Updated: December 2025
I recently sat down with Lisa DiGeso on The Art and Soul Show, and we got into such a good conversation about personal branding, client experience, and what it really means to show up in your business as a photographer.
Yes, we talked about pricing.
Yes, we talked about styling, locations, and all the fun creative stuff.
But the heart of the conversation?
The deeper mindset shifts photographers have to embrace if they want to build a magnetic, personality-driven brand that actually resonates.
This wasn’t another “post selfies every day” or “just be consistent” chat.
It was about alignment, identity, and creating a brand that feels like you.
What you’ll hear in this episode:
- How to show up as yourself online (without overthinking it)
- How I slip into my clients’ shoes during shoots
- What goes into pricing brand photography packages
- My take on watermarks, tags, and photo credits
- How to handle clients who want to edit their own images
- Finding unique, intentional locations
- A peek inside my branding package + shoot process
- Why shot lists save everyone’s sanity
Plus more expert, tried-and-true guidance for photographers building a brand that actually stands out.
Let’s break down the three biggest mindset shifts I believe every brand photographer should hold close.
1. You Can’t Sell What You Haven’t Experienced
One of the biggest truths I’ve learned as a brand photographer is this:
If you haven’t experienced a branding session yourself, it’s really hard to sell the value of one.
We coach our clients to “show your face!” and “get visible!”, and yet, so many photographers haven’t done that for themselves in ages. Some never have.
When I finally invested in my own branding photos, everything changed. Standing on the other side of the camera gave me a new level of empathy and clarity. I finally understood:
- what vulnerability in front of the camera actually feels like
- the type of direction that builds real confidence
- how strategic brand images help move your business forward
- what a thoughtful, seamless client experience should feel like from start to finish
It wasn’t about getting a few cute images for Instagram.
It was about embodying the exact transformation I ask my clients to step into.
And that alignment made me a sharper, more intentional photographer, because I wasn’t just preaching it… I’d lived it.
2. Watermarking & Tagging Aren’t About Etiquette, They’re About Mindset
We also got into a juicy conversation about watermarking, tagging, and that little emotional “sting” when a client forgets to credit you.
Here’s the truth I shared on the show:
If it hurts when someone doesn’t tag you, it’s usually a pricing issue, not a respect issue.
Brand photography is commercial work.
Your clients are using these photos to grow their business, not yours. When you price your work according to the value it delivers, you stop relying on tags for visibility or validation.
This is why:
- I don’t watermark my photos
- I don’t require credit
- And I don’t take it personally when someone forgets to tag me
Releasing that expectation is freeing. It helps you show up as the confident professional you already are… not someone hoping for scraps of exposure.
3. If You Want More Clients, Document the Journey, Not Just the Results
This might’ve been my favorite topic of the whole interview.
Yes, you should show your work.
But what actually creates FOMO (and what actually gets dream clients in your DMs) is sharing your process.
Document the journey.
Let people see what it feels like to work with you.
Share:
- behind-the-scenes moments
- Zoom planning calls
- wardrobe ideas and prep
- location scouting
- shot lists
- client transformations
- and the real-life ways clients use their photos after the session
When you share the whole experience, people stop wanting “a photoshoot” and start wanting your experience.
That’s the magic of branding photography.
It’s not just about the images. It’s also about the confidence, clarity, and transformation clients feel long before they download a single file.
The Heart of Your Brand Photography Business Is You
Recording this episode reminded me why I love this work so much. Branding photography goes way beyond pretty pictures.
It’s about clarity in who you are, confidence in how you present yourself, and the connections you build with the right people.
When you understand your own brand, when you’ve experienced the transformation yourself, and when you show up boldly and consistently … you attract clients who trust you, value your expertise, and see you as a true partner in their growth (and not just someone with a camera).
If you’re craving more alignment in your business, I hope this conversation gives you the permission slip to step forward with intention.
Refine your process. Uplevel your client experience. Build a brand that feels like you.
And wherever you are on your journey (either you’re just starting out or into elevating an already-thriving business), these foolproof insights are here to support you.
Ready to Put This Into Practice?
If this episode stirred something in you and made you want to show up more intentionally, elevate your client experience, and build a brand that truly reflects who you are, the next step does not have to feel big or overwhelming.
That’s exactly why I created the Local Market Domination Checklist.
It’s a clear, step-by-step roadmap designed specifically for branding photographers who want to:
- position themselves as the go-to in their city
- attract premium, aligned clients
- build steady momentum without pressure or burnout
This checklist helps you translate everything we talked about, from personal branding and confidence to process and visibility, into simple actions you can start implementing right away.
👉🏽 Download the Local Market Domination Checklist here
One small shift. One focused action.
That’s how momentum builds.
You’ve got this. 💖
