Recently I had a photo shoot with the fabulous photographer Suzanne Fells. We chose Salford Quays for the setting as I spend time in the north, along with the fact that I love the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the calmness of the waterfront.
The shoot had been a while in the planning and had to be postponed several times because of the pandemic. I felt as though I had changed over lockdown, not only as a person but in the way I dress and wanted to portray to clients my new relaxed style. In refreshing my wardrobe, I had replaced the previous fitted, corporate type dresses for business with smart casual separates and looser shapes. To compliment this style, out went the high heels and in came the kitten heels and metallic trainers.
As a Stylist I enjoy wearing a variety of colours which helps to give visibility on social media but in preparation for the shoot, I chose a palette that would best compliment the colours on my website. This ensured that the various colours of my seven outfits would harmonise with my personal branding, giving consistency on social media.
Suzanne Fells and I had several Zoom meetings to discuss outfit colours along with the way I wanted to portray myself and my business. Being a Personal Stylist I wished to represent myself as colourful, professional but also approachable. We decided to do this with a range of photographs showing the flexible way in which I work with other more sociable and relaxed images.
I spent time preparing the detail of each outfit to ensure that I had not only the right pieces of clothing but the correct accessories, shoes and make-up. Each outfit was pressed and bagged and the jewellery and cosmetics put in pouches to make changing easier during the event.
On the day of the shoot, I wanted sufficient time to style my hair and apply make-up so rose at 5am, ready to be on the road at 7am. Thankfully we were blessed with a warm day and the journey through the Peak District gave an enjoyable start.
On arrival Suzanne was already in the carpark and we set off to the Quays with several outfits in suit carriers. At 9.30am the waterfront was quiet giving us the opportunity to take plenty of photographs and I began to relax into the shoot. We had taken along a laptop to demonstrate the way in which I am now able to work remotely in any setting and I was photographed sitting on a bench by the river then outside a restaurant which was fun.
Suzanne helped me to forget I was being photographed with her encouraging and enthusiastic manner. It was suggested that we stop for lunch giving me the opportunity to relax and change my clothes in the restaurant toilet! The reality of being on location is the need to get dressed in small places, although being organised certainly makes the process easier.
Other photographs were taken sitting outside a café with magazines and notes, in a garden and waiting for the tram in preparation for a shopping trip. A balanced combination of outfits, colours and settings.
When Suzanne emailed over the photographs, I was very pleased with them all and felt that they represented the authentic me, combining both my business style and personality. I will be using the images for my website and on many platforms for social media over the next couple of years at least. A very worthwhile investment and I’d recommend Suzanne to any businesswoman or man who wants to portray the very best of themselves and their business.
If you’d like help to prepare for a photoshoot, I provide a styling service where we discover the best colours to use alongside your branding and the outfits to represent the message you wish to convey. Why not book a chat and we can discuss your needs: Book a chat with Suzanne Suthers Personal Stylist
Suzanne x
Contact - Suzanne Fells Portrait Photography & Personal Branding (suzannefellsphotography.com)