera and capturing them in a beautiful and authentic way. 

With Sandra’s help, we’ll dive into the concept of a brand shoot. This is the kind of photography that goes beyond a single headshot and tells the full story of who you are and the unique gifts that you bring to those who need you. It’s the kind of asset that you need to have in your business if you want to be ready for any opportunity that comes your way. 🤩

Sandra tells us how to show up authentically in front of the camera, and how to let the photographer tell your story in a way that quickly connects with your ideal clients. 

Because here’s the thing … If you want to reach more people and have more impact, people need to see you and see all the many sides of who you are and what you do. 

In Sandra’s own words …

“It’s really easy to not want to put yourself out there, sure - but people can’t access your gifts if you’re a best kept secret...”

Yeah… She’s right about that. 🤔

So let’s get into this. In this episode, we’ll talk about:

1. The difference between a headshot and a brand shoot.
2. Why preparation is essential, and exactly what you need to do to prepare for a brand shoot.
3. How to look like yourself, elevated.
4. What to focus on during the shoot, so that you show up authentically.
5. How much you can expect to pay for a brand shoot.
6. How to choose the perfect brand photographer for you.

As it turns out, brand photography is not all about good lighting and the right props. 

According to Sandra, ENERGY is everything - because when you feel right in front of the camera, you are far more likely to love the results.  And when you love your picture, it’s so much easier to put it out into the world.

So true!

This was such a fun conversation. Take a listen - then tell me if you’re ready to step beyond a single headshot and share your full story …

The world is waiting for you!

~Wendy
  xoxo

P.S. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a minute to share your 5 star review and a few words over on Apple Podcasts or even Spotify. If you’ve been meaning to do that, but keep putting it off, how about heading over there now? Then send me a screen shot so we can celebrate together! :)
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TODAY’S GUEST:  SANDRA COSTELLO

Sandra Costello is a Portrait and Branding Photographer who believes every day is a gift and portraits a

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

You're listening to Ideal Practice, episode number 99. Until a few years ago, y'all, when I thought about the kind of photos that you might need to promote your work, I told everybody that having a great headshot was really important, and that's true. In fact, I have a bit of a pet peeve about that, but then I learned about the concept of a brand photo shoot, which I really love. So that's what we're gonna talk about today with my guest, Sandra Costello. She's a photographer that you are going to love, so stay tuned ["Sandra Costello"].

Speaker 1: 0:51

Hi, I'm Wendy Pitts Reeves and, with over two decades of experience in the private practice world, I've built my six-figure business while learning a lot of lessons the hard way. This is the first podcast that shows you how to apply the principles of energy alignment and strategy to build a practice that is profit-centered but people-forward. This is the Ideal Practice Podcast, hey guys, and welcome back. Thank you so much for tuning in to another episode of Ideal Practice. This is your host, wendy Pitts Reeves, and I am so excited to be hanging out with you today, because we're gonna talk about something that is really important and also really tricky for so many of us. And no, actually this time I'm not talking about money, for once. Today we're gonna be talking about the kind of photography that you need in your private practice. There's more to this than most of us realize, and it is an area that I have had a mix of experience with. I've had things happen that were great, and I've had things happen that were not so great, but I've learned a lot about it over the years, and so it is a treat to bring to you a true expert who is going to teach us about what it means to have not just a really good headshot, but so much more. We're going to be talking about a full blown brand shoot, a brand photo shoot, and I get to introduce you to Sandra Castello.

Speaker 1: 2:37

Sandra is a portrait and branding photographer who lives in the Cape Cod area but has people who literally fly in to work with her. She is an effervescent being that's the best way I can describe her. She says and believes that every day is a gift and she believes that a good portrait is proof of a life well lived. She has a knack for putting her clients at ease, which you will be able to understand when you meet her. She loves capturing fun, relaxed portraits that, in her words, celebrate and elevate. Sandra is the principal and owner of Sandra Castello photography and honestly, she tells. She says that she's everybody's favorite cheerleader, and I believe it. She's been in business for a little over 10 years or more and has created a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to be their most authentic self.

Speaker 1: 3:41

And here's the thing, when it comes to having your picture taken, your photos taken for your marketing. I don't know about you, but I think it's really hard to find a photographer who helps you capture your authentic self. So we're gonna talk a lot about that today what that means, what to look for when you are looking for a photographer to work with, what a brand photo shoot actually is, all the different ways that you can use it. There's really a lot to this topic. In fact, I may come back to it again, actually, because I think there's so much more to it.

Speaker 1: 4:21

This is a fun, fun conversation and I think Sandra had a lot of really practical takeaways, not to mention some pretty significant encouragement for why you it is worth it for you to spend your time and to invest in finding the right photographer and getting some good pictures for yourself. My friend, this is gonna be fun and really really helpful. So, without another moment, let's get in to the interview. All right, hello everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Ideal Practice. I am this is gonna be such a fun conversation today, guys, because we are diving into sort of the technical and emotional side of something we all need and we all tend to run from and maybe I shouldn't say all, but most of us. So, as you heard in the introduction today, my guest today is Sandra Costello, and I'm just gonna bring her on before I even get started. Sandra, say hi to everybody.

Speaker 2: 5:23

Hello everybody and hello Wendy. Hello Sandra, I'm so glad to be here.

Speaker 1: 5:27

Yeah, it's gonna be great. Yeah, and if you guys happen to see a video of this, she looks really lovely today In a true photographer set. She is like totally like popping with the color. It's really really pretty. Have you ever happened to see this? Tell everybody where you are, what you do, who you help, how you help them. Let's start with that.

Speaker 2: 5:46

Fantastic, thank you. So I'm Sandra Costello and you can find me very easily and quickly online at sandralevtucom. I am a portrait and personal branding photographer. I'm located on Cape Cod, which is a special little spot in Massachusetts, and if you've never been there, put it on your bucket list, because it is stunning, especially in the summertime.

Speaker 1: 6:10

So there we are. Yeah, there we are. I have flown over it. I've never actually visited there.

Speaker 2: 6:16

Yeah yeah, that's about it, yeah, Well flying over it is also equally special because it really is such an interesting shape and, yeah, it's a really gorgeous space to visit and the beaches are so unique from each other and just stunning.

Speaker 1: 6:34

Yeah, yeah, gotta get up there. So personal portraiture and personal brand photography, and I wanna dive into the brand idea. So the reason for you guys I want y'all to know the reason I've asked Sarah to come. Sarah, sarah, I don't know who Sarah is. The reason I've asked Sandra to come with us today is I had an experience a couple of years ago with a good friend of mine. She is my business accountability partner.

Speaker 1: 7:00

Y'all have all heard me talk about Michelle Knox, who is near and dear to my heart, and Michelle was completely doing a complete overhaul of her website and, in the process, was telling me about setting up a brand shoot. And I said what's that? What's a brand shoot? And I had never heard of this concept, which is essentially and Sandra's gonna help us with this so much more than a headshot. It is one of the things that you will learn when you put your website together and when you begin marketing in a more sort of full-throated way is you're gonna need a lot more than one picture that you use over and over and over and over again everywhere. That tells people really nothing about you, and a brand shoot is an idea that I really loved when I understood it, and I have been looking for an opportunity to tell you about it ever since, so I'm so excited about this today. So, sandra, tell us let's start here Tell me your version of why the heck I need more than a headshot. What's wrong with that Fits on my business card?

Speaker 2: 8:05

Well, I think it really depends on what you do and how you do it. If you are someone who is really only on LinkedIn and you need one or two portraits, a headshot is perfectly fine If you are doing more than that. So, for example, a lot of my clients are folks who are entrepreneurs, some sort of professional, where they want to show themselves in a very authentic way on their website, on social media. Perhaps they're speaking to audiences, maybe they've designed a course. There may be many more opportunities to show themselves in a lot of different kinds of environments, to really show what they do and how they do it. So a good headshot is really important, and when I say a good headshot, one that really fully represents you. It looks like you. You don't look like a deer caught in headlights, yes, but to have a collection of images means two things One, you are always ready for any kind of opportunity. And two, if you love your images, then you are creating your own opportunities to get yourself out there in the world for folks to know you.

Speaker 1: 9:23

Yeah, and I like that you said authentic. That whole deer in the headlight, look is a real common one.

Speaker 2: 9:31

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 9:33

And the whole concept really just for a headshot itself, to have a good one, not something somebody took with their cell phone while you were at a party, which is what I have seen so many people do. I have, like long before I heard of the concept of a brand shoot, I have pushed the fact that you know, spend some money, go get a really good headshot done, and I have actually created it. Back when I used to run a women's leadership conference, we used to pay somebody to come in and do headshots on site during the day, right, so they could get it while they were there.

Speaker 2: 10:03

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 10:04

But this is, but I'll let you just add collection of photos so that you are ready for all different kinds of opportunities or can make them. Yeah, so do you find that this is a common thing? Like, do a lot of the entrepreneurs that you know do they come to you looking for a brand shoot, or do they come for a headshot and learn that they need more? I'm just curious about that.

Speaker 2: 10:26

That is a really good question. So when people call me, I really feel like I have some questions that I want to ask them so that I can put them into the right shoot. So, for example, I had someone call me just a couple of days ago. She is, she's got a full-time job and she's got a side gig, but she's looking to grow the side gig and she really only needs a couple of images right now. So that often will fall into like I do a headshot mini marathon and you know I will sign up a couple of people on the same day. They come in for a short shoot and they leave with a few images and that's perfect. But for other people who come to me, I had another client a couple of months ago.

Speaker 2: 11:15

She's a psychic and she is also an author. She's also a counselor. She does a number of things, but she has a library of images that she needs so that she can promote her books. She can be available when she's speaking. She has a number of courses that she does online with folks. She's on social media all the time. She has all of these images of her in casual wear, walking on the beach, sitting at a table, working, like she now has images that show all the different sides of her, so that people really get a sense of who Lisa is.

Speaker 1: 11:56

Yeah, I love that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I have found it really hard myself during a photo shoot to relax, be who you are, don't be weird. I really, really struggle with this. And guys those of you who are listening to put this in the context I have understood the importance of this for a while and I have spent money hiring good photographers. I've worked with two in particular who were excellent one in Atlanta, one local to me here in East Tennessee. Both outstanding photographers and inevitably I get at least a few. I can stand A few pictures.

Speaker 1: 12:36

I can stand and that is no reflection on the photographer. I have so much trouble just chilling out and being who. I am right, like, yeah, like, even if you set this up and I do want to get into the details about what you should have set up, like what that looks like but how the heck do you prepare yourself? Because I will say for my coaching clients that I work with, being seen is a huge block. It's as big as the money block is, which I talk about a lot all the time. My people are therapists, they're healers, they're massage therapists, they're people who are used to being in the background, who are all about you know. They're working one on one and behind a closed door somewhere and they are so not about putting themselves first, acting like they're all that, don't want to be all braggy, et cetera, and having our pictures taken. We know how women feel about that. How do you go over that before we even think about where and how and what?

Speaker 2: 13:36

Yeah, I help me.

Speaker 1: 13:36

Sandra, I trouble with it, not even kidding.

Speaker 2: 13:42

I think this is a big one, wendy, I really do. You know, I think it's really hard for women to put themselves out there in a way that feels like they're being boastful and they're talking too much about themselves. That makes a lot of women really uncomfortable. The way I look at it and the way that I try to talk to my clients about that aspect of doing a photo shoot is it's it is really easy to you know, not want to put yourself out there or talk too much about what you do. However, if you are the best kept secret, then people cannot access your gifts.

Speaker 2: 14:23

When you can talk about what you do from a place of joy, from a place of service, from a place of oh my gosh, I know exactly the right thing that you need in this right moment to collaborate. When you can think about putting yourself out there from a place where you are connecting and helping others, then I think it's a little bit easier to consider how to put your face out in the world. I also find distraction is a really good technique. So and I say that from the point- of view of what I'm doing for you.

Speaker 2: 15:08

So I like to have a good time and tell jokes, even though I'm a terrible joke teller but but it really like a shoot with me is about having a conversation. I want to a tell you how amazing you look, because hopefully you're in that state of mind where you're feeling relaxed and if you're not, then you and I are working through that. I'm asking you questions, I'm telling you stories, I'm really helping you to get out of your head so that your self critic, you know, goes away for a little while.

Speaker 1: 15:46

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So getting helping the person who's having their photos taken, get them, get their mind off themselves and onto the work, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 15:58

And one and one way I do that before the shoot is I either meet them in person or I meet them over zoom and we talk once or twice. We get everything prepared. If they're worried about close, I help you pick it out or I help you figure out what to buy. Nice, if you're worried about how you're going to use your images afterwards, we talk about that exclusively, like OK, you've got a website, you've got social media, you've got all these other opportunities. Let's talk about what those images should look like. Yeah, so when you show up for your shoot, you're totally ready to go. You don't have to really worry about too much, and then I take control. I mean, I say it all the time. I want someone to tell me what to do.

Speaker 1: 16:41

So I don't have to think yes, yes, I love that you help people figure out what to wear, because I know in a full shoot you may wear two or three outfits. Sometimes you may change several times, and it is. It's one thing to dress to sit across the office and talk to somebody. It's a whole nother thing to. I mean. It's just, it's hard, it's really hard, yeah.

Speaker 2: 17:03

Well, and the beauty of seeing someone in person or over zoom is I often will wear some kind of shirt that doesn't look good in the photo shoot, and I'll tell them why. So, for example, the sweater I'm wearing today, you know, it's a little bit loose and it's a little bit square. So if I did, if I wore this in a photo shoot, what I would probably do is cinch the back a little bit so that it's more, you know, fitted to my body. Because no matter what shape or size you are, close that fit you well and fit to your shape are always going to read better. So, you know, I remember doing a shoot with a client where she had this beautiful blazer on, but the way it fell naturally looked a little boxy and I said we're going to do two things One, I'm going to cinch it in the back just a little bit, and then, two, you're going to bend your arm in such a way that there's a little bit of space right between your body and your arm so that you don't look like a block.

Speaker 2: 18:05

You know, you look like you've got a shape to you, which she did.

Speaker 1: 18:09

Which is more natural, more human right.

Speaker 2: 18:13

Yeah, yeah. So there are ways to look your best and I'm you know, I'm there to guide you so that you're ready and you know that you're going to look awesome on the day of your shoot.

Speaker 1: 18:24

Yeah, I love that. Do you do hair and makeup or recommend that people get hair and makeup done before the shoot or on that day, whatever? How do you handle that?

Speaker 2: 18:33

Yes, so I have three or four dedicated hair and makeup artists that I work with, and every shoot that I do always includes makeup. I will sometimes actually at least 50% of the time hear from my clients I only wear chapstick, I don't need makeup.

Speaker 1: 18:50

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:51

And. I get that because most of my clients want to look fairly natural, but what my makeup artist does is she gets you camera ready, because when you're being photographed naturally, you're going to look just a little bit washed out with lights and things like that on you.

Speaker 2: 19:09

So, my makeup artist is really just stepping things up a little bit, giving a little pop to the eyes and things like that, and so, and also, if you have any redness or blemishes or whatever, she's taking care of all of that, so you don't have to look like a drag queen. But you know, you can look elevated and that is really what my makeup artist is doing and still look like yourself.

Speaker 1: 19:35

Still look like yourself Exactly.

Speaker 2: 19:36

Yeah, that's key, yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:38

Yeah, I have learned from experience that, for those of us who aren't photographers, the kind of makeup you have to do for a camera whether it's video or still photography is quite different than what you might do in your everyday life. And it often does feel like it's a lot. And even when it's done really well and honestly, on camera you look exactly the way you're used to, looking like you're fine. But if you leave a photo shoot and go out to a restaurant and catch yourself in a mirror, you go, whoa Lord. Speaking from experience, yeah, so I love that and I also, like, when I think about hiring a photographer, I have often told my clients, however you do it, make sure you have someone who will do hair and makeup. Like that's just a world of difference and the whole thing is such a smoother operation. So this so there's a couple of things that you're saying already that I think are important that kind of want to highlight. One is, or what's kind of coming to me as we're talking, is to make sure that you are working with a photographer who does put you at ease, who can kind of laugh with you a little bit and ease like, guide you a little bit, and will tell you what to do Without making you feel bad about it. It needs to be somebody that you are comfortable with, and I love the idea of certainly professional hair and makeup, but helping you sort of think through in advance what to wear.

Speaker 1: 21:07

Back, when I was running for office, one of the things I had to learn was what to wear when you're going to be on TV all the time. Watch the patterns. Be really careful about patterns. Yes, Be careful about jewelry, things that are like there's all kinds of things that are great in your everyday life, but do not work on camera. Simple is better. Yeah, so I love that yeah.

Speaker 1: 21:27

I'll also love what you said about focusing on service. That when you yeah, I'm going to go somewhere with this that when you are getting your photos taken and all you're thinking about is like, oh, I hate to have my picture taken and I hate the way I look and I don't want people to be looking at me and I don't want people to think of all that you are forgetting about your clients in that moment You're forgetting about your clients and don't do that. Like, get your mind off yourself and onto your clients and when you, when the camera is clicking, just be thinking as if you were the way it comes to me as we're talking. Imagine that you're sitting in your chair in your office or you're at your massage table and you're just chatting with them. What do you look like when you talk to your clients? Like you're not sitting there thinking about what you look, you're thinking about them. So yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:19

I think it is a really beautiful and important place to come from when you're thinking about your photographs. You know, I'll tell you, I had a client just this week who we did a full branding shoot and she really came ready for it. But she was very nervous and I think some of what played into those nerves was imposter syndrome. You know, like what am I doing here? Should I really be having this photo shoot? Should I be spending this money? Should I be doing all of this? And here's how I look at it. When you put yourself in the best light and you show yourself authentically, when you're ready for the shoot, when you're ready for photographs that really tell your story, then people will get to know you pretty quickly because you're showing up as yourself, doing the things that you are excited to do.

Speaker 2: 23:18

I mean, for this client in particular, she was transitioning into a new CEO role. She had some big shoes to fill, so she was a little nervous about that and when she questioned you know, whether or not she should be doing all of this, I said you absolutely should be. I said you are the new face of this company. People want to see you, they want to hear from you. But beyond like what these photos are saying, you use your voice. Use your voice to talk about, like what's most important to you and what you're going to be doing in your role, and that's I mean, that's really it. People just need to get to know you.

Speaker 1: 23:57

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, which is where I was going to go next, which is that the no-liking trust factor, like when you have potential clients and customers who are thinking about working with you, anything that gives them a sense of your humanity, is going to make all the difference in the world. So it doesn't and I know you're going to agree like your photos don't have to be perfect, I do think they shouldn't be.

Speaker 1: 24:21

Oh they shouldn't be Right. In fact they shouldn't be, and yet they still need to be professional, professionally imperfect, I think, and clients in my background, which is in mental health clients, pick therapists in the craziest ways Like I've had. I ask people all the time what made you decide to call me or what made you decide to call so-and-so? And I've. I can't tell you how many clients I've gotten who liked the quote that I had somewhere. I had a therapist friend of mine who used to get pictures. A lot of people would call her because she had a picture sure dog was with her in her photo and people would say I really liked your dog, and it wasn't even that great a photo, but they liked her.

Speaker 1: 24:57

In fact, she had a dog. So, yeah, so the visual aspect of connecting with your audience is every bit as important as all the other things that we do to connect with our people, right?

Speaker 2: 25:10

Yeah, yeah, I mean I'll tell you a quick story. I had a client who is a personal trainer. She still does this work and early in her life she was very overweight. She weighed 300 pounds. She came to a place in her life where she wanted to make some changes for her health. She lost a lot of weight, became a personal trainer and, in addition to the personal training work that she does, she's also a writer, and she talked a lot about that experience. Now, when Kelly shows her photographs, she's not wearing spandex and a pair of sneakers. She's usually wearing a pair of jeans, a pair of boots, a leather jacket, and she wears this black beanie.

Speaker 2: 25:56

She's kind of an ass kicker, you know what I mean, and she has told me so we have photographs of her in this outfit, with her leg up on a wall, like she's looking pretty tough. And she said these are the kinds of images that people respond to when they see her, and I think it is her special, it's her special brand, right, it's who she is, it's how people relate to her. When they see that photo of her, they know that she's a different kind of personal trainer.

Speaker 1: 26:28

And no, she's a different kind. They're not looking at her and thinking she got a double chin. Hmm her hair is out of place.

Speaker 2: 26:35

Hmm, I don't know about that color.

Speaker 1: 26:36

They are not sitting there critiquing her. They're going. Do I like her? Do I connect?

Speaker 2: 26:42

with her.

Speaker 1: 26:43

There's something about her energy, her vibe that like, yeah, that's me, that's what people are looking at. They are looking for someone that reflects either what they feel or what they want to feel. Something like that yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 26:56

That is so it. So when I work with my clients, I always say to them we're going to figure this out together, right, because I work a lot on energy. Like if you come in and you lean into your shoot and I feel that I know what's important to you already, because we've talked through all the details, like I have all of those mental notes in my brain and so the shoot is really. The shoot is kind of I don't know if this is the right word, but like a free for all. Right, so let's show up with the right clothes, the right props, all the things, and then let's just like, let's play.

Speaker 1: 27:34

That's it, yeah. Play, I love it yeah.

Speaker 2: 27:40

And so this is why I think a lot of people say to me at the end of the shoot I never thought it was going to be that much fun, like I was so nervous about it. That was really fun. I'm like yay.

Speaker 1: 27:50

Oh, that's because you yeah.

Speaker 1: 27:53

Yeah, that's huge. I don't know that I've ever said it was fun. Not sure I can say that. I mean in full disclosure, y'all, for real. I have left photographers studios more than once in tears and just gone out and sat in the car and cried which I know always makes people sad when you want to but often that would happen when I was literally just going for a headshot. It has happened when I was with people I knew and people with I didn't know. Like I was up for an award one time and they gave us a headshot as part of the award and I went and sat with some photographer I had never met before and they were perfectly fine photos. I hated them, hated them, hated them. So this whole thing of because I know the energy was off, the energy was off, there was no preparation.

Speaker 1: 28:40

I wasn't wearing the right thing, it was just the energy was off. Your point right there, I think, is golden. The energy is everything. This is not just lighting technique and props, it is you have to feel right, and I think my people are going to get that, because everything we do is about how we feel right. Yeah, yeah absolutely.

Speaker 2: 29:01

I mean, you know, it's funny Like I don't think it was until a few years ago that I really connected with that idea of energy for my shoots and even how I connect with my clients. Because I thought, well, I'm a good photographer and I know how to get people organized and ready to go. But the more I photographed headshots and personal branding shoots, the more I realized particularly for women how apprehensive they were about the shoot and I was curious how could I make this a better experience for them so that they left with photographs that they were proud of and they loved? Because when you love your picture, it's so much easier to put it out in the world.

Speaker 2: 29:47

Yes, and if you don't love it, which I hear from so many people, they either use very old photos that doesn't look like them anymore, or they use nothing, and both do not serve them well.

Speaker 1: 29:58

Yes, yes, and it is true. When you have a picture that you like, you will not mind sharing it. In fact, you'll be a little bit proud of it. You can tell the ones I like because of the ones I use all the time. Yeah, that's very true, that is very true. Well, so let's talk about a brand shoot. Like what does that actually mean? What are some of the things to think about as you set it up? How does this all work? Like what? How is that different from a headshot? Let's talk about that.

Speaker 2: 30:24

So a headshot is really an opportunity for you to have a beautiful photograph of your head, like it sounds so silly, but you know you use it for LinkedIn.

Speaker 2: 30:36

You might use it on your website as part of your bio. You really want to be able to have a good image of yourself, of your face that expresses who you are, is a fairly clean backdrop so that nothing feels too cluttered. You want it to be fairly straightforward and include as much of your personality as possible. So you know, my headshot almost always has me with my mouth hanging open, laughing, because that's just who I am, where somebody else. That wouldn't work for them.

Speaker 2: 31:13

But when people come to me for a branding session versus a headshot we're going to do a variety of images. So we're going to do the nice, clean headshots, because those are always valuable, but then we're going to do some other photographs that really connect them with their profession. Sometimes things just happen in the studio and I have a beautiful space that is like a blank slate, so we can decorate it in such a way that we have things hanging in the background. I have contemporary furniture. I have a desk with a laptop like I have all of these things that we can use to paint the picture of what your everyday life looks like, whether you're working on the computer, you know, sitting on a couch and on a phone call.

Speaker 1: 32:00

You know those are some of the basic things Doing things.

Speaker 2: 32:03

Yeah, yeah, but then there may be other things that are more specific. So I'm trying to think of clients that you know. So, like I photographed a personality, a woman who was a speaker. She was on television, she did a variety of things and we wanted to show her about town. You know where she was like out in the city. She was in spaces that made sense for what she did, and so sometimes location really plays a role and environment to really give people a sense of what you do.

Speaker 1: 32:40

So sometimes you take photos in your studio where you have staged it in a way with a variety thing, and sometimes you go out and go somewhere else, right? So I've Michelle rented an Airbnb just for her photo shoot and I ended up doing the same thing myself. Later I found a cabin that was that had nice furniture and nice windows and nice porches and stuff.

Speaker 2: 33:01

Right, so yeah.

Speaker 1: 33:02

Yeah, so, or in town like you're so. So location is one thing, the activities that you're doing is one thing, yeah.

Speaker 2: 33:10

Yes, yeah, yeah, all of that. So, like I love the Airbnb suggestion, I had a client last year who is a website designer specifically for home professionals so architects and interior designers and people like that and she really wanted to elevate the look of her images. So she rented an Airbnb that had a beautiful design to it and we shot in all the different spaces in this home so that she not only had a variety of gorgeous images, but they were all in rooms that look like they had been designed by a home professional.

Speaker 2: 33:46

So, you know, really being thoughtful about where and what you're wearing and the props that you bring. I photographed another woman who has a nanny service out of New York City and abroad, and so we did her shoot in an Airbnb as well, and I have these really sweet photographs of her sitting on a counter in a kitchen and she's sipping a juice box. I mean, you know, there is a way to be playful and professional at the same time.

Speaker 1: 34:19

Yeah, I love that and I love your stories. These are great because this gives me ideas. I love this. I love that so you can rent a place, you can walk around town. I've done that before. I worked with one of the photographers. I did did that. You can do it in your studio. So what are some of the? So you talked about talking on a phone being on your laptop. Formal versus informal is something else I'm thinking about, because I've tried shoots where I was like wearing a suit, which is what I used to wear more when I gave talks and stuff. Those pictures didn't work. The casual pictures worked so much better. I didn't like I don't look like a lawyer. I don't want to look like a lawyer.

Speaker 2: 34:56

Well, and so, like, one of the questions I always ask at the beginning of any consultation is give me three adjectives to describe how you want people to see you and or how you see yourself. And if that's difficult for some people which it is I say ask your friends, how would they describe you? I think it's important to be reflective of the kind of mood or vibe that you want to give off in these photographs. I mean, a couple of years back, I photographed the mayor of the town that I was living in, and she was living in a very progressive town and she was not stuffy in any way, but she was mayor, but she was mayor. So she felt the need to bring at least one suit.

Speaker 2: 35:44

Well, what was so interesting was she had a variety of clothes that she wore that were professional but approachable, and when she was in those clothing, wearing those clothes, she looked great and she felt like herself, and you could tell the way she moved, the way that she smiled, all of that. So then I said, well, let's just do a couple in the suit. What do you say? She put the suit on and all of a sudden she was a robot, like no, could she move in a natural way, because she was wearing something that didn't fit her. I mean, it fit her, but it didn't fit her personality, her spirit, her, all of that.

Speaker 1: 36:26

The energy was off.

Speaker 2: 36:27

The energy was off once again. When the energy is off, it's like we're stuck, and I see that in shoots all the time. And when I give my clients permission to be goofy, to put on the outfit that maybe they thought wasn't going to work, like whatever, it is like when they are allowed to just sort of lean into the piece that they thought they shouldn't, that's when things happen.

Speaker 1: 36:55

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. I'm thinking about things like kicking your shoes off or curling up on the couch or Yep. It's tricky for me because I think there's a bit of a two-edged sword here and it's very hard for me to tease out in this my own bias here, which is why it's really helpful to have you as a part of this conversation. I cannot detach from this subject very well, which is really good, and I'm guessing a lot of people can relate to that, I hope.

Speaker 1: 37:29

On one hand, I am always a thousand times more comfortable in an informal setting. I'm a blue-jean girl, so in fact, michelle teases me. She said I cannot have any more pictures taken with a blue-jean shirt, it's just, I've been forbidden from that. I'm like I'm sorry, that's what I'll, but so yeah, so casual, whatever that looks like for you is easier and more comfortable for most of us, because that's who we really are. And at the same time, thinking about your woman mayor or woman CEO, there is a certain amount of authority gravitas, certain amount of presence we need to have and, like it or not, we have several layers of bias that we are pushing up against.

Speaker 1: 38:11

How do you keep the energy right and still look professional and look like an authority when you are in a situation where that's important, Cause I'm thinking you know, as a therapist in a solo practice you're not, that doesn't matter so much.

Speaker 1: 38:23

But, if you are running a group practice with 40 staff members, you need to look like you run a big if you're. I've interviewed two practice owners in the last few weeks who own eight figure practices seven and eight figure practices and my guess is I asked them they would say like I'm gonna wear whatever I want to, cause I run a. You know you got a $10 million business. You do whatever you want to, but I do think about the issue of authority and respect while still being still being real. So the suit thing makes me like that's what's bringing that up for me. So for that mayor, how does she do that professionally? How do you balance that?

Speaker 2: 38:59

So there's a couple of things that happen Before we. You know, before the shoot, we will put together a Pinterest board. So I'll listen to my client and I'll listen to the things that they tell me. And having a Pinterest board where I get to share photographs, whether they're ones I've taken or ones I've found online, and I can share them with my client and I can say how do these resonate for you, do these connect with the kind of image that you want to put out in the world? And they say yes or no? Great, that's the first thing.

Speaker 2: 39:34

The second thing is, as a professional photographer, I know what kind of lighting. I also know what kind of angle is going to work. Like, if I want to show someone who is standing tall, their chin is up a little bit, I'm at a slightly lower angle to show, you know, authority. If that's part of what they're looking for, then that's what I'm going to do. So some of it is really subtle moves to show that someone is either approachable or that they are in a position of power. And then how do you mix the two? You can. You can mix the two, like I had another client last year who you know. The majority of my clients are women, but on occasion I photographed men too, and I love that. He said to me I don't want to look like every other middle-aged white guy and I said okay, so how are we going to achieve that, right?

Speaker 2: 40:34

So I said one way to do that is to put you in a space that feels welcoming. Let's talk about clothes. What do you have in your wardrobe that looks a little bit stylish? Because you know, he might be a really cash guy, but we want to step it up a little bit so that you're not looking stuffy in a suit, but you're wearing something that still looks elevated and contemporary and also friendly. So you know, there's a lot of components that go into how people appear, but the only way to get to that place is to have a really honest conversation and to just really be open to the experience.

Speaker 1: 41:17

Love it. I love that and I love a guy who says I don't want to look like every other. That's great. That's love that. I love that. That's a lot. That's a tall order, I think, for a photographer to help someone.

Speaker 2: 41:28

Yes, it can be. Yeah, it can be. Some days you know like I feel it and other days I'm. You know what. I'll say this, wendy, like I get really excited about your enthusiasm is adorable.

Speaker 1: 41:41

I just want to say that I love how I'm so enjoying just watching your face as you talk about this, because you light up. You clearly love this subject and this work and it's so much fun to hear you talking about it. You know what it is.

Speaker 2: 41:55

I really love being a part of people's success stories and I know that I get to play a large role in that, because not only do people have images that they're proud to put out in the world, but it does something for their self-confidence, like I want people to leave their session with me feeling really good, because they attach that good feeling to these photographs.

Speaker 1: 42:25

Yeah, yeah, that's so true.

Speaker 2: 42:27

If you don't have a good feeling around it, it's gonna be really hard to want to use them or to put yourself out there in a way that you know provides opportunities and makes you feel great.

Speaker 1: 42:38

Yeah, so sometimes it takes a little bit to figure it all out, but when you get it right it impacts everything you do. Yeah, that's so true.

Speaker 2: 42:48

I had a client who came to me this week I worked with her last summer and she's come back for another shoot and I said to her, because she's I just launched this program called. It's an offering called 40 over 40. So it's an opportunity for women in particular to come 40 years old and older, to come and be photographed and then at the end of the year we'll do an exhibit with all the work.

Speaker 1: 43:13

Oh cool.

Speaker 2: 43:15

I was asking her tell me, like, what engaged you, what drew you in? And she said you know, to be honest, I just got a glimpse of it, but I just felt like I wanted to work with you again. She said it's kind of like a get in a tattoo you get one and then you want another one. And I think that's what happens with these shoots is like, when it's done right, when it's done in a way that you feel cared for, why wouldn't you want to do it again? Because you want to see what else is going to come out of that.

Speaker 1: 43:44

Yes, absolutely, absolutely. In fact, I have hired the same photographer more than once. When it was so good, I would go back. Yes, that is true. When you find a good one, hold on to them, that's true.

Speaker 1: 43:54

Yeah, that is true yeah and I have found some good ones. Yeah, I love that. So teach us how to plan a brand shoot. What do I do? Let's say I'm working. I mean, ideally you're working with a photographer who can tell you, but what if you're not? Or what if you're working with someone who hasn't quite thought this through the way? I've learned from experience that ultimately, I'm the one that cares about my business and I need to know what I want, and I need to go into situations like prepared to ask for exactly what I'm looking for. So if I'm starting from scratch and I'm going to approach a photographer, I'm going to say I want to do a brand shoot. Here are some of the things I want to plug in. How do I think that through? What do I need to be considering?

Speaker 2: 44:35

Well, I think it's really important to do a little journal writing. You know, whenever you're doing something that is going to cause you to reflect on what's important to you, I think it's important to write it down. So you know, asking yourself, like what is it that I want to show? How do I want to be perceived? That's the first question to ask yourself. Do you want to be friendly? Do you want to be over the top enthusiastic, like me? Do you want to be a little bit more contemplative? Like what is it that you want to show? Because I know I'm not the right photographer for everyone. You may want to work with someone who is a little quieter in their approach. You may want to work with someone who doesn't even live in the area that you live in, because you want your photographs in sunny Florida but, maybe you live in Vermont.

Speaker 1: 45:29

I don't know.

Speaker 2: 45:32

I think it's important to then ask yourself so who is my ideal client? You know, like, who do I really want to work with and what is it that they need to know about me to make that kind of connection? So for a lot of clients, they do want to show what they do and if there is a special way in which they do that, you know, think that through as well. I mean, if you find a good branding photographer who understands storytelling and also understands the placement of images I mean, we haven't even talked about that which is you know, if you're using images for a website or some other graphics, you need to have some empty space so that you can put words.

Speaker 2: 46:16

You can kind of look a certain way like there is that aspect of it too, so you could hire someone who's an amazing portrait photographer. But if they haven't sized your images the right way so that you have this extra space, it's gonna be problematic.

Speaker 1: 46:35

Yeah, I've heard about that too, that you may get some really nice pictures, but they are all vertical, small pictures and it doesn't work on the header of a website because you can't use it horizontally and there's nowhere to put text. Or if you're creating a meme of some sort and you need to have you to one side and you need to have a blank wall beside you so you can put text on the graphic, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 46:59

Yeah, so that's where like for me. I was. You know my, you know I used to be a graphic designer, so I have a really good sense of like. Okay, so where am I gonna place my subject so that it makes sense? Like if they said to me I really need an opening shot for my website, great, what does that look like? What do you wanna be doing? How does it feel?

Speaker 2: 47:21

I'm gonna shoot wide for a lot of my branding images, because you need that when you're designing a website or when you're creating something that's only a square. You know you've gotta be thoughtful about all of those things. But, you know, I think to start in a very reflective mode where you're thinking about what you wanna put out in the world and then starting to look around for branding photographers. You can look up branding photographer, you can look up personal branding, all of those things. You know there are folks out there who would do it and will do this work, and then you just wanna look at their portfolio. Does it? You know, doesn't match the kind of vibe that you wanna put out in the world. And then, you know, having a conversation with the photographer to see if you, if you vibe with them, because it's that I mean, that's probably the most important pieces, like really connecting with a photographer that you feel comfortable with, that you feel excited about working with. You've seen their work and you love it and you love them. That's gonna make all the difference.

Speaker 1: 48:30

You know that's interesting because I am maybe a bit of a control freak, so I immediately those who know me would laugh right now but I immediately start getting into the down the weeds with the details. But what you're saying that I think is a key point here is like start with first of all thinking about the feeling you want to convey and the way that you do that is by making sure who's on the other end. So get clear about your ICA, your ideal client, and what they need. You just said what they need to know about you. What do I want? My favorite client in the whole wide world, that person I wish I had like an entire roster. I just had a whole day of people like that. What?

Speaker 1: 49:13

does they need to know about me, what's the feeling I want them to get when they see these pictures, what's the feeling I want to have when I'm in these pictures? And so the feeling is the first thing. The second thing is placement you talked about when, literally, am I gonna use this? Is it gonna be on Instagram? Is it gonna be on Facebook? Is it gonna be in a wide header across the top of the page? Is it something tiny that I need to fit on the back of a business card? Where am I literally gonna be using these pictures? Because that determines the kind of photography you're gonna get, and then start looking for a brand photographer, which is not a term I would normally have gone to look for. I would look for a photographer period, but not brand photographer.

Speaker 1: 49:57

People do weddings, people do headshots I would not have thought to like and you're saying about, look at their portfolio. But really you're saying make sure you like them, that you like their work. It resonates with you. There's something about the way they think that you're liking but make sure you like them. And where my brain went was oh yeah, well, if I did all that, I wouldn't really have to worry too much about the details, because they'll figure that part out and tell me what to do right, Exactly, Wendy, you are so right and I think, yeah, I think it's really easy to.

Speaker 2: 50:35

I just lost my train of thought.

Speaker 1: 50:38

Well, I was getting into the weeds in terms of I've like. I want a picture with me writing in a journal and drinking a glass of wine. I want a picture with me looking at a stack, a particular stack of books. I want a picture of me on a couch. I want a picture of me sitting by a creek, you know like.

Speaker 1: 50:53

I was like thinking of that kind of stuff, but you're really kind of zooming out in a bigger way and make sure you've got like, once you know what your intentions are and find the right person the work will happen. That's kind of how I'm what I'm hearing.

Speaker 2: 51:09

So this is what I was going to say yeah, don't email the photographer. Call them, because you can go back and forth with email. That's great, and some photographers will have details that they can share but why not call? Like when you have a conversation with someone? If someone reaches out to me, I immediately call them because I want to know pretty quickly what's important to you. You know why do you want to do this? Is this a good match? If this is a good match, you're going to get photographs that you love and you don't have to have all the answers before you hire someone. You just need to hire the right person that you connect with, is interested in your goals and you like their portfolio. I mean, I think it is important to look at their portfolio because you do want to have photographs that match your style, but I don't know. I just I think it's important to have a conversation.

Speaker 1: 52:13

I love that because you're right. What that makes me think of is that when I am referring a counseling client to other practitioners, I will say talk to at least two or three of them on the phone. Talk to them, because you will instantly get a feeling for somebody on the phone. That is true, you will have a, you'll get the vibe, you will sense the energy, you'll click or you won't. That is a very good point. So the technique, the style, is important, but it keeps coming back to energy, which is not where I thought we were gonna go today, but I love that.

Speaker 1: 52:44

No me neither, yeah, but it's perfect. It makes perfect sense to me, makes perfect sense when that's right. Everything else usually is too. That is so true, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2: 52:54

And so you know and I think this is where you know when you connect with the right person in whatever you do in life, then you're able to trust in that experience, and when you trust something, you relax. So I always say to folks you know, I want you to feel like I'm a friend you've always had. And because what I discovered many years ago, before I started doing this full time, I was working for a company, I was shooting their catalog and I was photographing the employees. And the beauty of photographing the employees was they already knew me. They felt pretty relaxed. They do pretty much anything I'd ask them to do and I thought oh, wait a second, this is really interesting. Then, when I'd photographed my family, you know, I could see that they were very relaxed around me. So what did that mean? It meant that the photos I took of them looked very natural.

Speaker 2: 53:54

So what I learned was, if you are able to feel at ease, it's hard not to look like yourself when you're at ease, when someone is making you feel great, when someone is encouraging you because I am a big fear leader when it comes to my photo shoots I find all kinds of ways to get people excited. When you're feeling in a really good place, it is hard not to radiate joy.

Speaker 1: 54:25

Oh, those are quotes right there. It's a writer down or I would just write down, if you are able to be at ease. It's hard not to look your best, you know Hard not to look your authentic, beautiful self.

Speaker 2: 54:37

That's it.

Speaker 1: 54:38

That's it, yeah, that's it, yeah, and drink lots of water and get the seeds.

Speaker 2: 54:42

I thought you were going to say drink lots of wine.

Speaker 1: 54:43

I totally thought, that's where you were going.

Speaker 2: 54:46

I tried that early on in my career and that did not go well. I tried to get the wine. I tried to get the wine in my career and that did not go well because people start to get red and I was like, oh no, this is not the way to do it. That's very funny. No, hydrate and sleep. Get all those things in the mix as well, yeah, yeah, hydrate and sleep.

Speaker 1: 55:07

That's good, that's very good advice. Yeah, hydrate and sleep, yeah.

Speaker 2: 55:14

So I was just going to say when you find a photographer that feels like a good fit for you, just lay it all out, tell them what you're nervous about, tell them what your goals are, tell them what you're hoping to get from the shoot and I think, just trust your gut, like if that feels like a really good conversation between you and that person you're golden, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 55:39

So question should you, or is it a good practice to come up with a potential shot list, a list of pictures that you would like to have Like? Is it worth it to do a little bit of brainstorming on your own around that that you can share with a photographer?

Speaker 2: 55:51

Absolutely.

Speaker 2: 55:53

I mean, I think it's. I think it's really good to vocalize what it is that you want to get out of the shoot. But if you're working with a branding photographer, hopefully they have a system for making that happen. You know, I often share a questionnaire with my clients where they write down all the things that are important to them and within that questionnaire I will make suggestions about the kinds of props they might consider, the locations we might consider, all sorts of things, and then I actually go and create the shot list for my clients to review, and so that we have yeah, because I want to make sure that we make the most of our time. These shoots can take anywhere from half a day to a full day, depending on how many locations, how many outfits, how many things we're trying to achieve that was.

Speaker 1: 56:43

my next question was tell me about the logistics of the structure of a shoot.

Speaker 2: 56:47

Yeah, Happen any before that I had. I'll give you one little thing that happened over the years as I've been working with folks, especially when you're organizing your clothes. I had one client in particular who is super organized and she bought these like clear garment bags and she would put each outfit with its accessories in each garment bag and that was amazing to me. I was like, wow, this is like life changing. So you can get as organized as that or just bring everything in a bag and we'll work it out. But having a shot list is a great way to keep the day organized. I used to shoot weddings when I was first a photographer and I always had a shot list because the day gets so crazy. And I want to do the same with my branding shoots because I want the energy to be high all day and it can be a lot for folks. So if I can keep them directed and focused, we're good to go.

Speaker 1: 57:53

Yeah, so there's a balance here between advanced planning and being in the flow in the moment. It's a little bit of both. Right and you're right, and I have done full day shoots. I know what that's like. It is a lot. It's a lot for the photographer. I'm very conscious of how tiring that must be for the photographer, and so this is typical, right For people to expect. So a good brand shoot is probably going to last you at least three or four hours and very likely a full day. That's pretty common.

Speaker 2: 58:24

Yes, it really kind of depends on how large of a collection you're looking for. Like, if you're someone who you know your image shows up in a lot of different platforms and you want to show yourself in different environments, then it will probably take a longer day. But if you're looking for a smaller collection of images, especially if you can do it on one location great, it's going to take less time.

Speaker 1: 58:50

Yeah, yeah. So what should people expect in terms of a budget for something like this? People who have never done anything like this? What's and I know that this will vary around the country different?

Speaker 2: 59:02

parts of the country.

Speaker 1: 59:03

This will vary by expertise of the photographer and all the things you just said one location versus multiple, one or two outfit changes versus several. So I know that the range is wide, but what would you say is like a minimum to you're going to do this and you're going to do it right, be prepared. You're probably going to have to lay out at least something along this line, and it could go as high as something like this what's? Can you give us kind of a range?

Speaker 2: 59:28

Yeah, I definitely can, and I do think it varies depending on not just where you live but the kind of photographer that you make a connection with.

Speaker 2: 59:38

There are some photographers who are really doing everything, soup to nuts, which is what I do, you know, I'm really covering all the bases and helping my clients, and I would say, you know, the range for me goes anywhere from 3500, could go all the way up to 10,000. And so and beyond, really. And then there are other photographers who are doing it a little bit differently, where they are doing a branding shoot, but it's a sort of thing where you might pay one fee and they just, you know, unload the images. You know, the way I do it is I'm going to photograph my client, then we're going to sit down together, we're actually going to look at the images, and the beauty of that is I can walk them through ones that they would never have picked, except that, from a marketing perspective and a graphic design perspective, I'm going to recommend they keep it in their collection, because it does a number of things that they never thought about.

Speaker 1: 1:00:38

Love. You sound like you've got a really lovely process for how you work with people Everything from the questionnaire you were talking about, the three adjectives, talking them through the props, like the whole meeting with them online, helping them pick out their clothes, like I love the level of prep that you've got and it sounds fairly systematic the way you like you really do have a process. And then the shoot itself, and I know that some photographers do a lot of after, a lot of like touch up stuff and sort of post editing of the photos how many photos you get, versus you know whether they're suitable for digital or print.

Speaker 1: 1:01:16

There's lots of layers to this and I know that can influence the pricing. I get that yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:01:21

But it's not going to be cheap.

Speaker 1: 1:01:22

That's why I think that's what I want to be able to know. This is not going to be a low cost thing. This is a significant investment, and which is why it's exactly worth making sure you do it right and do it well.

Speaker 2: 1:01:32

Well, and when you're doing it with someone who is both experienced and also able to bring out the best in you, so that you're not just getting a pretty picture, but you're getting something that's both strategic and meaningful, so that you can use that and feel like you're really getting the most from the whole experience.

Speaker 1: 1:01:54

Yeah, so much. So that's a perfect spot to mention that you have a little gift that we are going to give everybody, right?

Speaker 2: 1:02:01

Yes, yes Tell us about that.

Speaker 1: 1:02:03

Tell us about this tool that you've got for everybody.

Speaker 2: 1:02:07

So if you go on to my website, which is sandraloveshuecom, I do have a PDF that you can download, called how to Prepare for your branding photo shoot. So this is just a small little piece that helps you prepare, trying to figure out who you're going to work with, some of the things that you want to be aware of as you're looking for the right photographer. And then other things like how to prepare for your shoot, like keeping yourself hydrated, drinking lots of water. Don't have your eyebrows wax the day before your shoot.

Speaker 1: 1:02:46

Don't get a haircut the day before your shoot.

Speaker 2: 1:02:49

Yeah, little things like that, so you can go online and you can, you can take a look at that, but you can also go to my blog, because I have another piece that I think is really important, which is you know, five reasons why you need more than a headshot. I think it will give you some of the reasons and benefits to go a little deeper with a photo shoot. And and then, if you ever have questions any of your you know folks who listen to you have questions, gosh, I would love it if they would reach out to me. Call me, because I love being you know in a phone conversation Versus a back-and-forth on email. I love that. So, yeah, there's lots of information on my website, particularly in my, in my blog, about what is the branding shoot.

Speaker 1: 1:03:40

Why do you need one things to think about yeah, yeah and I want to y'all to notice the website because it's unusual hers it's not her name, sandra Costello, it is Sandra loves youcom, which totally fits her personality. If you ever meet her, I am also going to attach that. That's Download about how to prepare for your branding photo shoot. We're also going to offer that as well. So, if you go, you can go to Sandra's website, which we will have linked below as well, and you can get it there. I will also. Or you can go to my website, wendy pits, reeves, calm forward, slash brand shoot, and we will have it for you there too. There's lots of easy ways to get this. I Really encourage you to do that and dive into that. So, sandra, I'm curious do people fly in to work with you? Have you ever had people who, because you're in Cape Cod, have you ever had people who come in and spend a certain amount of time in your area just to work with you, or do you most definitely.

Speaker 2: 1:04:39

Yeah, I always feel I'm so honored when people travel a distance to come and work with me, and Sometimes it's because they're repeat client and they Feel comfortable and they, you know, they like what they've experienced in the past and they want to do it again. And sometimes it's, you know, some of it is location. I mean, I am in a really beautiful part of New England turn into a vacation.

Speaker 2: 1:05:09

Well. So, yes, I do live in a vacation spot. So come for a week, hang out, get a tan, and then come and have your photo taken with me. You know it can't be better. So, yes, I'm always I feel so honored when people say yes to that.

Speaker 1: 1:05:25

I had a feeling because I've looked at some of your work online and it does. It does look like you do really gorgeous work and when you find somebody who's good, if you have to travel, travel like I mentioned the person I worked with in Atlanta if you need to travel, travel and y'all here's a little side tip if you plan a vacation To Cape Cod and while you're up there you happen to get a brand shoot done, the whole thing is a business expense.

Speaker 2: 1:05:49

Just saying Wendy, I love that. I love that tactic. I'm gonna use that.

Speaker 1: 1:05:56

Are you kidding me? I went to Ireland a few years ago and I made sure I got a speaking gig while I was there, so I could count some of it off as a business expense. Yes, ma'am.

Speaker 2: 1:06:03

Yeah, I'm always that. Thing.

Speaker 1: 1:06:06

So if people want to know more about you I'm guessing we've already talked about that go to Sandra loves you calm.

Speaker 2: 1:06:13

Yep, or if they want to find me on social media. My handle is a little different there it's just Sandra Costello photography. Okay, how I wish I had Sandra loves you, but that was gone, and so Sandra Costello photography is where you'll find me on Instagram, Facebook, and I'm not hanging out all that much on LinkedIn these days, but on occasion you'll see me there.

Speaker 1: 1:06:36

Okay, very, very good, I haven't y'all. I think that if you were in the middle of, if you're exploring this for yourself, even if you are working with a local photographer, I'm sure that if you wanted to call Sandra and talk to her, she'd be happy to kind of coach you through it a little bit, okay, so if you need some help, just reach out. I don't think she will mind.

Speaker 1: 1:06:53

So, this is so good. So so, to sort of recap, I really want to make sure I capture all this we've talked about. We've talked about the importance of emotionally understanding that when you show up on camera, you are not there to serve yourself, you are there to serve your clients, and that when you are looking at a lens the way I think of it because I've done, I've done a lot, I mean I've done plenty of camera related types of things in my life. I've been on TV a lot, I've been on radio a lot Whenever you are looking at a lens, I like to imagine that I'm talking to my clients on the other side of that, like as long as you're focusing on your clients, everything's gonna be better.

Speaker 1: 1:07:29

We talked about Sort of you kind of walked us through a process in terms of when you get ready to do a brand shoot Journal about it. First get really clear about what's the energy you want to bring to the table, what's the feeling you want these lovely people that you want to work with, what's the feeling you want them to get. And then you talked about looking for a brand photographer online, looking at their work and pick up the phone and call them. I thought that was a really, really good tip and then, once you get that thing going, you will have, like they will guide you from there. I do think you have set the bar high. I Do think I've set the bar high and I'm perfectly fine with that. Like now, I want to say y'all, whoever you hire, they need to have professional hair and makeup available, they need to do a questionnaire, they need to ask you. Like I really love the process.

Speaker 2: 1:08:19

That you've laid out.

Speaker 2: 1:08:20

I think it's beautiful and it means that you really are Prepared, and so is your client so, or the person who's coming to do the work, this so good well, I want to just say one thing around that, which is I had a client come in a couple of weeks ago and she was super nervous and she was sitting in the chair of the makeup artist and I said to her you know, you don't have to do everything for your business. You can allow other professionals to take care of you so that you show up in the best light. It was so interesting she was in the getting her makeup done for about a half an hour. Then she came to me for her shoot and she was a totally different person. She was super relaxed and she said to me hey, I needed that pampering and be. I realized that I don't have to do everything, like there are people who I can pay yeah, take the, take care of me and to do these things that I need so that I can really move my business forward.

Speaker 1: 1:09:23

Yes, praise the Lord. Right, some help people.

Speaker 2: 1:09:30

Yes, yes, yeah, yeah, it makes all the difference.

Speaker 1: 1:09:34

Yeah. So let me ask you one more thing. I mean this, this is and this you may have already addressed this, but We've covered a lot of ground today. I love that we've talked a lot about. We've talked about the tactics, the strategy side of it, but we've also talked a lot about the energy side of it. You do work with a lot of entrepreneurs who, you know, have big personalities and big ideas and sometimes big hang ups. Right, what? Is there anything that I haven't asked you, anything we haven't addressed, anything that you feel called to share that you feel like would make this conversation complete?

Speaker 2: 1:10:10

Hmm, you know, I think we hear all the time Feel the fear and do it anyways. I, you know, I had a client a couple of weeks ago who is making a huge life change and a big transition in starting a business of her own and she's putting herself out there in a really vulnerable way and and she's going for it. I know that she is nervous, I know she feels a lot of pressure doing it anyways, and so I guess that's what I would say is like it's really easy to procrastinate and not do the things that we Know will help us move forward and this. But this advice is for me too yeah, feel the fear and do it anyways, because that is what, that is how you go deeper into the joy.

Speaker 1: 1:11:06

Feel the fear and do it anyway, because that is how you go deeper into the joy. There you go Perfect, perfect, yeah, perfect. Thank you, sandra. This has just been lovely. I've you have been an absolute delight. I'm so happy to have had you here today, thank you.

Speaker 2: 1:11:23

Oh my gosh, I am so happy to be here and to share this conversation with you. Really such a pleasure.

Speaker 1: 1:11:29

Such a pleasure. Well, you guys, I hope you all have enjoyed this. If you get a chance, I don't post these videos, but you never know that we might do that at some point, because this is one I'm kind of wishing I could share. This is, this is really been a delightful conversation, and I hope I hope you won't let fear stop you, and I hope you will hear what Sandra has said today, because she's right. When you have a good photo or collection of photos, you're gonna find that you want to share it, and when you are showing up in that way, your business is going to expand, because the people who love you and are meant to work with you are gonna resonate with those pictures and they're gonna call you, and that's what we're all about. Right, that's how you make the world a better place. That's also how you make more money, just saying All right, everybody, y'all have a great week, have an awesome week, and I will see you next week right here on Ideal Practice. Thanks everybody.

Speaker 1: 1:12:23

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Speaker 1: 1:13:24

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