Boring Brand Images? Get Your Groove On!

Photographs are still, but you don't have to be.

How many headshots and personal brand photos have you seen that feel lifeless and dull? Too many coaches (and most photographers) think in terms of capturing a pose, which is of course still -- and often feels static, rigid and frozen. Your life force doesn't come across. Instead, I put it to you the real goal of any image is to capture a meaningful moment.

Get in motion to capture real moments.

Richard Avedon was famous for introducing the sense of movement into fashion photography in the 50s. Photos of Avedon working with his models are amazing dances of jumping and swooping by both photographer and model. While you don't need to jump or swoop, you can add spontaneity and aliveness to your images by having your photographer capture you walking or gesturing in some way. I like to have clients do small movements like looking away, then back to the camera, and I capture them in that moment.

Here's an image of Darrick Jackson, a Unitarian minister and one of the most joyous people I've ever met. Darrick has a background in theater, acting and improvisation. In fact he holds programs that bring the practices of theatrical improvisation into ministry. A few months ago we did a couple of photo sessions to create some images that better express Darrick and his mission than his old, conventional ministerial headshot. Together we developed an improvisational game I called "Talk with Your Hands" while I photographed him. While many of these images “missed the moment” (all part of the process), those that worked were pure magic!

To add life and authenticity to your brand images, work with your photographer to capture you in motion. You may surprise yourself!

Darrick in motion - talking with his hands