The sweaty café moment
It was 38 degrees and barely 10.00 am. I was sweat-glued to a plastic chair outside a Paris café, trying to look vaguely composed while slowly turning into soup.
Across from me sat a woman who could only be described as effortlessly chic. Elegant in that low-key French way – crisp linen, artfully tousled hair, sunglasses that said “I have strong opinions about literature.” The kind of woman I’ll never be, and have stopped pretending I might morph into with the help of a capsule wardrobe and some dry shampoo.
She gave me a look. Not unkind, exactly. More… curious. The kind of expression that says, “Are you unwell, or just very badly dressed?”
Fair enough. Because I was mid-crouch, phone in hand, photographing my own shadow on the pavement.
Not to post. Not to share. Just because the light was good. The shapes were interesting. The heat made everything shimmer like an oil painting. I knew I looked ridiculous. But I wanted to capture it anyway.
She didn’t say a word. Just raised her eyebrows, ever so slightly, and sipped her espresso. A silent masterclass in quiet judgement.
But ... I wasn’t even photographing myself. Just my shadow - and that’s what felt important later. Because sometimes, visibility isn’t about showing your face to the world – it’s about reconnecting with the part of you that notices things. The bit that crouches down in the heat because the light’s doing something beautiful. That makes a quiet wee creative decision for no one’s approval but your own.
In a world that pushes us to polish and perform, that kind of moment – unshared, instinctive, and fully yours – counts too.
Seeing things differently
I don't have much knowledge of French, but the Google Translate app kept me safe from sautéed goat spleen - and worse!
To be fair, the wifie may already have written me off earlier. I’d pointed my phone at the café’s chalkboard menu like it was the Rosetta Stone – which, to her, probably confirmed I was a lost cause. What she didn’t know was that I was using the Google Translate app.
If you’ve never used it, you’re in for a treat. You point your phone’s camera at a menu (or sign, or anything really), and it overlays the translation right there on your screen. No fiddling with dictionaries. No mystery meats. No ordering what you think is cheese and getting calf brain in a balsamic reduction. Or sautéed goat spleen.
It’s absolute witchcraft – and incredibly useful when you want to avoid accidentally offending a waiter or eating something with tentacles.
Later that day, it struck me: the words were always there. I just needed a different lens to understand them.
That’s what a good brand photo does, too.
It doesn’t change who you are. It just helps people see you properly. The real you. The context. The personality. The warmth and spark that get completely lost in that cropped LinkedIn headshot from 2019.
If you’ve ever looked at a photo of yourself and thought, “That’s not me,” it probably wasn’t the camera’s fault. It was the lens – the approach – that was off.
That’s why I created my Soar brand photography package. Not to make you look glossy or perfect. But to help your audience understand who you are and what you bring – with clarity and honesty.
Because when people see you clearly, they trust you faster. And when you feel seen, you show up with more confidence, clarity, and purpose – which changes everything in your business.
That’s what photography can do
There’s a common fear that having professional brand photos taken will make you look… not like you. That you’ll come out looking too corporate, too posed, or like you’re auditioning for a business reality show no one asked for.
But the good ones – the right ones – do the opposite.
They don’t project a version of you that’s slick or soulless. They show the person behind the business. The way you light up when you talk about your work. The calm confidence you bring to your clients. The real, human you. Forbes is quite clear here about how authenticity by design, deliberately reflecting the real you, is the foundation for a brand that truly resonates with your audience - and I absolutely agree.
It’s not about finding a new persona. It’s about holding up a lens – literal and metaphorical – that helps people recognise you and feel like they know you already.
That’s why so many of my clients are drawn to story-led brand photography. Because it’s not just about looking professional – it’s about looking recognisable. So your dream clients see your photos and think, “Yes. That’s who I want to work with.”
And here's the best bit: you don’t have to have it all figured out before you book a shoot. You just need to know that you’re ready to show up – as you are, where you are, in this new season of your business.
If you’re not sure which approach suits you best, my Ultimate Guide to Brand Photography and Business Headshots in Scotland breaks it all down – so you can make a confident, informed decision.
Why it matters (especially for women)
Here’s something I see all the time – especially with women: the quiet instinct to stay in the background. To soften the edges. To “just get by” with outdated headshots or photos where you’re barely visible in the frame. And heavens do I get it.
We’ve been subtly (and not so subtly) conditioned to believe that showing up too boldly is somehow… too much. That visibility is vanity. That confidence in front of the camera is reserved for other people – the glossy ones, the loud ones, the young 'uns, the ones who actually like having their photo taken.
But the harsh truth is: being seen isn’t indulgent. It’s essential.
When you run your own business, your face isn’t just a face – it’s part of your brand. It tells people you’re real, approachable, and ready to help. And when your visuals match the clarity and quality of your work, your whole brand feels more aligned and trustworthy.
If you’ve stepped into a new chapter in your business – clearer about what you offer, who you serve, and how you do things differently – it might be time your images caught up.
My Elevate session is designed exactly for this: a simple, strategic update for people who’ve outgrown their old visuals and need a fresh, confident look to match.
This isn’t just about “getting some nice photos.” It’s about being recognised for who you are and what you do – and making it easier for the right people to choose you.
When blurry is still worth it
That shadow photo? It didn’t turn out. It was blurry, off-centre, and far less poetic than it looked in my head. An ashtray made an unexpected cameo, and honestly, the whole thing was a bit grim.
But I kept it anyway.
Because in that moment – crouched awkwardly, judged silently, melting visibly – I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I just wanted to capture something real. Cause that’s what visibility often looks like. Not perfect. Not curated within an inch of its life. Just honest. A quiet moment of, “Here I am. This is how it feels today.”
Some of the most powerful photos I take aren’t thehyper- polished ones. They’re the ones where something real is happening – a laugh, a breath, a shift in posture when you stop overthinking and just are.
That’s why I always encourage my clients to read how to feel confident in your photo shoot before our session. Not because you need to “fix” anything – but because you deserve to feel supported in showing up as your real self.
Visibility doesn’t have to be loud or shiny. Sometimes it’s as simple as letting someone see the human behind the business – shadow, ashtray and all.
You don’t have to wait until it’s perfect
If you’ve been quietly thinking about updating your brand photos – but waiting for the right haircut, the right moment, the right sense of confidence – this is your gentle nudge.
You don’t have to be polished, ready, or “feeling it” 100% of the time. You just have to be willing to be seen. To show up as yourself, with a little support, a bit of strategy, and maybe some excellent lighting.
That’s exactly what I do with my clients – whether through a full Soar session or a shorter, focused Elevate shoot. We capture where you are now – the energy, the growth, the realness – so your visuals finally match your message.
Not sure if you’re ready for a full shoot? This post on what kind of business photography you need will help you figure that out.
And if you’re still feeling a bit hesitant, you’re not alone. This piece on how to feel confident in your photo shoot is full of the same reassurance and tips I give my clients behind the scenes.
You don’t need to wait for perfect. Just real, and ready enough.
Because showing the real you in brand photography isn’t about having it all figured out – it’s about letting people connect with who you really are. And that’s always worth it.
