How to Choose
the Best Locations for Personal Branding Images

Location, Location, on Location Photography

We all know your geographic location plays a roll in the ultimate success of your business. Accordingly, the location of your branding photoshoot matters for conveying context, and can launch your marketing into a successful trajectory! So, where should we go for your shoot?

For studio portrait work, I rent space for you whenever called for, with a few favorites spread throughout Westchester County—Peekskill, Dobbs Ferry and Port Chester. Studio setups can be replicated in your corporate office settings or home too, as space allows. Such images offer a clean look for LinkedIn profiles, website about pages, and corporate headshots alike.

In contrast, a desire to incorporate your environment amplifies the art of storytelling. You’ll gain extra variety, versatility and dimension to really highlight your brand and personality. Here are few spots I recommend and use often:

7 Photoworthy Branding Session Locations

1. Office/Home Office

2. Coworking Space

3. Airbnb

4. Natural Setting

5. Coffee Shop

6. Kitchen or Living Space

7. Fitness or Art Studio

It Starts with What You Offer the World

My personal branding clients are entrepreneurs who use their library of images to market their offerings. Wellness experts (like therapists), artists (like authors), and service-based professionals (like real estate agents) hire me to elevate their visual presence on and offline. The location we choose for your personal branding images sets the tone. So, my first questions to you are what do you do and who are you looking to attract? Whether working as an engineer or as a jewelry designer, you’ll want to hone in on your own aesthetic. Be strategic!

7 Questions to Ask Yourself When Selecting the Perfect Backdrop for Your Personal Branding Images

1. Do I want corporate, high-end or homespun appeal?

2. Where do I normally perform or sell my work?

3. What kind of personality do I want to interject?

4. Is my space suitable or would another work better?

5. Do I prefer an industrial, modern, natural, or warm & inviting setting?

6. Will it complement the look and feel of my logo and brand colors?

7. Will I feel at ease, authentic and inspired?

Getting Creative with Location: A Case Study

When award-winning, Croton-on-Hudson dark fiction writer, Samantha Talbot, reached out to me about a branding session for the release of her book, A Thunderbolt Into Nettle, we collaborated on imagining the best spaces to illustrate her craft. Shown below in her “Imaginarium”, and an Early American cemetery we unearthed for her in Cold Spring, I absolutely LOVE the story they tell! So, consider a spot that’s unique to your personality and offerings too.

Same Location, Multiple Narratives

Sometimes the same space can be used to completely different effect. For example, check out this renovated factory building I used, The Hat Factory in Peekskill, for both a financial engineer’s headshots and young actor’s senior session. Once you land on a location that speaks to you, make it yours by showing up as your authentic self and tuning in to things like props and wardrobe.

7 Things You May Want in a Location

1. Good Lighting

2. Walkability

3. Parking

4. Bathrooms

5. Elevators

6. Space for Hair & Makeup

7. Variety/Depth

Behind the Scenes

Since the world is my studio, you may be wondering where all the magic of pre and post production happens. I operate my small business from a light and airy office replete with a MacBook Pro, an old but workhorse Mac Pro tower, Adobe suite, dual monitor display, gaming mouse, 8 bay raid, and cloud backup. It’s here that I’ll edit galleries, retouch images, market, perform accounting tasks and communicate with clients.

Also, you’ll spy an orchid and some crystals ensure visual inspiration and good vibes. Music—like DMB, The Stones or a little Hozier—permeates the air (that or a good wellness podcast). Our black cat, Jade, and bearded dragon, Norbert, are often found by my sunniest office window, humoring me with their antics. 

When I need a change of scenery, you’ll find me and my laptop at my favorite local coffee shops in Northern Westchester—Peekskill Coffee House and The Black Cow in Croton-on-Hudson, iced latte to my right. Where do you get your best work done?

Let’s Collaborate!

Today is a great day to start on your personal brand image strategy! Do you have a location in mind for your branding session? I can’t wait to help you craft a plan that’s all your own and watch you market and grow.

Shine on set,
Leila