Unlock Branding Success Online with Photographer Carley Storm - podcast episode cover

Unlock Branding Success Online with Photographer Carley Storm

May 14, 2024โ€ข25 min
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Episode description

๐ŸŽ™๏ธ Welcome to On Cam Ready with Jamie Maglietta! ๐ŸŽฅ On this BONUS episode, Carley Storm, a branding photographer, joins Jamie Maglietta to discuss the importance of showing up online and across social media as your "authentic self." They emphasize the need to provide value and tell your story through visuals. Carley shares tips on how to make the most of photo shoots, including the importance of preparation, having a shot sheet, and showcasing variety in your images. They also discuss the role of social media in building connections and attracting clients, and the value of professional photos on your website. Carley highlights the benefits of working with a publicist to increase visibility and opportunities for your business. For more on Carley visit: https://carleystorm.com/ Chapters 00:00 The Importance of Branding and Visuals 08:12 Preparing for Photo Shoots and Capturing Variety 15:30 Establishing Credibility with Professional Photos 24:49 Increasing Visibility and Opportunities with a Publicist Takeaways Show up online and across social media as your best self by providing value and telling your story through visuals. Preparation is key for photo shoots - have a shot sheet, plan your outfits and props, and work with a photographer who can guide you on posing and capturing a variety of images. Professional photos on your website help establish credibility and attract clients. Use social media to showcase your personality and behind-the-scenes content to connect with your audience. Consider working with a publicist to increase visibility and opportunities for your business. ๐Ÿ™ Thank You A heartfelt thanks for supporting On Cam Ready! Your engagement makes a difference. Let's grow together! ๐Ÿ“ฑ Connect with Jamie: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-maglietta Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamie_theproducer ๐Ÿ“ง Contact: For inquiries and collaborations, reach out to Jamie at [email protected]. #OnCamReady #MediaTraining #PodcastingTips #ContentCreation #OnCamReady #MediaTraining #PodcastingTips #ContentCreation

Transcript

On this episode of On Cam ready, how to show up online and cross social media so you appear as an expert that the pressed can't resist. I'm Jamie Maglietta. We're talking with a branding photographer, Carly Storm. We're going to get to her in a second. You know, this bonus episode is a little bit more casual. I really wanted to just talk to Carly about how to help you show up as your best self online. So we're going to get to that.

We're also, I'm going to talk about how you can make the most of your photo shoots and your video shoots that you pay for that you're like, I really want to use this, but I now need to know how to use this right? So we'll talk to Carly just about how to maximize your investment when you are getting a photo shoot or having some videos done for your business. Just a reminder, you know, I have a a newsletter and so I'm going to focus a lot of this conversation with in my

newsletter. It's called On Cam Ready. It's resources for you to help you look your best at the weekly newsletter. You can get that right now on Sub Stack. Eventually it will be on my website on camready.com so do check it out. In addition to this podcast and this YouTube video show, I really do focus on helping you shine online. So with my newsletter and also these conversations I'm looking to elevate you. If you have ideas please reach out. E-mail me Jamie at on Cam Ready

dot com. I also am Offspring Services, so if you need content creation strategies or production media training, you know who to go to come to on Cam ready. And now let's get to our guests. We are talking to Carly Storm. She is a branding photographer. Carly joining us from Bloomberg New Jersey. My old stomp and ground. How are you, Carly? Hey, nice to see you. This is an honor to be on here. Thank you.

So why don't you tell us a little bit more about Carly Storm branding and I think you it's called Carly Storm Branding Co, right. So tell us more about what you offer and who you. Are so I'm a brand photographer, meaning I specialize in photo and I also do video for mostly small businesses, preferably female and usually service

based. And I love to get to know a business, mostly a person, the owner, in order to have they have them have authentic photos of themselves so they can show up online and tell their stories. Yeah, and it's all about their story. It seems like you're saying you want to get to know them, so is that what? Is that what you're trying to get at? Like you're telling their story through visuals 1. 100% like my number one goal is for someone to walk away. First of all, saying they had a

great time. Like I'll get notes like that was the best day ever. And even if they haven't seen their pictures yet, but I really need to befriend my clients and get them comfortable and really have their own personality shine and feel comfortable. And whatever their personality is, some people are more serious and people are more serious or silly, and I want to make sure that that's really authentic in

their photos. And then when they put them on their social media, on their website, their marketing materials, someone falls in love with them and it really reflects how it is to work with the people that I'm working with. And and we don't need to get into this aspect of it, but on Cam ready as I mentioned in the intro, I really do try to help people leverage their expertise online so that they can attract

the press organically, right. You know it's all about showing up on social providing value and and also tapping into the trends as well as whatever the news is discussing right to to really step into the media ecosystem and have producers or journalists find you as a as a potential source. So in this conversation I really want to help you all focus on how to look your best when you are having those photo shoots done or or working with Carly on a video of your business, right.

Like you really want to make sure that you're getting the most out of it. So I love what you do in New Jersey, how you have everything all inclusive for people that come through. Why don't you tell us a little bit more about those type of services you offer, just so everyone knows off the top. Yeah, so I have a unique offering. I have a photo studio, I've named it the Headshot and Brand bar, and most of my clients lately have been using this space.

It's 1700 square feet, so I can adapt it to everyone's needs. And often I like to have photos taken in someone's own space, but sometimes their space isn't ready, pretty, have good light, all the things. I've had a wave of lawyers for example, and recently they wanted to make sure they look more approachable, which is my, like, I love.

It's an intimidating industry, but really they're humans and and you're going through something hard probably if you need a lawyer and they're humans at the end of the day and they want to showcase that. So instead of doing a photo shoot at their probably fluorescence office with the stacks of green and red books behind them, I'm showing them off here with with good lighting and and in poses that'll make them look more approachable because it's it's authentic to

them. Yeah. And and I like that you're bringing up the approachability, you know, because that's something that we, we tend to focus on with some of our, you know, television experts where they're saying, you know, if you want to attract the press, you need to look approachable. You need to look like people would get along with you because that's what is attractive to guest bookers for television. They do want people who are

relatable. So I like that you're taking that approach, especially with lawyers. Recently I've been working with more real estate agents down here in Atlanta and I find the same thing, like they want to be approachable and that's also for sales and building client relationships, right, as you're saying. So when you're working with people, what are some of the tips that you kind of share with them to help them better prepare for their shoes? So this is my favorite question.

So I joke. I have a Japanese aunt who's like my, my, the source of wisdom. And she always says with an accent I'm not going to try to replicate. Preparation brings happiness. And it's so true because I now have figured out. And whoever I hope whoever you hire as a brand photographer in video, they make you feel so prepared that when you walk in you're just like ready to go and excited versus like, oh, I forgot this. I forgot this. Oh my oh, you know I didn't do this.

Oh, I should have got my hair makeup done. You know, you, if you hire somebody with experience, really should have this whole ready to go, like hair, makeup team ready to go, props ready to go, shot list ready to go. And then all you have to do is show up and feel, feel good, and then your authentic personality can shine through versus the hot mess, unprepared version of yourself, which doesn't photograph well, doesn't feel good. You're not going to like your pictures.

You talked about something before and I feel like I wanted to get my megaphone, which I have in the prop closet and yell to everyone that will listen people when they're starting to get publicity. I think everyone thinks that they are going to get a photo, a photographer just like show up their door and hair and makeup sent to their house to to feature them. They don't. You need the pictures before. Can I can I get my microphone?

So I laugh. I actually just recently hired A publicist and and a lot of my clients were referring to her or they're starting to get a publicist and Julianna and having a stack of photos ready to go and your website looking legit, not oh like, oh, we're about to get featured on this podcast. Let's hurry up and get our website ready or I don't have a photo. Can like, somebody come over and take a quick picture of me? You know it's not it's not the same thing.

So the same thing with that frazzled hot mess version of yourself. Like if you sending somebody over a media kit or often they'll send my gallery of photos over to whoever is going to feature them. Be like, here you go. Use one of these because they're not going to come to your house with a photographer. I've never heard of it. So I get like emergency photo things. Like if if I have a photo to them by tonight, I'll be featured in, you know, Forbes.

I'm like, should have thought of that, so. Yeah, way in advance. And you know, there's a few things that you brought up that I just want to highlight. You know, she's saying if you get booked on a, you know, television show or a podcast, like they're not really sending hair and makeup either. So you have to have all your

look in advance prepped. And there's no better way to determine your look than preparing for a photo shoot and really seeing how you look in different colors, different lighting and having that professional touch that does help you establish your look. So you want to have that well in advance before you are going to be putting yourself out there on social, on line as a commentator or guest, 'cause you want to

have your look down. Another thing she mentioned that I brought up before, but I want to make sure we, we really do focus on is the shot sheet. So if you're someone who is trying to do this on your own and you're like, OK, well, I really don't have the, I can't invest in that right now. I want to take my own photos or I want to do this on my own.

Like, yeah, you can, you know, you can try and and do everything you can, but you want to make sure that they are of quality to print quality for your website. You need lighting, you need makeup, you need it all. And it's really hard to do that alone, but you can do it and the shot sheet is a great way to get yourself going. A shot sheet is something like that's laying out all the images, so all the images that you want to capture, right, or

the video clips. So would you mind Carly just telling people more about the shot sheet? Because I have had people ask me about that so many times, like what's a shot sheet? Mm hmm. So I can I take it back a step to see how we get to the shot list that I made here. So normally if you're working with a brand photographer, you should have a great combo and make sure you like each other. You have a million other brand

photographers around. Make sure you're vibing and and you feel like it's going to be captured. Otherwise, like not not a good fit from there, personally, I

take people down a journey. I like to see what kind of vibe I think that I am seeing and then kind of feed it back and hear like 5 words and and the energy that you want to portray and see if I think it's like the same thing, 'cause it's all of a sudden you're like, oh, I'm super silly and you're, you know, you haven't smiled one time on our our car, whatever, for example, like want to see if it's if it's making sense.

So it's really important to me to make sure I understand what the business is, who you're talking to, what your goals are because like let's say you're a 30 year old woman that's working with geriatric people at a nursing home would be different than a 40 year old. I don't know, lawyer that's working with divorces. Like it's a different it's you're like you're a different person in this scenario and you're energy is different. Your ideal client is different.

So there are ways like we're not going to wear we're not going to use you know a disco ball and and high heels possibly if we were working in a nursing home unless for some reason that's your vibe. But it doesn't feel like it. It works it it to me, it has to feel like it's authentic. And at the end of the day, I want everyone to feel like they their website is a reflection of themselves.

So when they meet you and they show you like, oh, I felt like I already knew you because I saw your pictures and it's like completely on brand. So my goal and like my favorite thing is one I said, like everyone leave and be like that was so fun. And then say like, you really captured my personality and like, I don't care if you look pretty online. I don't care if you're like hair is flawless. I want people to make money. I don't want, you know, I mean it's it's that's the whole point

of this. And I kind of like personally have divided my website photos and and I recommend people's website photos to be professional especially video. And then content is is a different ball game. You know if you're posting something or a promotion on ad really it could be made by yourself. I feel like who who can get a professional photo shoot all the time. I mean I feel like a bit, you know I have a big big budget but at the end of the day people

also want to know you, right. So if you have in between photos of you know, B roll of you just working or just, I don't know, going to take your dog for a walk or whatever you want to post about, people will also connect you with that. But at the end of the day, when they go onto your website, I want to see like a clean, professional, you know, online storefront that feels professional.

Because at the end of the day, if you have more professional photos on your website, you look more credible. It looks more legit. It looks like you have more experience, even though it might not be true, but that's that's what people are seeing when they open up your storefront.

Yeah. And when you're, when you're, you know, looking on social media, just for example, let's, let's see if there's some tips we can give people on the types of images that you like to see when you're scrolling that you try to capture, that maybe other people should consider, you know, when they're trying to get their photos.

I think this could be like a great clip for when I do cut for social so you know, whoever's listening, be sure to check out my Instagram. I have one at on Cam ready and I'm also at Jamie under score, the producer. Carly, where are you at on Instagram so people can find you? I'm Carly dot storm dot branding Co and I also am Headshot brand bar for my studio that I rent out and use for my own. Great.

So guys, check us out online. And Carly, you know, so why don't you provide some tips, like what tips do you have for people listening on What type of images seem to do well, Like maybe get you stopping when you're scrolling. Yeah, you can offer, yeah. So I feel like at the end of the day, if somebody doesn't know you or they were referred to you, they want to know what it's like to work with you.

So personally, I've gotten the most engagement with personal things of my kids, which I don't take kid photos, but I just connecting. I work with a lot of moms, not only moms but other women. But it seems to get like the most engagement and conversation going, especially if there's a tone of motherhood in it. Because at the end of the day, I personally started my own business because I want to be flexible, to be able to pick up my kids and have time with them

or take away from them too. So that to me is important. So that's something that I like to post about because that's a connection point with other people. And funny enough, I get more, more engagement when I have behind the scenes footage of me working and taking pictures, even if you never see the final image on my Instagram, which is funny because it's just a cell phone behind, you know, And it's just be a role of me working and maybe standing on something and

maybe being silly. Sometimes it like it's authentic, right? So it's a little peak to see what it is to work with me. I take my job seriously, but like not too seriously. It's very fun. And if that is somebody that somebody would want to work with, like, that's important to you. But if somebody else would be like, she's so annoying and I want to work with her. That's the whole point of social

media. We're trying to take a little glimpse, you know, like, and I hope that they went on here be like Carly looks so annoying. Not into her and I never hear from these people but what the the golden point is when someone goes on my website, going on your website on our whatever social media and they're like, you are the person that I want to work with like obsess. You look so much fun because that's that's authentic to me and that's what they're looking

for. Yeah. And like, you know, using social media to really showcase who you are is a great way. And then to her point, you know, trying to make sure that you have those professional images on your website. Yeah, of course, share them in your feeds. But when you do, you want to make sure that they're either in like a carousel or you're offering some advice. You're not just selling, right. I mean, yeah, that's just the way it is.

That's just, you know, we don't have to be social media experts to know, like you really want to start leveraging your personality online in addition to your expertise. And she's even showing that by saying like when her, her engagement's up on behind the scenes videos. That's the same for me. If I'm offering tips on how to produce or how to take photos or how to put together social media reels, I get the most engagement on those too.

So it's it's that behind the scenes value that she's talking about. So making sure that you have videos being shot, even while you're getting your photos taken is a good idea. Do you guys do that too? Where when people are there having their photos taken, they can also get some video done video shot? I do. I don't recommend having my video team film that. I think it's personally a waste of budget. Normally I have, it's just there's no need for. Me when it comes to money, yeah.

Yeah, just like let's set up a tripod or the phone in in the corner and and start filming stuff. So and I also have my assistant that will film. But for me, I always say calling the pros when you're going to send out a ad or some kind of blast and it really needs to showcase like your business, fine-tuned and that's a whole

another beast. But just showing up on camera and showing behind the scenes is a different thing than saying like, oh you know, open for business or telling you about my business. Blasting on a promoted shoot is a different ad, so. Yeah, no, I get. That that's how I differentiate those two. Mm hmm. I think that's interesting because I see a lot of people like they'll post all these behind the scenes of them having their photos taken. And I'm always like, fun. Yeah, it's fun.

It's fun, It's fun and it's annoying and I like, wanna gag saying it, but people wanna hire people that are busy and doing things. It's not just like I'm, you know, I'm home waiting for, you know, for new business. So if you're getting a photo shoot and going here and doing this, you look busy and it's like, I hate saying it out loud, but it's, it's true, you know, mm hmm. So. And people also really at the end of the day wanna feel connected to a story and to

other humans. So if you know people come in and they'll tell me things that they remember seeing on my Instagram about my kids or where I was travelling, I'm like, you remember that? But we really remember stories. Mm hmm. Remember Stories and Carly's working on helping you with your brand and your story through photos and videos, so definitely check out her website. I'll make sure that there's a link to Carly has going on below. Again, she's in New Jersey.

Carly, before we wrap up, I would love for you to give like any other tips that you may have for people who are looking to just take advantage or make the most of their shoes. I always say that location, props, outfits are what tell the story and also help give a bunch of variety. Make sure you ask your photographer if she he, she is going to get a like what you're going to get out of the photo shoot. I personally deliver.

It's a very debatable topic in my industry, but I personally deliver all the good photos in my shoot because I'm like just use them. And I have people come back because they knew that I banged out, you know, 100, they got 150 photos, whatever, whatever it is because they brought, you know, a bunch of props or whatever they're working on. Every brand is so different, but they really like most of my clients are like in a middle budget.

So they can't maybe do a huge, you know, full day photo shoot every three months, but they wanna have somebody that they could depend on to to make them a lot of content to last last as long as they can last. So yeah, I always say my studio has a bunch of different backgrounds.

So if you are doing a photo shoot, make sure you know if I keep taking photos of me in this very specific shirt, in this very specific background, over and over and over again for a year to year like, all right Carly, we're sick of looking at this at this photo. Yeah, like a little variety. Yeah, so change your shirt. Like if you have undershirt, add a jacket at something. And then, you know, in my space specifically, I have a ton of props and and furniture.

I'm constantly moving furniture. So it makes it look like even if I took this shirt and you know posted it in a month and I'm sitting in a different hot pink chair in my space, it would look different. So make sure you're allowed to change during your photo shoot. I don't care what people do. I I usually say either three or 45 outfits just to have like to narrow it down and a stylist helps pick out outfits to make

sure you feel on camera ready. But posing too, if we're all, you know only taking pictures like the same way smiling same way also looks very redundant. So make sure you're the person you're working with. You know walks you through a process and tells you how you can move your body, how you can smile, look away, look here look down and and provide a variety within the same scene that you're shooting.

That's AI think that would be a really good question to ask a photographer like show me an example of like how many images you got from from me sitting at this desk could you overhead over here zoomed in onto my hands with a coffee cup behind over. You know what I mean. And then it doesn't look like the same picture you're using over and over again, because at the end of the day we got to be posting a few times a week, so. Yeah, it's. Hard out of photos. It's exhausting.

So it's exhausting, Yeah. So guys, you know, make sure you know this really quick. This conversation brings up my previous chat that I had with Christy Hunter. She's an influencer and photographer, actually saw her in Nashville. She took some of my photos from my website. I'll have to connect to Bloomberg and see you because. Bloomfield. Bloomfield, sorry I have to come out to Bloomfield and see you

because when I'm out there. But yeah, I met with Christy Hunter in Nashville and it was wonderful. We had a great time. Guys, listen to that conversation if you're loving this before we do. I know I said we were wrapping everybody. I'm really sorry. But I had one point that I just realized I didn't ask. Do you mind telling us why you have a publicist like business owners are probably wondering? Do I have a publicist? Yeah, what? What brought you to that point in your career?

I was joking because it sounds very cool, like it does talks to my publicist. So I'm at a point in my business. I've been in business for seven years. I'm like growing, growing, growing, and then it's really fun. So working with people, getting interviewed for cool podcasts with cool people like you. It's like, it's fun. It's new experiences. I don't know if we would have found each other. I'm open to new possibilities. A lot of my clients are starting to get published.

I get emails like, oh, your picture was just posted in the forums or whatever. And it's like, I want, I want in on this. It's really fun. And I, I, I love having. I, I talk all about women. I I work with guys too. But I love working with women. I want women to, if they're starting their own business, for it to be successful. And I want them to have the life that they want. You know, like some people want to work all the time, 100 hours a week, whatever for me.

And I feel like most people aren't attracting. They want flexibility. They want a stable nice income that they were able to leave their corporate job or leave whatever they were doing and follow their dreams. And to me, if they're able to, you know, if they need whatever they need. Photos, video, anything, Support. Friendship. I I have a networking group too. Just to get their dreams fulfilled is like the whole point of this. Mm hmm. Mm hmm. I hear you. I hear you.

So great. I love all this. Well, I'm glad you did it. I think it's it did. I mean we connected through her. So, I mean it's it is something that can open many doors for you, especially if you're feeling like that is where you're where you're at in your career. And I think anybody who's listening, if you're feeling the same way and you want more publicity and you want to be in front of the press, it's not a bad idea to start looking around for a publicist.

You just have to be ready. And some of the points that we made in this conversation are are points that you need to really check off, a good website, great photos, social media strategy, things need to be in place. So thank you again for joining us, Carly, and offering so much great advice and I really appreciate having this conversation. It was my honor. Thank you Jamie and. Again, remember to check out the description for links to all things that we've discussed and

on the next episode. I think I'm going to really focus on YouTube over the next few episodes, talking to people who have YouTube channels and what they're doing online. So if you have ideas or you want to pitch yourself, remember e-mail me [email protected]. Bye guys. See you online.

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