Finding Your Why: The Secret Ingredient for Small Business Success.

What led you to start your business? I'm curious, well some like to call me nosy... but why did you choose to start a business, when it's not the easy option in fact it can be bloody hard? Maybe you’re an amazing therapist, but you could have chosen to work in someone else’s clinic. Perhaps you went into coaching to help your clients create a better life, but, don't forget, it’s just as important that your own business has given you a better life, too.

In my experience, people often have a variety of reasons why they set up their own business - whether it’s to have control over their workload or flexibility with demands on their time; the drive may be to support female-founded businesses or perhaps create floral art which transforms events. What’s important is that we’re no longer talking about what you do but why you do it!

I can hear some of you saying already, 'really that doesn't matter as long as I can deliver to my clients what they need, who cares.' Who cares why you chose this path? What difference will it make to your clients or how you run your business? Actually, it can make a big difference, and people do care. Knowing 'the why' and understanding what you want most out of your business will help you decide which services to offer and who you want to work with, because, it's really important to make sure it gives both you and your clients what you ultimately need, it's all there in that three letter word... why.

Defining Your Business Purpose: The Foundation of Success

Your purpose is the reason your business exists. It’s not just about making money (though that’s important too!). Your purpose (your why) is what drives you, what makes you excited to start work each day, and what sets you apart from your competitors.

So start by asking yourself:

Why did you start your business?
What problem are you solving for your customers?
What impact do you want to have on the world?

Your answers to these questions form the foundation of your business purpose. This purpose should guide every decision you make, from your product offerings to your marketing strategies – and yes, even your brand photography.

Your desire for flexibility to put your family first will shape how you do business - and help you appeal to others with the same priorities. Your drive to reach successful women in business will help you create a message that talks to their needs. Defining your purpose will help you define your business.

How Your Business Purpose Shapes Your Brand Identity

So, let’s think about your brand. Your business purpose is the compass that guides your brand identity; it will influence everything from your logo to your brand photography. This identity is how your business presents itself to the world and should reflect your purpose in every aspect:

The visual elements - your logo, colour scheme, and design choices
Your tone of voice - how you communicate in writing and verbally
The customer experience - every interaction a customer has with your business
Your brand photography - demonstrating your business purpose to your audience

Let’s come back to that last point. Brand photography is not just about taking pretty pictures of your products or team; it’s about visually storytelling your business purpose, something we looked at in this post on brand storytelling.

Brand Photography, Communicating Your Business Purpose and Values

We know the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, and this has possibly never been more true. Your brand photography may be the first impression potential customers have of your business it needs to quickly and effectively communicate who you are, what you do, and why you do it.

Even after that first impression, the consistency created by effective brand photography makes sure you don’t get forgotten, that people remember what you stand for, and come to trust you. I discussed this in the post Brand Photography: Your Secret Weapon to Staying Top of Mind.

As a brand photographer to both businesses and entrepreneurs, I’ve seen how important storytelling photography is, to build an online presence you can be proud of and to promote customer engagement.

Preparing for Your Brand Photoshoot: Aligning Visuals with Values

A successful brand photoshoot requires more than just showing up – it’s about strategically planning to capture your business purpose, something we looked at in this post. Having thought about your ‘Why’ and what that means for your branding, how will you bring that into your brand shoot?

Think about the key messages you want to convey; how do you want people to feel about you? What scenes or setups will best illustrate your purpose?

Who are you trying to reach, and what will resonate with them? Make sure you pick a location, settings, props and wardrobe to reflect your brand personality and purpose. And make sure that anyone else involved in the shoot also understands why you’re doing this.

Remember, the goal is not just to create beautiful images, but to create meaningful ones that align with your business purpose.

Working With Me: My Unique Approach

As a brand photographer, I’ve worked with many businesses and defined an approach that goes beyond just taking photos. My experience working in the media, for different publications, means I have an innate understanding of 'house-style/or brand and am able to use the knowledge and experience I have accumulated, over many years, into practice within my brand shoots. I am at heart a visual storyteller, helping you translate your business purpose into compelling imagery, and I have a strong understanding and experience of marketing to share with you, too.

When you work with me, we spend time on purpose-driven planning, starting with a deep dive into your business purpose and ensuring every shot aligns with your ‘why’.

I’ll help you plan your marketing so we get the perfect pictures with an eye on storytelling, capturing genuine moments that reflect your passion and purpose. Understanding your target market helps me create images that will resonate with them, and we’ll create a versatile image library suitable for various platforms, from your website to social media, books to banners and beyond.

You’ll also get guidance and support, from planning to posting; I’m here to guide you through the entire process. You’ll get amazing photos that not only show you off at your best but truly represent your brand’s purpose and values.

Bringing Your Purpose into Focus

Understanding your business purpose and reflecting it through your brand photography is not just a nice-to-have – it’s essential. You want to create a visual story that resonates with your audience, builds trust, and sets you apart from the competition - and we can do that.

If you’re unsure about your business purpose or how to present it to the world, don’t worry. That’s where I come in; I can help you uncover and showcase your true value.

So...Are You Ready? Let’s go!

I’m currently offering a special package to help businesses like yours elevate their brand through great photography before my prices increase in April.

If you book now...in March (2025), you’ll get:

A comprehensive brand photography session at 2024 prices
Strategic planning to align your visuals with your business purpose at 2024 prices
A versatile image library for use across all your marketing channels at 2024 prices
Access to the bonuses created for the new 2025 priced packages for the 2024 prices
And as a bonus, a free copy of the book I co-authored “Be Brand Rich - Elevate Your Brand, Your Business and Your Visibility”

If you book now to lock in the current price, you’ll have until 31st December to schedule your shoot, so get in touch!

Lets Chat

While you’re here…don’t forget to pick up a copy of my fabulous free guide showing you Six Ways to Boost Your Visibility and Get More Clients.

See you soon x