Branding Top Tips – Create A Mood Board To Refine Your Brand Identity

Bex
on
14 February 2024

Have you got a really clear and consistent brand identity?

I do, and I hope that you’ve noticed – it’s all about colour, joy and fun!

White woman wearing a rainbow striped jumper, looking happy in her office

BE RECOGNISABLE

I know my brand is working as people send me links all the time to rainbow things they see. They think of me instantly which is amazing! People I’ve never met even recognise me at events due to my colourful clothing. I stand out and it’s perfect for my brand.

Branding myself was easy because I not only love rainbows and bright colours but I love working with vibrant brands too! Staying on brand is simple for me because I literally live my brand. My clothing is colourful, my home is colourful. It’s a no-brainer to choose colours that you love but you also want to think about what those colours might mean to others. I’ve started writing a series all about brand colours which you can read here.

WHERE DO YOU START?

A great way to get started if you’re creating your brand identity from scratch, is to head to Pinterest and start pinning images that appeal to you.

Screengrab of Bexphoto's Pinterest mood board showing fun, joyful and colourful photos including lots of Headshots of Bex Maini

MY BRAND PERSONALITY MOODBOARD

My example above shows how my mood board would look – lots of colour, rainbows, laughter, joyful images with clients, action shots with my camera, graffiti walls, my obsession with Christmas decorations, chocolate…

All things I love, things that show who I am, what I love, my values, my joy – everything I want to show to my ideal clients and they all tie in with my brand. I want to come across as friendly, fun, approachable, trustworthy and creative.

A white woman with grey hair laughing in the sunshine in Spain. She is holding a camera and wearing a blue and red jumpsuit.

DESIGN YOUR BRAND PHOTOSHOOT

You can then use your mood board to help you when designing your perfect brand photoshoot. It should inspire ideas about locations, colours, poses and just the general vibe you want your brand to convey. Part of the preparation before your shoot should always include some planning, thinking about your values and who you are aiming your message at, what it is you offer and why people need/want it.

A few of the main things it was important to include for Bignose & Beardy were sustainability, amazing small batch products, friendship and community. Their green branding was ideal for a countryside based business in a smallholding orchard.

Bignose & Beardy HQ orchard with chickens, blossom, apples, spirits and cider.

REFINE YOUR IMAGE

Creating a mood board will not only help you refine the sort of look you’re aiming for with your brand but also help your photographer to learn what sort of poses you like. Whether you need more formal shots to attract corporate clients or something more relaxed or even action shots of you working/creating or maybe even both? Try searching Pinterest for “fun location headshots” or “colourful personal brand photography” or you can browse my boards.

A white brunette woman wearing a patterned beige and navy blue dress poses smiling for a headshot against a navy blue wall backdrop.
PR expert Jane Griffin wearing classic navy & neutrals for a serious but approachable look.
A while blonde woman with wavy hair is smiling as she tends the plants in her gift shop in Lewes.
Shop owner Victoria tending to her beloved plants.

INCLUDE YOUR PERSONALITY

It’s all about adding the personal aspect to your branding. You don’t want the same images as everybody else but you can take inspiration from others and incorporate ideas and together we can create your perfect gallery to represent you.

A white women with blonde hair tied up is holding a laser gun pointed at the camera like a playful Lara Croft with a half smile on her face, trying not to laugh.
Laser hair & tattoo removal technician Emma giving me her best Lara Croft look with her laser gun.

PETS!

I always encourage bringing your pets along for the ride! Another sure fire way to grab attention of like-minded individuals on social media, show off your cute sidekicks! Plus I love a cuddle from your furry companions! (I’m not averse to snakes and the like either if you have any of the non-furry kinds!)

Some of the cute critters I’ve been lucky enough to capture with their owners!

MY BRAND PHOTOS

As a photographer, it’s especially important to have high quality photos of myself AND to demonstrate that I have been there too, in front of the lens, I know how it feels and I can help make it easier for my clients as a result.

Plus, showing my own face always gets more engagement on social media, achieving that connection with my clients and potential clients is so important!

A white female photographer holding her camera up to her face with a big smile. She is wearing a rainbow coloured dress and is surrounded by a prism effect showing multiple reflections of herself.

Do you need my help planning and utilising your brand photography? Get in touch and we can start getting to know each other to see if we’re a good fit…

LET’S CHAT

Not ready to chat yet, that’s OK! I have a freebie for you which might help you decide if I’m the right photographer for you AND help you prepare for your personality packed brand shoot when you’re ready, whomever you choose as your photographer…

Do you need awesome photography to represent your brand?

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A happy, smiling white woman in a multi-coloured dress is holding her camera up to take photos in Paris

About Bex

Hi, I’m Bex…brand photography expert, bestselling author and lover of all things colourful. I can help you turn your brand into something bold, beautiful and irresistibly attractive to your ideal clients.