In January 2020, Diamond Michael Scott launched "Great Books, Great Minds," a project dedicated to igniting a new world of community, connection, and conversation—one book at a time. Through this initiative, he collaborates with authors to help them leverage their literary works, creating profitable opportunities that bridge literature and branding.

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.

Michelle Newman radiates a warmth and authenticity that instantly draws people towards her. Our paths converged when I had the privilege of being a guest on her podcast and attending her retreat, and from those serendipitous encounters, a creative collaboration was born.

In the heart of the vibrant city of Scottsdale, Arizona, amidst the backdrop of desert landscapes, lies a story of resilience, transformation, and hope. Diana Parra, M.A., a Transformational Coach and Certified Grief Educator has dedicated her life to guiding women through the depths of grief and loss toward a renewed sense of self.

Through her personalized coaching and compassionate guidance, Diana helps her clients navigate the turbulent waters of loss and emerge stronger, more resilient, and ready to embrace life once again.

In today's visually-driven world, brand photography has become crucial for businesses looking to stand out and connect with their audience. High-quality, authentic imagery can enhance your brand's identity and significantly impact your business growth.

Here are ten ways brand photography can help propel your business forward:

Rachel is an RYT 200 yoga instructor and holds additional yoga certifications across Buti Yoga, Primal Flow, Deep, Sculpt, Buti Bands, and HotCore. She believes knowledge is power and continually challenges herself to advance her career and teachings through continued education courses she completes annually. Her commitment to herself and the collective is,“I will never stop learning and growing.”

I met Rachel through a mutual acquaintance who helped me find models for the Creative Weekend play I had with Laura Dillon Rogers Photography. We were looking for women who could move and felt comfortable in front of the camera.

During our time together, Holly coached Sydney on a move with one of the flags and told Sydney she just had to believe she could do it. This struck me as the best advice for life. If we ‘believe’ we can do it, then we can. Having the courage to ‘believe’ is the first step to fully believing. It’s crazy how the shift in energy makes all the difference.

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.

Branding for your business (no matter how big or small it is) has never been more important than it is today. That’s because the online world, where we do most of our promotions, is so visual. Just “any old photo” won’t work anymore. Having great, branded photos is the key to your success.

Here are five compelling reasons why you must have several great, up-to-date brand photos at your disposal for promoting yourself or your business online:

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:

If you’re an entrepreneur who’s still using an outdated headshot, there are probably several reasons why. It’s possible that you don’t love having your photo taken (this is most people, by the way, so you’re not alone). It could also be that you’ve changed quite a bit since your last professional photos were taken (maybe your hair is grayer or you’ve put on a few pounds). This might also be something you just haven’t invested the time or money into, feeling like your current headshots are “good enough,” or still look enough like you that they’re fine.

Whether you are a chef, photographer, real estate agent, fitness coach, or marketing manager. your personal brand and your image are more important than ever. Branded photographs that are creative, artistic, modern, and eye-catching help your business stand out by telling your brand’s story and providing an authentic experience to your ideal clients.

Chances are good you’ve spent good money with an expert who’s helped you define your business brand. If so, you know which fonts, images, and colors define for the world exactly what your business does and who you are as the “face” of that business.

Chances are good you’ve spent good money with an expert who’s helped you define your business brand. If so, you know which fonts, images, and colors define for the world exactly what your business does and who you are as the “face” of that business.

Every branding photo shoot I do has one main goal; to get my clients the content they need so they can share their brand online. Having content that communicates what you do as well as who you are is more important than ever in the crowded social media space. You want to stand out and get noticed, and branded photos are the key to that.

I love working with corporate clients. It gives me the chance to meet lots of amazing, interesting people. I pride myself on giving each company with whom I work a cohesive, branded look in their company photos while still making sure each executive feels like their photos represent who they are as individuals.

The term, “small fish in a big pond” has never been more appropriate than it is right now in the world of small business online marketing. No matter how you market online (social media, your website, a blog, your podcast), chances are good you’re swimming in a very big pond with a lot of other people who are all vying for the attention of the same people you’re hoping to reach.