As a professional brand photographer, I often work with incredible women who hesitate to step in front of the camera. Many of these women, despite their talents and achievements, feel insecure due to unrealistic beauty standards and societal pressures. If you’re one of these women, know that you’re not alone—and more importantly, know that your unique beauty can be a powerful asset to your entrepreneurial brand.

Here’s how to overcome these insecurities and embrace your authentic self to elevate your brand.

We created a Mood Board with inspirational images using FreeForm (a free Apple app). We photographed in Parago Park in Phoenix, Arizona. It was the first night of the full moon, and in the distance, we could hear a new moon ceremony with the steady beat of a drum.

Lia’s branding words convey what she wanted to accomplish with her branded portraits.

• Capturing Movement

• Mysterious

• Feminine

• Powerful

• Luminous

As women, we are often bombarded with messages about what we should be: thin, beautiful, successful, and happy. These messages come from everywhere – the media, our families, our friends, and even ourselves. And when we don't measure up to these impossible standards, it can leave us feeling like we're not good enough.

Feeling like you don't measure up is a common experience. Whether in our personal relationships, careers, or appearance, we often feel like we're falling short. But why do we feel this way? And what can we do about it?

My girlfriend shared that her 22-year-old daughter wants to be anti-wrinkling cream because she is starting to see wrinkles on her face. It starts at a really young age - this young woman is supposed to be in the prime of her life. We easily become convinced that we don’t measure up.

Scottsdale, Arizona, is known for its stunning landscapes, rich history, and unique culture. With so much to offer, it's no wonder that photographers worldwide flock to this desert oasis to capture its beauty.

Look no further if you're looking for the best locations in Scottsdale to be photographed.

Here are the top 5 locations that will leave you with memorable branded portraits.

As a 55-year-old woman, I have learned many valuable lessons throughout my life. These lessons have been hard-earned through personal experiences, trials, and tribulations.

Looking back on my life, I realize that each experience taught me something new and helped shape me into who I am today. 

I’m grateful to be alive!

In this blog post, I share my top favorite lessons.  

On November 3, 2020, we left most of what we knew on the Presidential Election Day to live the RV Life full-time. 

We sold close to everything and ‘burned the boat’ as they say. In hindsight, we wished we would have rented our house because of the home values and the interest rates have increased substantially.

We had two RV’s before we ventured out into full-time RV Life. We knew partly what we were getting into. Truth be told, we definitely got caught up in the romanticism of the RV Life: the freedom and the ability to see the diverse beauty of our country. We thought we would jump and the net would appear.

As with everything, it’s usually harder than you think it is, AND it’s more glorious than expected. 

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of the world's most unique and exciting events. It is the biggest Hot Air Balloon event in the world.

Thousands of people gather in New Mexico every year to watch hundreds of hot air balloons take to the skies. And while the balloons themselves are certainly a sight to behold, there is another group of individuals who are just as crucial to the success of the event: the Zebras.

12 Years Being an Entrepreneur is a bumpy road, and it is also an incredibly rewarding one.

As an entrepreneur, you have the freedom to follow your passions and create something truly unique.

However, it’s not always easy, and there are many lessons to be learned along the way. As someone who has been an entrepreneur for over 12 years, I’ve learned a lot. 

Here are 12 lessons that I think every entrepreneur can keep in mind. 

As a business owner, you’ve probably heard of branding and the importance of a visual identity representing your business. You’ve seen your successful entrepreneurs have multiple branded portraits. It’s time to invest in you and your business. You’re the face of your business.

Branding is more than just having a logo, colors, and fonts. It’s about creating a consistent message that resonates with your audience and sets you apart from your competitors. And that’s where brand photography comes in.

For many of us, the idea of loving our bodies seems like an impossible feat. We're bombarded with messages from society telling us what we should look like, what we should eat, and how we should exercise. It's no wonder that we often feel like we're at war with our bodies. But it doesn't have to be this way. 

As someone who once struggled with self-esteem and body image issues, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to love your body. But I also know that it's possible. It all starts with a decision to nurture feelings of confidence and self-love. 

I’m naturally shy and definitely an introvert. I thought taking strangers’ portraits at the 83rd Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, would be scary and interesting. It definitely put me outside my comfort zone.

There were many strangers that I let slip by, and there were some that I dared to ask. Everyone said yes, except one person. Everyone was very nice.

My husband and I showed up one day before the Rally officially started. I wanted to miss the typical riff-raff that is notorious for this annual event.

I used a pancake lens called a Lensbaby 28 Trio.

One of the best parts about having a professional branding photoshoot is the fact that you end up with lots of great photos of yourself. My clients may walk into their shoots with me nervous about how their photos will come out, but because of my proven process, they are always excited about the results. I do a pre-branding session so we can customize their session and get key images they know they need. We also figure out if there are any props the client wants to include to help tell their brand story. 

I’m not an online dating expert by any means, but I know that pictures are essential in dating profiles, and the best online dating profile photos have a lot in common with great business branding photos. They need to communicate with the viewer and share who you are at your core. They need to be current and engender a “know, like, and trust” feeling in the person who’s looking at them. And, of course, you need to feel great about them so you’ll exude confidence. 

Here are five locations that would be perfect for YOUR next branding photo shoot. I’ve broken them down into interior and exterior options so we can choose the perfect “space” for your unique branding needs.

My greatest honor as a photographer is when clients trust me enough to allow themselves to be vulnerable and step in front of my camera. It’s something I never take lightly. I know that my job is to ensure that my clients feel safe and nurtured in that space so that they feel beautiful and confident. Sometimes that’s a huge leap of faith. Often it means working with them to help them overcome a lifetime of limiting beliefs (just like I did). 

As an entrepreneur, you probably hear how important your “personal brand” is all the time. Having a personal brand that allows you to stand out has many benefits, from helping you connect with your ideal clients and people who need what you’re offering to help to build your reputation in your industry. A great personal branding photograph can communicate who you are, and what you stand for, and help you truly stand out from your competitors.

A few months ago, a Wall Street Journal article generated quite a bit of buzz in my LinkedIn feed, and I truly enjoyed reading not only the article, but all the different opinions about it in the comments.

The article was titled, “The Perfect Professional Headshot is Worth $1,000, and Maybe Even a Job.” Many professionals in my LinkedIn network shared it and put in their two cents around it. Here’s an excerpt from the article that basically sums up what it was saying:

This week, I thought I’d answer some questions about the logistics of living life on wheels. It’s definitely different, and we’ve learned a lot in the two years we’ve been doing it.

If you’re an entrepreneur, I’m sure it’s become obvious to you that just having a few good headshots won’t cut it anymore when it comes to marketing yourself and your business. Branded photos that share who you are and what you do are essential to your overall brand and allow you to visually share with your audience in a way that will make them more likely to want to work with you.

I love talking with my clients about their personal brand because so much of what your personal brand encompasses is communicating who you truly are to your potential customers and clients. A personal brand is just that…personal. It means the photos we take need to communicate your personality. One of the best ways to do that is to make sure you smile.