Leanne came to me via Candice – one of my long-standing clients and someone whose judgement I trust completely. When Candice tells someone they need brand photos, they tend to listen. And when she recommended me, she apparently said something along the lines of — the way you just reacted to that idea? That’s exactly why she’s the right person for you.

Leanne’s reaction had been a groan. She’d booked brand photography for women who hate having their photo taken – she just didn’t know that yet.

When we got on our planning call, she was honest about it. She hated having her photo taken. Not mildly uncomfortable – actually hated it. The kind of hate that comes from years of photos that catch you mid-blink, or at the wrong angle, or just looking nothing like the person you see when you’re laughing around a table with people you love.

But she’d made herself a New Year’s resolution. Just do it. Stop overthinking and do it. So she booked before she had chance to change her mind.

Meet Leanne

Leanne runs a holiday club franchise – seven years in business this May, which is no small thing. She also works in a nursery in the mornings, trains for triathlons, reads wellness books she admits she mostly listens to as audiobooks in the car, and is somewhere in the middle of all of that building her personal brand from scratch.

Her business social media had recently moved over to head office, which meant she had no presence of her own. Her business coach had been telling her for a while – you need to be visible as yourself, not just as the franchise. You’re the reason people choose you.

So the shoot wasn’t just about getting some nice photos. It was the beginning of showing up as Leanne – the person behind the business.

The planning call

This is where a lot of the work actually happens, and Leanne came prepared. She’d already made a list of topics she wanted to talk about on her new page – wellness, fitness, running a business, the behind the scenes of what her days actually look like. She’d started a Pinterest mood board. She had a clear sense of the kind of woman she is, even if she wasn’t sure yet how to translate that into photos.

We talked through everything – what she wanted to say, who she was talking to, what her days actually look like. And we made a plan.

Outfits

Leanne lives in a nursery tabard in the mornings and gym gear in the afternoons. Smart occasion wear isn’t really her world – and that’s completely fine, because the best photos are always the ones where you look like yourself.

We talked about bringing a range – some smarter pieces, some casual, her gym gear and keeping the colours neutral and pale rather than anything too bold or all black. The studio is bright and light, and neutrals photograph beautifully against it.

She also brought her glasses, which I was pleased about – they’re part of how she looks day to day, so they belong in the photos.

The advice I always give is to pack a suitcase and not overthink it. Bring what you have, bring a few things you’re not sure about, and we’ll work it out on the day. Leanne did exactly that.

Hair and makeup

For anyone who’s nervous about a shoot, hair and makeup is one of the things that makes the biggest difference – not to the photos themselves, but to how you feel walking into them.

Leanne had Chrys on the day. An hour of being looked after, getting settled, having a coffee – before a camera appears anywhere. By the time we started shooting, she wasn’t just ready. She felt ready.

That matters more than most people realise.

Why it worked

This is probably the most common thing I hear – that you take better photos when it’s natural. When someone catches you laughing rather than posed in front of a lens. It’s why brand photography for women who hate having their photo taken is actually some of my favourite work. The starting point is lower, which means the gap between expectation and result is bigger.

Leanne trusted the process completely. And that’s the thing – when someone comes in willing to just go with it, the photos almost always exceed their expectations.

Most of the time, the photo I want is the one from the two seconds after you think I’ve taken it. When you’ve relaxed and you’ve stopped worrying about your hands.

When her gallery landed, this was her response:

“I absolutely love the photos. You are amazing.”

Six weeks ago she groaned at the idea of booking. That’s what it’s for.

If you’ve been putting off brand photography for women who hate having their photo taken – Leanne would probably have said the same thing not that long ago.

Book a discovery call and let’s talk about what’s been stopping you.