Are you doing something that you love?

Are you doing something that you love?

Finally, I'm getting to do what I've always wanted to do...
Not only for myself but also for my clients too.

Many of us have had to settle for work which isn't exactly what we'd hope to do in our business lives. As a result, many of us have had to compromise to make a living.

As many freelancers know, this is a common occurrence, settling for work within your sphere that we're very capable of doing but would rather not do… just because it pays.
That's why it's crucial to figure out what we really want to do - to start living the life we enjoy that reflects our values, goals and needs.

Getting a call to work with a Linkedin 'Top Voice' Influencer .

Working with Marielle Legair, the latest "Top Voice" influencer on LinkedIn for 2023, has been an absolute joy!

Marielle has become one of the most featured champions on the Personal Branding Speaker circuit and is a 1:1 LinkedIn Mentor in her field. And let me tell you, her enthusiasm and know-how truly made our photo shoot a fun collaboration!

As a professional photographer, I've worked with many influencers, and Marielle is a breath of fresh air. She brought her contagious energy and a clear vision to the shoot, which made it feel like we were on a mission to conquer the world of Personal Branding.

After locking down a location and a super venue in the heart of Shoreditch, my assistant and I made sure we had scoped the building for at least ten different scenarios for Marielle’s shots. So I knew I had to allocate 20 mins or so to each location, which worked well for the various ideas needed to furnish Marielle with enough images for your marketing and promotional post, blogs and media & PR needs.
Her passion for her brand was evident from the moment I said, "look this way".

We both had a clear vision of the look and feel of how we wanted the photo shoot to look, and Marielle was able to communicate any additional wishes concisely and with her infectious smile.







Marielle has a great understanding of the latest trends and techniques in her industry. We were both able to collaborate and create images that truly captured her personality, producing images that are unique to her style and presence. And when it came time to improvise, she was ready and open to new ideas and concepts, which might not have been obvious to her at the start of our shoot.

If you're looking for a LinkedIn influencer who brings humour, energy, creativity and clear guidance to the table, then Marielle is the one for you!

As a Top Voice, she's setting the bar high for all other influencers on the platform. And after working with her, I'm confident she'll continue to be a leading voice in her industry and a source of inspiration for many years to come.

Isn't time you invested in your Personal Brand? 2023 has just begun, so it is a perfect time to raise your visibility and start the year in the direction you want it to go.

I look forward to hearing from you.

#linkedin #collaboration #personalbrandingphotography

Personal Branding Feature with Luca, Shoreditch, East London

Branding photography isn't just about taking pretty pictures - it's about creating a visual narrative that connects with your audience emotionally, which can also help to build trust and credibility. So if you're looking to take your brand to the next level, I'd love to help you tell your story through stunning, authentic imagery. 

You may have seen Luca Collania's earlier post about our recent collaboration. Luca approached me about putting together a branding shoot for himself, as the time had come for the world to see the real Luca Collania and for him to promote himself and his professional services for 2023. 

Luca had some preconceived ideas and requests, some of which were possible, while others I didn't feel worked for his style and look. My role is to suggest and direct each client in producing the best scenarios and looks. 

To get the best out of your shoot, coming up with location ideas and concepts is very much welcomed, especially if you have connections in your area that might be useful and willing to assist you in producing the images you need. 

For Luca's shoot, I decided we should head for Shoreditch in East London, a place I know well and is also visually interesting as a backdrop. 

John Ferguson

Luca Collania, Personal Brand Photo Session

We also had the opportunity to use the private club, Shoreditch House, as a base for him to get changed and rest between shoots. 

I'm happy to say that Luca liked his finished images and was actually surprised to see how well the finished photos turned out. 

These shoots are always meant to be a collaborative process, one that works best when the ideas and concepts are agreed upon beforehand. 

Here's a selection - with Luca's permission - of my favourite images from our shoot together. The idea is to provide him with a series of photos which can be used for all his social media accounts, website usage, plus images that will sit nicely into any printed press publications he might have. 

So, see what you think, and drop me a line if you're in the market for a new set of marketing or commercial Branding images for you and your business. 

https://www.johnfergusonphotography.uk/contact

#personalbrandingphotography #marketing #connections

Man, wear glasses and a blue suit, standing against a dark wall.

The Power of creative collaborative working partnerships

The Power of creative collaborative working partnerships

As a small business owner, it's easy to get caught up in your business, falling into the same routines and having the same 'big-picture' strategy talks over and over. Especially true if you work with a small team or alone. Partnering with another local business is a great way to get fresh ideas off the ground, along with the courage you need to take a risk that can help both companies reach the next level. 

My current Personal Photography Project needs YOU!

INSOMNIA

I'm currently working on a new photographic project exploring the lived experiences of individuals who have Insomnia. The work aims to tell people's individual stories, explore the subject's different nature, and pose questions about how the modern world may be contributing to the rise in sleeplessness.

Increased workloads and 24-hour access to the internet have created a world that rarely sleeps. The statistics are staggering. One 2011 survey by the Mental Health Foundation found that more than 30% of Britons have Insomnia or another severe sleep problem. You might think that not getting a good night's sleep leaves you a bit grumpy; in reality, the effects can be far more damaging. This new photographic project will explore the experiences and issues of insomnia individuals. The work will tell people's individual stories, explore the different nature of the subject and pose questions about how the modern world may be contributing to the rise in sleeplessness. 

Every case of Imsonia is unique to that individual sufferer; the reasons and the issues behind their sleep problems could be perplexing as there are simple. I plan to explore and highlight these personal stories to open up debate and shed light on a subject that millions of people worldwide live with daily.     

I'm actively looking for new participants to be involved in the photographic and short interview process. So, are you, yourself, experiencing bouts of Insomnia? Do you find the idea of this project of interest, or would you know of others close to you with similar sleepness issues? I would love to hear from you.  

Sophie sits in her car waiting for the daylight to come….Insomnia Project

Sophie fights the Insomnia

Waiting for the daylight - Insomnia

Please drop me a line or DM n my Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/johnfergusonphotos    

Picture shows: Sophie sometimes sits in her car at night, waiting for the daylight to come.      



DO YOU VALUE YOURSELF & THE WORK YOU DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

No one will value what you do unless you absolutely value yourself.

For instance, how are you at deciding on your pricing?

Do you give away too many discounts?

Reduce your costs

Give-away freebies

Are you confident enough to charge more than you think you're worth?

Doing this means that you're undervaluing your business which in turn means you underestimate yourself.

You're not allowing your clients to see how much value you create for them; you're actually inviting clients to know that you're undervaluing yourself and your services.

So why is this?

Is it because you think you're not worth charging at a higher rate?

This is especially common with creative businesses. Maybe someone, a family member for instance or someone you know, says something negative about your work, and so you start to wonder that perhaps you’re not the best at what you do, or maybe, after a poor sales meeting, you don't sell the work or the package you hoped to sell.

What if that dreaded imposter syndrome starts to rear its ugly head?

Well, you're not alone; millions of us evaluate ourselves on just one critical comment rather than seeing the ten other great pieces of feedback we get from people who actually love our work.

In my first solo portrait exhibition some years ago, the then Prime Minister of Great Britain, Gordon Brown, launched & made a beautiful speech about my work and remarked on how I should have been included in my own exhibition 'Black Britannia', which featured 50 black Britons, role models from all walks of life from around the UK.

How great was that!? Well, it was brilliant and justified all the hard work I'd put into that project.

The next day, there was a slew of interest in me, plus loads of lovely comments about my work.

But, amongst all these lovely comments, there were three or four really vile remarks about the quality and standard of my work. All on Twitter.

And guess what? I can only remember the nasty remarks & horrid words.

These comments stuck in my head for a long time. So much so that I couldn't even pick up my camera with confidence again for many months after this.

At the time, it didn't matter that No.10 Downing Street and the Prime Minister thought my work worthy of endorsing and applauding; I just couldn't shake off those negative comments.

And that's the thing; you should never let anyone try and tell you that you can't do what it is you love doing or get upset if they think your work is shit.

If you love something that much and you really want to succeed in what you do, then you're already on your way. Always value what you're doing; you'll know whether or not it's up to a significant enough standard to represent you.

Others will see the value of your work and will share it with their friends, colleagues and so on.

Is there any better kind of marketing for your work?

#value #marketing #creative #keepthefaith

4 Personal Brand Mistakes You Can Avoid

As an entrepreneur, it is important to be mindful of the mistakes that can be made when crafting your personal brand.

By avoiding the following pitfalls, you can ensure that your brand story is just right:

1. Not Having a Clear message or Strategy.
When crafting your personal brand, it is important to have a clear message and strategy in mind. What do you want to achieve with your branding efforts? What unique value can you offer potential customers or clients? Without a clear plan, you may find yourself struggling to make an impact.

2. Focusing on the Wrong Things.
It's easy to get caught up in the details when building your personal brand, but it's important to remember to focus on the right things.
Don't spend too much time on superficial aspects such as your appearance or packaging. Instead, focus on developing a strong foundation based on your skills and strengths.

3. Not Being Authentic.
One of the biggest mistakes that can be made with personal branding is being inauthentic. If people can see through your façade, they are unlikely to trust or respect you – which will ultimately hinder your success. Be true to yourself and let your personality shine through in everything related to your brand.

4. Not Having Professional Photos.
Professional personal brand photos are an important part of establishing and building your personal brand. They help you to stand out from the competition and showcase your unique personality and skills.


Vernon Blackmore, owner of The Table Restaurant -Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Vernon Blackmore, owner of The Table Restaurant - Woodbridge, Suffolk.



If you are not sure where to start, simply click on the link below and schedule a consultation. I'll be happy to help you capture the right shots for your brand and help you through the process of producing the right images for your business and website.

To find out more, see examples and how to get in touch - click here