Guest Interview with Photographer Donna Green

Straight talking and bags of experience makes this episode from Donna unmissable. She leaves nothing to chance with her work and marketing with detailed research, preparation and planned execution.

Donna adds pounds to the people she photographs - pounds as in money that is! Her niche is in branding photography and her practice is based in Edinburgh.

 

In this show we discuss the ins and outs of branding photography and in particular how she gets her clients to interact with their own customers. And no surprise this starts with research and planning. This leads to creating image that resonate with not only the end user but the people ie customers, who are viewing the product and services.

 

As Sam points out it is about creating an emotional connection and Donna certainly builds this into her shoots. Initially having planning meetings with the clients and filling in a workbook to identify - the ideal client, their values, USP etc.

 

Its all about adding value to the process. It’s not unusual for the branding photographer to turn into a business coach at this stage in the game. The end result is a library of digital assets that will be completely in line with the client’s business that are totally on-brand. Donna goes on further to offer a Pinterest board to the client to make sure they images completely meet their expectations, something that can easily be lost in translation!

 

The actual shoot is normally a few weeks after this process allowing time for purchase props or clothing. Donna tends to work on her own without hair and stylists - preferring a more natural look.

 

Marcus probes further and asks Donna where she finds her clients. And she goes on to talk about how the Covid lockdown had some positive aspects for her business. It gave her time to really nail her website’s SEO and rise up the Google rankings to get to No.1 in her area for her chosen keywords.  

A tip Donna shares is using keywords in social media posts and structuring her website to be SEO friendly.

 

One of Donna’s values is “Don’t be a dick!” And works with businesses that she likes and who like her. She also focuses on really spreading the word about her business, not just relying on others to do it for her. Making efforts, and going out of her comfort zone, to ensure her brand is well known. Thirdly she has a go get it attitude, instilled in her by her mother and evidenced by teenage years spent competing globally in bagpipe tournaments!

 

In short, decide what you want, think why you want it and never give up

We wrap up talking about following up with her clients and how a strategy call after delivery is beneficial and this is something she is working on.