Here are three examples of not-so-impactful imagery that we want to avoid. And there are a myriad of legit reasons why our marketing may look like this – from starting out to visibility blocks etc… We’ve all been it or seen it and there is no shade here I promise xx

1. The business owner that is absent in their imagery: Usually hiding behind stock photos there isn’t a face for the brand. This business owner is missing out when creating connection and relationships as there is no human to human connection. (I am totally guilty of this – I used my logo as my profile picture for a very long time!)
2. The business owner with one epic, amazing, awesome photo, that doesn’t look anything like them when you rock up to work with them. That profile pic is either kinda old, or looks like them on an awards night, or has been cropped out of someone else’s wedding photos where they were all dolled up, or is filtered within an inch of it’s life. I am a huge believer you should be recognised from your profile pic and that there is trust lost when you show up on a Facebook live and I have to do a double take and check I’m in the right place!
3. Then there is the business owner using the same 5 photos. On repeat. Over and Over. So often people scroll past on auto pilot assuming they’ve seen it all before. So their not getting the engagement they deserve.

Photography needs to be part of your marketing strategy and it becomes truly powerful when we move beyond a handful of pretty pictures. We want impactful imagery and I call this going beyond the smiling shot. It’s about telling your story. It’s the YOU in your business that makes it different to everyone else doing what you do.

What does that look like?

It can be literally that – having photos where you are not just wearing your camera smile. Photos of you laughing, photos of you deep in thought, pulling a face, staring straight through the camera. Think about what you want to communicate or share with your audience… how you want them to feel. Then pretend the camera isn’t there and you are talking directly to them and go with your natural expressions. This is where you need to be true to you and really feel what you are trying to emote else it can look posed and cheesy.

Going beyond the smiling shot is showing up as yourself. This can be wardrobe, makeup and/or shoot location. If you don’t feel like yourself your discomfort will be obvious in photos. And I’m a huge believer you should be recognised from your profile pic and that there is a heap of trust lost when you show up in zoom and I have to do a double take! Great lighting, a good hair day and a photographer that knows what they’re doing will still have you looking schmik!

And going beyond the smiling shot is about ditching stock photos and creating some of your own (checkout this blog on that)!

What photos will you be adding to your visual strategy so you can have an impact?

The post Images with Impact appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

As you may (or may not) know, I don’t charge per image, I charge per session, so although we were after that one epic shot, we organised an hour of personal brand photography  focussing on headshots. We headed down to Frankston waterfront – a location that resonated with her.

I was very concerned about my photographs competition with her favorite photo. I felt the low resolution had something to do with the feeling of youthfulness which just wouldn’t occur in my images. I’m also not into retouching (unless its something transient like a pimple or coldsore) so that wasn’t going to help.  Plus we were going to be shooting in pretty bright sunlight – notorious for accentuating the shadows under eyes!

So why did I deliver 159 photos?

<gets out soapbox> I don’t like the traditional model in photography of a session fee and then a price per image – especially when you are delivering digital files.  I do the same amount of work whether you purchase one of my photographs or all 159 – so why should you pay more?!?! <slides soapbox to the side a little but keeps it within reach!>

I also understand that you are probably not going to use all 159 images.  I deliver a heap of locations and different poses but you get a couple of varients for some shots so you can chose which crop you prefer or which facial expression you prefer or which composition etc.

And we don’t waste any time going backward and forward because you don’t have to pour over the gallery then chose your favorites then send that info to me, then I have to deliver the chosen few images.

And its also super handy to have all those small variations so if you want to use the same kind of photo again next month on your socials – you’ve got one slightly different and don’t repeat yourself.

So Bernadine now has a new favorite shot to use everywhere plus a heap of other images to update the website, fill her socials and make her graphic designer/social media manager VA super happy!

 “Oh Miranda! I have never liked photos of myself and now I am finding it hard to choose which ones I don’t like. I love them all. Thank you so much!”

Would love to know if you have that one photo you love and use everywhere or do you like to change it up regularly?  And what is it about that photo that makes it the favorite?

The post Why deliver over 150 photos (when she needed one)? appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

Anna from Old Vine Candles contacted me to level up her website with professional photographs of her soy candles.   With over 19 products across three collections she wanted a mixture of styles and said “basically need a lot of everything”.  (Yay for an hourly rate versus per image eh?!)  These were a pleasure to photograph as they just smell divine!

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When not in lockdown, I spend a morning a month with The Babes Project. Their vision is a society in which all women have access to perinatal support and they help families thrive by creating safe spaces and innovative avenues for vulnerable women to access this vital support. They rely on the generosity of their own supporters so it’s crucial for them to have images that tell their story and get them visible.

>>  THE USUAL SUSPECTS

The Babes Project website gets maximum image impact via powerful web banners and team shots that aren’t always on a perfect background with everyone smiling at the camera.  These candid images resonate with their target audience who understand life isn’t always perfect.

Facebook and Instagram are full of images of their team working with the mums and bubs they support. Most of these images are captured as they interact naturally.  These emotive action shots paint the picture of their passion and support for new and soon to be mums. We also take many close up images which are perfect for text overlays.

>>  IN PRINT

The Babes Project produces a plethora of printed materials for awareness marketing, fundraising, team education and to update supporters on their work.

>>  ON A WALL

I faced my strong dislike of flying late last year to photograph the opening of The Babes Project Cairns Centre. I was blown away to see a number of my photos printed and framed up on the walls. Pictures of real women The Babes Project have helped, that I got to photograph and are now sharing their journey with the women of Cairns. Proud, humbling and way too many feelings.

This use is obviously quite specific to this business but printing and hanging a photograph (professional or not) that celebrates your journey or business milestone is one of the best ways to use your photos!

The post Photos in Action: The Babes Project appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

No pressure when your beautiful client travels 5.5 hours to work with you!!

“When I had the idea to get a photoshoot done for my business website, I hunted high and low for a photographer that I’d feel comfortable working with. My intuition told me Miranda was the ONE – so I travelled from the other side of the state (some 5.5 hours away!) to have the session with her. It felt completely crazy – but I’m so glad I listened to my guidance, because it was completely worth it.

Miranda not only made me feel comfortable during the shoot, she made me feel amazing! She continually gave me instructions during the shoot on how to pose, reminded me to smile and boosted my self esteem. I felt confident, beautiful and free to be me. That’s quite a feat, given how introverted and camera-shy I am! I’m surprised how much I actually enjoyed the shoot.

Afterwards, I still felt nervous about how the photos would turn out. Thankfully, Miranda sent the photos to me quickly, and all my fears evaporated as soon as I saw them. They were wonderful – professional, beautiful and creative. And there were so many! Miranda definitely offers incredible value for money!

Thank you so much Miranda – I’m thrilled with my photos, and I will happily travel another 5.5 hours to work with you again!”

The post A very long commute appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

Oh – I’m a big fan!

This was a fun product photography brief: the sexiest fans in ventilation!

As well as photography products on a white backgrounds from a multitude of angles for the catalog,

I got to roam the local Pacific Ventilation factory and grab photographs of anything that caught my eye.

The post Oh – I’m a big fan! appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

“Are you ready to go deep?” It’s the question posed by Transformation Coach Meghann Birks. She helps individuals and organisations achieve their goals by creating a road map that identifies where they are, where they want to be and how they’re going to get there. She needed some updated images moving from a brand name to coaching under her own name and I very much enjoyed working with her down to earth attitude – there was no sugar coating any of the directions!!  She picked some super fun locations that suit her style and personality and tested my action shot abilities with cartwheels and jumping.  Her first response to the images? “Omg omg omg omg! I love these sooooooo much!”

I’m looking forward to reading her blog post on facing her dislike of getting in front of the camera.

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Being flown up to Cairns for the launch of the newest Babes Project centre…? Don’t mind if I do! I enjoy all the time I spend at the Babes – so many opportunities for cute photos of divine babies and adorable kids!  I honestly look forward to every shoot with them.  And to top it all off I get to hear the emotional stories of women finding their power and owning motherhood with the help and support of the The Babes Project.  Listening to how thankful mothers who undertake the program are, makes me so thankful that I get to contribute to such an amazing organisation.  My biggest reward is capturing the emotion, power or connection in a photograph and allowing the Babes story to be shared.  And from a technical perspective I love the diversity of the photographic opportunities I get working with the Babes – including headshots, product flatlays, lifestyle images of mothers and children, capturing the mood at events, encountering not so perfect lighting or spaces – all makes for a very enjoyable challenge.

The post Babes in Cairns Event appeared first on Miranda Mayle Photography.

I spent an hour with the gorgeous, funny, smart and generous Sage King – a degree qualified Naturopath & Nutritionist at the Terra Madre Wellness Clinic. She is passionate about providing evidence-based holistic health care, particularly to the LGBTIQA+ and Sex Worker communities. I am very happy with the number and variety of images we created within a single hour, at a single location (which admittedly did have a number of places we could shoot), with three outfits and a camera shy subject. There are head shots, action shots, details shots – plenty to fill a social feed, update the website and online profile pics.

If you’d like to see the full gallery to better understand what we can create in an hour personal branding shoot – contact me for the link and password.

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