Want to make the most out of your next branding session? In today’s episode, I’m sharing 13 of my top tips for using your brand photos, beyond just updating your profile picture. We’re using your brand shoot to create a complete and cohesive campaign for your business!

On Quianna Marie Weekly, we’re chatting about business growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating wins of all sizes through the lens of a photographer at heart. Sprinkled throughout stories and interviews with past clients, photographers and other business owners this podcast is designed to help you step into your purpose and to truly create a life you’re proud of, a life worth photographing and sharing.

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Review The Show Notes:

Website And Landing Pages (6:20)

Social Media Content (7:30)

Email Marketing (8:20)

Podcast Covers And Graphics (9:42)

Digital Products And Courses (11:43)

Speaking Engagements (12:24)

PR And Guest Features (13:31)

Business Cards And Print Marketing (14:16)

Pinterest Graphics (17:14)

Client Proposals And Onboarding Guides (18:00)

Teasers And BTS (19:03)

Ads And Sales Pages (19:31)

Thank You Notes (21:20)

Bonus Ideas (23:10)

Mentioned In This Episode:

Snail Mail Kit: quiannamarie.com/snail-mail

Review the Transcript:

Oh my goodness. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have just found out that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are officially engaged and I am literally freaking out because not only do Taylor and I share birthdays, yes, we are both born on December 13th. The number 13 has always been a special number for me.

And the fact that we are both in our bridal eras, the fact that I am literally engaged the same time that Taylor Swift is engaged!!! Holy smokes. I have been having so much fun looking at all of the scrolls, all of the announcements, all of these marketing gurus just attacking this huge like Canon event for all of us.

It has been so fun and so exciting, and I’m just so happy for her. It’s insane to me how I can love a stranger who has no idea who I am so much, but I’m just so, so happy for her. Her love story is playing out and I just think it’s, it’s so fun and, and as you know, I think I’ve mentioned Taylor before, or I know I have mentioned her before, but it’s been a long time and I can’t pinpoint exactly which episodes, but I have definitely brought to the table her mastery, right.

The Easter eggs that she’s dropping, the fun facts that she’s sharing, like the little mystery things that she’s doing, and just the way her brain works. I am so fascinated, not just for her like tenacity, not just for her ability to literally be on tour for like over two years. Like that alone is a huge defeat, but she’s just so incredibly talented.

Just like a marketing genius. I would give anything to hang out with her and to really just ask some questions about how, like, how her brain works. I also wanna mention as we get into today’s episode as her album is being dripped and released. All about the life of a showgirl, right? I want you to take a look at how this launch is going.

I am literally studying it and I am so fascinated with how things are rolling out. I just wanna mention that she is dropping photos, she is literally dropping pictures, creating tons of hype. Tons of buzz. Her presale orders are literally selling out. It’s insane. And I just wanna kind of create this little thought bubble or kind of like this big sister nudge for you that this is the power of branding.

This is the power of showing up. Sharing what your message is, and even the fact that we have the album titles, like we actually know the song titles, so we’re buzzing about that. We’re trying to figure out, ooh, what this is about. Like I cannot wait to hear the track eldest daughter. Oh my gosh. Like so many things are happening.

I just wanted to kind of mention that before we crack into today’s episode, that this is the power of planting seeds. This is the power of creating little Easter eggs for your own business. How are you building hype? How are you sharing your face, your value, your creativity, the offers that you’re selling and the services that you are offering?

Like, how are you actually creating hype for it? So today we are going to crack into 13 ways because you know a girl loves the number 13. We’re gonna crack into 13 ways to use your brand photos. All right. I am so, so thankful that you’re here. If you’re just tuning in for the first time, welcome. I know that you have so many other things that could be in your ear right now, and it is truly an honor to share this conversation with you if you’re back for a good time.

Hello, cutie. I am so, so thankful and honored to have you here as well. I’m Quianna your host for the Quianna Marie Weekly Show, and I have over 20 years of experience being a photographer. Everything from weddings. To literally all of the things, branding, boudoir portraits, mini sessions, families, all of the things.

I’ve even photographed a couple funerals. And I have really leaned into B roll and capturing the behind the scenes of my entire business journey to completely pivot proof my business. Today I’m focusing on branding photos. It is my calling to document, celebrate and honor your calling. I’ve been having so much fun behind the camera lately, having these incredible boss women in front of my lens.

I started thinking about it because that’s one thing that I love talking about during a photo shoot is what exactly are we doing with these photos, right? Because I love a game plan. I love being prepared, and I absolutely love maximizing our time together. So as a part of a kinda like pregame or prepping and planning for your brand session, I need to know what are you planning to use these photos for?

Because if you are just coming to me to get an updated headshot, we offer so much more than that, right? I don’t wanna feel like a fire hose or like this huge, crazy crashing waterfall, which is too much information. But I kind of wanna lay it out for you and share exactly how you could be using, I don’t like the word should, but I wanna talk about how you could be using these brand photos, right?

So, because I love the number 13, shout out to T Swift. We are gonna crack into 13 ways to use your brand photos that are not just a headshot, right? I’m not talking about updating your profile picture, I’m not talking about aligning all of your platforms to have the same headshot. I’m talking about actually using your brand photos as a complete and cohesive campaign for your business.

All right, let’s get this party started. Welcome to Quianna Marie Weekly, a podcast for creatives who love to celebrate wins, bigger or small by dancing in the kitchen. Photographers who are excited to. Serve their clients and friends who are ready to chase really, really big dreams. You can find all of the resources mentioned in this episode QuiannaMarie.com/podcast.

Join me as I share weekly motivation, chat about growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating your wins. Through the lens of a photographer at heart, come join me for a dance party. Ready? Let’s go.

13 Ways To Use Your Brand Photos

Alright, let’s get started with 13 ways to use Your Brand Photos. Number one, website and landing pages. We absolutely need to be present, updated, and you need to look like what you look like in real life online. We’re not doing any dating profiles here. I’m not talking about that, right? Like we need to look how we look in person.

That needs to be in hero images online, right? So like when you first come to your website, I wanna see your face. I wanna see who you are, what you look like, and what you stand for. Um, you can have images on your about page, all of your services, your testimonials, your blogs, right? People want to see you not stock photography.

They don’t wanna see AI images, right? They want to see you, the real breathing soul of your business. So first and foremost, that is exactly what we’ll be updating. We’ll be updating those websites, all of your landing pages, your sales pages, everything that really pinpoints to you, right? So all of your funnels, all the things that you’ve got going on in the backend, this is where they land, okay?

And so we want to look and feel our best and present ourselves in the best way.

2. Social Media Content

Number two, social media content. Hello. All the carousels. All the reels. Cover photos, quotes, graphics. I am such a huge fan of Canva and I love pulling headshots away from the background and then adding really fun brand colors or pops of colors.

Literally, I want you to sprinkle your face in with your message. Consistently. Okay. We have to see your face. I know this as an old school saying, and I know that some of us may even be numb to this, but on your grid, like within the first nine photos on your Instagram, I challenge you to show your face, show your face.

You need to be the carry Underwood of your band, like as if that’s your business, right? We need to be able to feel like we know you, we trust you. It’s just the easiest way to build that authenticity by sharing the real you.

3. Email Marketing

Number three, email marketing. This is when we can take your brand photos and add them to your newsletters, to your email headers, or even fun gifs.

Oh my gosh, those are so fun. I’ve been setting those in my emails lately as little like behind the scenes clips where I’m kind of moving like little boomerangs or getting short little clips, and that is so fun, right? You’re adding movement, you’re adding joy to your emails. We wanna make sure once again, that we’re being cohesive, right?

So the headshots that you have on your Instagram or your Facebook or your LinkedIn profile, I hope that you are including those in your email signatures, right? So on the bottom of your email, put a picture of your face like once again, right? Like who are they emailing? Who are they contacting? Now, of course with a branding session, we are looking like ourselves, but just maybe a little bit polished.

So I love those fun memes or those fun reels where you’re like, this looks like who you’re emailing, but I’m really doing this. Right. And typically you’re like your feet up on your bed in a top knot in your pajamas or, or you have like a troll mode vibe with a blanket over your head in your editing cave.

Or for me, typically this is who it looks like you’re, you know, you’re email and it’s. My professional headshot, but I’m off the grid. I’m camping, right? I, I’m probably sitting by a campfire by a river somewhere, right? So I love that type of content, which is so fun to share, but you absolutely have to include these in your email marketing.

4. Podcast Cover + Graphics

Number four podcast covers and graphics. You need to show up on your podcast art, okay? And once again, this is me being the big sister. I don’t like saying the shoulds and that you need to, I’m not telling you what to do. I’m advising you. I’m encouraging you to have your headshot updated for your podcast cover art anytime you have guest promotions, right?

So you do like the side by side featuring so and so on your podcast. Or most importantly, you being a guest on other people’s podcast, right? So whether you’re pitching yourself, whether you are creating that media kit, creating audiograms, and all the carousel pieces, right? Dropping mic drop moment quotes.

I want to see your headshot, like I want to see you embedded into all of the graphics and all of the fun marketing for your podcast. Like I said too, if you don’t have your own podcast, you don’t need one, you don’t need your own podcast, of course, I encourage it, but getting yourself prepared to be pitching other podcasts to create a almost like a podcast tour for yourself.

You’re going to want fresh things. I actually have gotten this a lot, so I’ve been pitching myself to be on another podcast. PS, if you can think of any that you think I would be a good guest for, please slide into my dms, whether it’s on your own podcast or you’ve heard another podcast and you think, oh my gosh, key should be friends with her, like, please, I would.

I’m always, always open to suggestions. I encourage you to be prepared. Okay? So if you want to get on more podcasts, if you’d like to be a guest, or you’re gearing up to start your own, I am all about manifesting. I’m all about praying and putting the work in, and that starts with you being prepared. So we will take specific photos during your branding session that are literally created to cut you off at the trunk, cut you off.

I call it the strike zone, right? Playing softball, that your strike zone was always your boobs to knees, right? So like. Any type of graphic we can create by pulling you away from the background. Perfect. I want you to be prepared. Okay.

5. Digital Products and Courses

Number five, digital products and courses. So anything that you have online for sale, maybe that’s your freebie, um, that you’re marketing, as if it is a actual product, you know, inside your workbooks, your slide decks, which for me those are your presentations.

I’m a millennial, right? So like, those are like, they’re not even keynotes, right? Like those are just your, like, your presentations. But yes, your slide decks, promo graphics, membership sites, like hello, anything that you have to offer online. Or your services and your products and your like packages that you’re selling.

Whatever that looks like, you can literally sprinkle your headshots and you doing the work in those moments.

6. Speaking Engagements

Number six, speaking engagements. Once again, we’re manifesting this. If you want your butt on stage, we need to have a fire headshot so you can be pitching yourself, so you can be sharing. I’ve even done branding sessions specifically for speakers where we pop into locations where it looks like it’s stage right?

Like and it looks like you’re carrying yourself. We’re not lying, we’re not faking here. Okay? We are literally manifesting, we are visualizing here. It’s just a great way for you to incorporate that into your branding session because you’re literally calling that in. Okay? We want you to be prepared as cheesy as it is, I’m bringing my microphone.

I want you speaking and smiling and engaging into that microphone as if you are speaking, kind of going, circling back to the podcast graphics and covers. Of course, we’re using those for those as well. I want to help you create high energy photos that create high value first impressions, and that comes with having that game plan thinking, I want to get on stages.

I want that for my future. Cool. Let’s create it. If it doesn’t exist yet. Seven PR and guest features. So when you are interviewed on blogs, on podcast or media outlets, they always ask for a photo. Typically they ask for a fresh photo. I don’t know about you if you’ve been like on a pitching like Rampage lately, pitching yourself to podcasts, to blogs, to maybe even speaking inside other memberships or other just speaking opportunities.

They always ask, do you have something fresh? Do you have something new? And so I am always about. Longevity, creating things that are built to last, all of that kind of good stuff. But there is something to say about having that fresh new energy and being able to have that media kit ready to share.

8. Business Cards + Print Marketing Brand Photos

Number eight, business cards and print marketing.

So I am an elder millennial. I may be dating myself here, but I do believe there is so much power in having a business card and I almost, I almost wanna take that to a second layer here. Because there are people, you have to consider who your clients are. Okay. I work with clients that are anywhere between their teens, literally teenage people, um, that are starting a business in their early twenties all the way up to.

Adults that are retired from their corporate job and now they are starting a new business, right? So I run the gamut across all ages. So with that comes some of the elders, I should say, the elders that I respect in my world that ask for business cards. I want you to think about that, right? Like who are you actually targeting?

If your ideal client does not use business cards, I get it. I’m not going to like force anybody to do it, but I do want you to consider creating either small flyers. Or little postcards that share your business and share what’s coming up. Maybe not putting dates specifically on them, but having some type of promo code for an event that you’re attending.

Or consider little flyers that you would put inside a goodie bag, right? Like or a little swag bag for future events. Obviously we’re asking permission from the guests to do that, but that’s the type of marketing material I’m talking about, right? Like actual flyers. Actual pieces of paper, and I’ve done some research on this and apparently if any, any type of flyer is a like a five by seven or above, people are way less inclined to just throw it in the trash.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s people that are like super non clutter bugs and they don’t want any of that kind of clutter anywhere. I totally respect that. Even for me, sometimes when I have something really pretty, I just kind of put it in a pile on my desk, or I actually have a drawer of just stuff that I love from my friends and from clients that I have worked with.

Or I’m like, I can’t throw this away. Like it’s just too pretty. Right? And what that does is once again, it becomes top of mind. So anytime I’ve clear off my desk. I’m finding that that flyer again, so I don’t want you to get stuck on business cards. I want you to consider the print marketing. Okay. And I also wanna mention too event signage and popup banners.

This definitely goes into this like business cards and print marketing category too. So if you have a podcast or you are attending a expo or some type of special event, and you have the ability to have a, like a table and pop up your banner, hello. Once again, we need to see your face. It doesn’t have to feel super cheesy and huge, but it, it should be there, right?

Like it should be recognizable. I want you to become a familiar face. In your neighborhood, in your community, in your hometown, and online for your audience in your online community.

9. Pinterest Graphics

All right, and number nine. Pinterest graphics repurpose your brand photos into click worthy, like legit, like the, the pins that slow the scroll for your blog post in your offers and all of your Pinterest graphics.

This is literally the easiest way to create dozens and dozens of graphics that then click, right, like, so you, you create all the graphics. You pop them up onto Pinterest, and then you have unique URLs that go back to your website, go back to your contact page, that go back to your Instagram, go back to specific videos for either Instagram or TikTok.

The possibilities are endless, but you will be using these branding photos, these lifestyle photos for your Pinterest graphics as well.

10. Client Proposals, Onboarding and Backend Client Work

Number 10, client proposals and onboarding guides. So everything that we’ve mentioned so far has been pretty outward facing, right? I wanna chat about some of the things that are happening basically behind the scenes, or like in the thick of your business, right?

These are things that are coming into your world for welcome guides, for contracts, for investment pieces, right? All that type of information, whether those are your, your quotes, your proposals, your invoices, stuff like that. I highly encourage you, once again, to sprinkle your branding photos and your face in those as well.

We don’t want stock photos, we don’t want images that have been circling around the internet for years and years and years. We want you to be able to have unique images that speak directly to you, who you are, what be, what you represent, and the type of clientele that you’re bringing in. Okay? So consider those client proposals, any type of onboarding guides, workbooks, checklists, prep guides, all of that kind of stuff.

We wanna include your branding photos for those.

11. All Of The Teasers

Number 11, all of the teasers. Okay? These are your B-roll clips. Your behind the scene moments. This is where you get to showcase your personality, right? This is you working, this is you speaking at events, coffee shop, laptop vibes, and really just doing the work you’re already doing.

This is what I would call like the client experience, um, moments where you are showcasing what it looks like to work with you. Okay? So we wanna make sure that you get all of those behind the scene teasers.

12. Ads + Sales Pages

Number 12 ads and sales pages. Hello? Oh my goodness. So this is something I have not done ads yet.

I’ve done, all of my stuff has been organic, and I’m really looking forward to adding ads into my marketing strategy in the future and definitely slating that for like a 2026 vibe. You absolutely. I don’t wanna say need because I’m catching myself again, but if you are preparing to create some ads, whether they’re on paid Facebook ads, Instagram, LinkedIn, anything like that, you need photos that show your face, that catch a attention.

Slow some scrolls and once again, create that familiar face, right? Like I want people to be able to attach your personal brand to your face. And once again, I’ve literally talked about this so many times. But your brand and your personal brand specifically will be pivot proof if people know who you are, if they love you, if they trust you, if they’re along for the ride, if they have seen the struggle, they’ve seen the growth.

And no matter what you decide to do next, no matter where you decide to take your business, you could literally move out of state and shut, like shut your business down, burn it down, and open up something completely fresh. And I guarantee with so much love and encouragement that the right audience who has loved you before will never stop loving you and they will support you and your business no matter what you do next.

But that comes with showing your face, right, hearing your voice, hearing your story, hearing why you do what you do, sharing what your passions are, and then of course, proving your value. Sharing why you are the only option. That comes from creating that familiar face online. That was an extended number 12 for ads and sales pages.

13. Thank You Cards

So I’m saving this one as the best for last. I have a couple bonus ideas at the end, but this is like the last number, like a solid 13, and that is thank you notes. I love a good thank you note and there is something so powerful once again by almost creating like an imagine like an email. Signature that you would have on an email, but creating that same little graphic or that same little, like for me, I always do XOXQ!

It’s very personalized to me. And then I would just put my name underneath there, you know, and then you can put your Instagram handle or your website, like it’s just like a little closing. At the end of that personalized thank you note. Now I’m a huge fan of thank you notes. I send them often. I’m always giving them to my best friends when we made up for coffee and just because notes, um, especially when big life things are happening to them, I, I love sharing handwritten love notes.

I will say there is something so powerful with actually creating a customized thank you note, something that is branded to you, like I said, that shows your face in the bottom corner. It’s just a little love note, little like, just because card. I love it because I like, I’m a huge fan of Trader Joe’s cards.

Literally, if you’ve ever gotten a love note from me, it most likely was a Trader Joe card. They’re $0.99 and they’re always, they’re like, they’re like hand drawn. They look like hand painted. They’re just so pretty and they have cute little sayings in them. And I just like, every time I go into Trader Joe’s, I probably grab about a dozen of them.

I have a whole drawer in my office of just cards. And I encourage you to start collecting those just for fun. But elevating your brand, elevating your personal brand and your business by having custom thank you cards. So huge. Like that little touch. I think is so, so amazing. Okay, so that is the 13 ways that we can use our branding photos.

I kind of blew through those really quickly. I wanted to kind of sprinkle in some little bonus ideas for you. You can use these as Zoom backgrounds, so maybe it’s not a picture of your face. Okay. I know I’m pushing that a lot, but maybe it’s a custom graphic. Maybe it’s your actual office, like we take a photo of your office, so in case you’re having a train wreck day or you happen to be away from your office, we can use that as a background, which is so cool.

I think I mentioned this already, but I have a note here for press kits and collaborations with other brands. So those are ways that you can once again collaborate, right? So consider. Maybe not. You know, I would love to come to all of your collaborations and all of your events, but investing in like a bestie shoot where you are collaborating with other businesses and getting those nice headshots.

And then of course, March. This is something I absolutely have to mention. Mugs, tote bags, journals. Why not? Okay. Once again, these are not headshots. These could be the lifestyle, the details, or even your own products and, um, quotes and fun things that you say, um, in your sayings that can be copyrighted and trademarked for you.

Right? So I just think that is so brilliant. So I’m gonna run through these real fast. Lightning speed. Um, if you are taking notes, don’t worry. I will literally have a whole blog post for this in the show notes so you can reference these as well. But let’s get down 13 ways to use your Brand Photos that are not just a headshot.

Number one, website and landing pages. Number two, social media content. Let’s get that out. Number three, email marketing. Number four, podcast covers and graphics. Number five, digital products and courses. Number six, speaking engagements. Let’s get your butt on stage with a microphone. Number seven, PR and guest features.

Number eight, business cards, and more importantly, print marketing. Number nine, Pinterest graphics. Number 10, client proposals and onboarding guides. These are all the things that aren’t on social media, right? Like these are the things that really enhance your client experience. Number 11, all of the behind the scenes teasers.

Number 12 ads in sales pages, and then of course, lucky number 13. Thank you notes. Let’s create personalized thank you notes just for you. I actually have a, a digital product in my shop. It’s all about snail mail. I love it. I literally created some Canva templates for you to get started with that today.

These are all conversation starters. Every time you share a photo, you’re reinforcing your brand message and giving people more ways to connect with you, not just your offers. I am so, so excited for you, babe. There are so many different ways that we can use your brand photos. I’m not even joking when I say for years to come, let’s get creative.

Let’s have some fun. If you have any questions and you’re ready to book your own branding session, whether it’s coming out here to Phoenix, flying out through like flying to Phoenix, and we are gonna shoot in Scottsdale in the surrounding areas. I’m your girl. I’m always open to fly out to you as well.

Cannot wait to continue supporting you. And I’m looking forward to seeing your face online. Okay, love you. Bye. That’s a wrap on another episode of Quianna Marie Weekly. Thank you so much for your listenership and support. You can find the resources and show notes for this episode and more at quiannamarie.com/podcast.

I’d be honored if you’d show your support by leaving a review and rating on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, keep on on dancing.