Paris just screams "Photoshoot" to me, tell me I'm not alone?

This spring, I’d heard Paris so many times from different people that when the time came to book a trip somewhere with Robin this summer, I suggested it. I had been forming a thought in my head about what we could do there – and not just a vacation. It might seem weird to others, but a trip to Paris is definitely a photo opportunity to me. And probably to others who grew up watching Sex and the City, Gossip Girl and more stuff like that. Tell me I’m not alone!?

This actually came at a point in time when I was making a shift in my career, steering away from consultancy work to do more of my own work with personal branding and launching my course, Becoming.

Since all that coincided with Paris, I thought it would be the perfect time to take some new branding shots of me. Little did I know a heatwave would wash over Paris when we got there. And nobody feels – or is – pretty in 40-degree Celsius weather.

Still, there we were. Trying to look effortlessly chic while my main concern was finding shade and not melting into the pavement. I realised the only way to do it was to start super early in the morning. So one day, when it was a bit cooler, we got up at 6 am and went on a photo walk.

I didn’t want the photos to scream Paris. No obvious landmarks or tourist moments. I wanted a timeless city feeling that could have been Paris, London, Stockholm or somewhere else entirely. We stayed just below Montmartre, so we walked up to Sacré-Cœur. We found a nice view there, but the most magical place was actually right behind it. We took some stairs down and found some cute, tiny roads. I’m pretty sure we accidentally ran into the set of Emily in Paris (!?) right then.

Photos that work all year round

Since I wanted to be able to use the pictures throughout the year – on my website, LinkedIn and Instagram, without them immediately feeling out of season, we tried to choose locations and edits that could also feel autumnal.

I also chose one classic outfit that could look “business” in one photo and more casual in another. Nothing that felt like a costume. Just a more polished version of me. And that, to me, is the point of personal branding photos.

I love a trench coat. It’s always chic, and I paired it with a little black dress and black heels.

If you know me, you might be surprised, because a lot of my brand has been about colour, and I really do love that. But I wanted something timeless. And I feel like it’s time for my personal brand aesthetic to grow and change with me. In fact, it’s important that I let it.

This next chapter of my career, my next act, is a new thing that I’m getting ready for. I have a lot of thoughts on that, but I think that’s a separate article to come…

Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that your personal branding pictures shouldn’t turn you into someone else. They should help you recognise and show more of the person you already are – or perhaps the person you are in the process of becoming. Just like I am trying to do for myself.

It’s a journey

This is one of the things I tell my clients the most. Working on your personal brand is a journey. It’s something you uncover while you uncover who you are, and who you want to be as a person.

It’s a lot about identity, not just branding and positioning. It’s also a creative process, especially the visual part of it. I’ve always loved that part. Thinking about concepts, fashion and how to package the essence of a person.

What I’ve noticed in myself is how much easier it is to show up when you actually like the images you have of yourself. It becomes easier to make the post, update the website and send people somewhere to read more about your work.

I think everyone deserves to feel that way about themselves. I want you to open up your phone and be excited to post something, to tell the world, “Here I am.”

You definitely don’t need to go to Paris for your own personal branding photos. You can find the right location in your own city or somewhere nearby. But I do think you should give yourself the experience of having photos that feel like you – and that you are genuinely proud to share.

If you want help with that, let me know.

/M.