Case study: The red cowboy boots

Project overview

Vicky Peakman , Fair Pay Partners , approached me to do her very first set of personally branded photographs at my studio in Hertfordshire.

Client background and objectives

Vicky is setting up a new business to help companies ensure they are paying people fairly. In addition to consulting, she plans to do speaking engagements and podcasts/webinars on the topic of fair pay and pay transparency; helping individuals understand their pay and how to talk about it when talking to employers. She needed headshots to reflect her unique personal brand as it is key to the service she is offering.

Understanding the brief

After initial email contact, I sent Vicky my pre-meet questionnaire so I could understand her brand and objectives for the shoot. This is always useful as I learned how she saw her personality, what she wanted the photographs to convey to her clients and what her deliverables were. She also mentioned that she was new to studio shoots and didn’t like having her photo taken.?

The creative approach

Once I read through Vicky’s thoughts, we set up a zoom call. She was a fascinating case because she saw her brand as friendly, approachable and sincere, but also bold, powerful and exciting. I wanted to understand this before I suggested a creative approach. When I saw Vicky on zoom and spent a little time chatting to her, I started to get a visual picture in my mind of how to best showcase her. I would describe her as highly professional, with a strong, confident character that draws you in.?

She showed me her logo and shared her business colour palette (red, black, white and green) and in conversation, she let slip that she had a beloved pair of red cowboy boots that were quite a feature in her wardrobe. Everything fell into place creatively: the mood, style, colour choices, and the storytelling aspect that guided the shoot and reflected her personality perfectly!

Challenges and solutions

Wardrobe is always a challenge and should never be underestimated - clothing can make or break a photoshoot. I advise my clients to wear fairly new, well fitting, fitted clothes to give them shape. Second, they need to consider colours and necklines that flatter, which also dovetail with their colour palette. Because Vicky was in Scotland, she sent me phone photo’s of her outfits on WhatsApp and we had a facetime call from her kitchen. Eventually, the red cowboy boots were packed and she was ready to go. For me, I had the challenge of showing off Vicky’s boots in a few shots, so I decided on the solution of introducing a red chair which I think worked very well.

Behind the scenes

Vicky has a stunning facial structure and short grey/white hair. I decided to go bold and used a black backdrop for the shoot. Usually I use a combination of backdrops, but I went with my instinct to set off her personality and vibe. I used my reflectors and bounced the light up into her face to capture her engaging character and a rim light to separate her from the dark background. I chose my long lens so I was as far away from her as possible, to give her space and make her feel relaxed. Photoshoots do take you out of your comfort zone, and it was helpful that Vicky was resolved to get the most out of the session - she really worked hard to get some great shots.

The results and impact

Vicky’s first response to the images was “Wow. They look amazing.” She also wrote in an email: “Thanks again for a great experience. I honestly am incredibly impressed that you managed to make me so comfortable.”

Vicky chose six images, sensibly selecting a variety of tops and poses so she has options for her website, social media platforms, speaking engagements and PR. I also thought a couple of them would make good banners on her website and I extended the black canvas for maximum impact.

Client testimonial

“Having photos taken was not something I was looking forward to! I was recommended a few people but it was obvious both from her website and after meeting her that Penny was different. Her warmth was engaging and her enthusiasm infectious. But her desire to get the photos right for me and my business was what impressed me the most. And her decision to procure a red chair to match my boots!!! On the day itself she welcomed me into her studio and, although I was incredibly nervous, managed to put me at ease. I am amazed to say it but I actually enjoyed my experience with her - it felt like a team effort! The photos came out better than I was expecting. I don't know how she did it but I love them!”

Key takeaways

Every individual headshot session is as unique as the person I’m photographing and I find it really worthwhile to spend a little time understanding the client and coming up with visual clues, body language presentation, creative lighting and technical knowledge to showcase each person at their best. I'm looking forward to seeing the images published on her website - and will always have a soft spot for women wearing red cowboy boots!

If you are considering a personal branding session at my studio in Harpenden, let's have an introductory call.