Welcome to Season 4!
➡️ Show your face and make a difference
➡️ Build trust with authentic images
➡️ Connect with your audience through branding and photography
In this episode, we dive into the importance of showing your face in your brand and how it can make a significant impact. My guest, Aga Mortlock, a passionate brand photographer, shares her journey and expertise in creating authentic, standout images that are crucial for your brand experience.
Aga discusses the evolution of her career from fashion and commercial photography to finding her true calling in brand photography. She emphasises the importance of visibility, the know-like-trust factor, and how personalised brand photos can capture the true essence of your business.
About Aga Mortlock
Aga is a dedicated brand photographer with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in creating bespoke images that reflect the unique personality and passion of her clients. Aga works with business owners to help them connect with their audience through authentic and engaging photography.
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Hi, and welcome to podcasting one on one with Rachel.
Rachael Botfield:This podcast is for busy female entrepreneurs who run their own
Rachael Botfield:businesses and want to start a podcast or who may already have a podcast.
Rachael Botfield:I want to share practical information and tips on how you can get your podcast
Rachael Botfield:started and managing it along the way.
Rachael Botfield:I'll also be interviewing other female podcast hosts to give you
Rachael Botfield:real insight into what it's like.
Rachael Botfield:Have Hi
Rachael Botfield:everyone, and welcome to this week's episode.
Rachael Botfield:We're going to be talking about branding today and how showing
Rachael Botfield:your face makes a difference.
Rachael Botfield:My guest today is Agha Mortlach, who is a brand photographer, passionate
Rachael Botfield:about photography and creating authentic standout images that are
Rachael Botfield:crucial for your brand experience.
Rachael Botfield:Welcome Agha.
Rachael Botfield:Hello, fantastic to be here today.
Rachael Botfield:Yes, thank you for coming on and talking all about photography and branding.
Rachael Botfield:Um, just start with, do you want to just tell us a little bit
Rachael Botfield:about yourself and where your passion for photography started?
Aga Mortlock:Yes, absolutely.
Aga Mortlock:Um, it started long, long, long time ago.
Aga Mortlock:You know, everybody's got their story, but my story started at 16.
Aga Mortlock:That was my first photography course I joined.
Aga Mortlock:And then, you know, the lives took different, uh, uh, different angles.
Aga Mortlock:I studied politics, sociology, because you're supposed to have a job, right?
Aga Mortlock:Proper job.
Aga Mortlock:But somehow I went back to my, uh, beloved photography and at the age of
Aga Mortlock:20 something, I decided You know what?
Aga Mortlock:This is it.
Aga Mortlock:That's why I want to do it.
Aga Mortlock:I'm going to have a go.
Aga Mortlock:And I did.
Aga Mortlock:And the rest is history.
Aga Mortlock:So it's been over 20 years right now and I've been
Aga Mortlock:professionally doing photography.
Aga Mortlock:And recently, well, a few years ago, I completely turned my, uh, photography
Aga Mortlock:into brand photography because I used to do fashion, commercial, editing.
Aga Mortlock:Sort of things.
Aga Mortlock:I worked for Portraits Photography.
Aga Mortlock:I run my own Portraits Photography and Makeover studio.
Aga Mortlock:So I went around the block quite a lot when it comes to photography fields,
Aga Mortlock:but it feels like brand photography.
Aga Mortlock:It's that kind of type of photography, which really fulfills me with joy.
Aga Mortlock:First of all, I really love working with people.
Aga Mortlock:And also I really love working with people who feel passionate about what they do.
Aga Mortlock:And you know, when you're rubbing off each other, that energy, so,
Aga Mortlock:so that's, that's just fantastic.
Aga Mortlock:And I am now I'm sticking to it because that exactly what
Aga Mortlock:I think I've been meant to do.
Aga Mortlock:So I'm sticking with it.
Aga Mortlock:So if you need wedding or questioning photographer, please do not ask me.
Aga Mortlock:Because I don't like to say no, and I will
Rachael Botfield:say no.
Rachael Botfield:So your focus now is helping business owners create their, create their brand.
Rachael Botfield:And I have seen some of your photos, um, Agra and I met through, uh, the
Rachael Botfield:Women in Business Network and you did Susie Sprigg, who's the, yeah,
Rachael Botfield:who's one of the leaders of the It's a Roddick Online National Group.
Rachael Botfield:And then obviously there's some in person groups for her as well.
Rachael Botfield:And I thought they were fantastic.
Rachael Botfield:I really loved those photos when she shared them.
Rachael Botfield:So part of why we wanted to have this conversation is using Susie as an
Rachael Botfield:example there, having known Susie and met her and her personality and her
Rachael Botfield:business, those photos really captured her and that authenticity that we all
Rachael Botfield:want to see because we are people, selling to people, we are, we want
Rachael Botfield:to be having that human connection.
Rachael Botfield:And those photos are such an important thing, um, to have for your business.
Rachael Botfield:And then obviously I know we're here talking about podcasts, but your
Rachael Botfield:podcasts will be for your business.
Rachael Botfield:So they are a complete, um, package.
Rachael Botfield:And the podcast is an extension of your business.
Rachael Botfield:So why is it important to create a brand for our business?
Rachael Botfield:What part do our faces play in our brand?
Aga Mortlock:I think first of all, it's all about disability.
Aga Mortlock:And also that no lack trust factor.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:So imagine people when appearing on a telly automatically, you think
Aga Mortlock:like you didn't, you know them.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:It's just, it just feels that kind of familiar feeling to it.
Aga Mortlock:And actually it's funny enough, cause I did post on my, uh, social
Aga Mortlock:media today about connection.
Aga Mortlock:You build the connection, not only by showing face to face and, you
Aga Mortlock:know, going with people for coffee, meeting them on zoom, but also you
Aga Mortlock:need to create that brand, which is visible and people respond more.
Aga Mortlock:If they can see the face behind the brand, otherwise, it's just another one
Aga Mortlock:big brand, which is kind of an anonymous, you know, and, and people can't really
Aga Mortlock:connect with it if they see that you, that person, and they, they know inside
Aga Mortlock:and out of why you're doing things, you know, why you, why you're passionate
Aga Mortlock:about certain things, you know, who are you, and as we know, we're not for
Aga Mortlock:everybody, we're not for, we're not for, you know, sometimes we need to
Aga Mortlock:kind of, you know, speak to our audience and showing yourself authentically.
Aga Mortlock:It's really, really crucial because by doing this, we connecting to those
Aga Mortlock:people we really want to connect.
Aga Mortlock:So like, for example, Susie's, um, Susie's very kind of,
Aga Mortlock:she's all about women, right?
Aga Mortlock:She gathers them.
Aga Mortlock:She's got this fantastic energy.
Aga Mortlock:She's bubbly.
Aga Mortlock:She's high spirited.
Aga Mortlock:So those images have to showcase how she is, but how she enclosing
Aga Mortlock:everything, how she creates it.
Aga Mortlock:Space for everybody, you know, to feel comfortable and familiar with, you know?
Aga Mortlock:So, uh, so when I, when I create pictures for brands, it's always bespoke.
Aga Mortlock:It's not like we're going to do the coffee mug shot and a laptop thing.
Aga Mortlock:You know, your box standard things, everybody's different.
Aga Mortlock:So for me, it's really important to get into the nitty gritty of
Aga Mortlock:your brands and your personality.
Aga Mortlock:Otherwise I won't be able to show who you really are.
Aga Mortlock:And I think for me, that's the difference between having some.
Aga Mortlock:generic headshots to actually having beautiful brand photography, which
Aga Mortlock:shows your personality and people see, okay, I feel like I know her.
Aga Mortlock:I need to know a little bit more.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:So, so I think it's just.
Aga Mortlock:It's really important that all those images are authentic to you.
Aga Mortlock:So it's really important for a photographer to understand where
Aga Mortlock:you're coming from, what's your why's, why you're doing what you're
Aga Mortlock:doing, why you feel passionate.
Aga Mortlock:And with brand photography, it's not only about the beautiful pictures of you.
Aga Mortlock:But it's also about setting images for those topics you want to kind
Aga Mortlock:of showcase in your business.
Aga Mortlock:So tools of your business, you know, behind the scenes and all those different
Aga Mortlock:things who makes you, you makes your business because people are nosy, right?
Aga Mortlock:They want to see what's happening behind the scene.
Aga Mortlock:They want to see what's your little ritual you're doing in the morning.
Aga Mortlock:They want to see, and I'm not saying showing color of your toothbrush, but
Aga Mortlock:you know, just having all those different things, you know, which makes you, you,
Aga Mortlock:and then when they're familiar with you, they think, I really like that person.
Aga Mortlock:She could be my friend, you know, I want to get in touch with her, you know,
Aga Mortlock:and that's how they're booking your services or, you know, they're kind of
Aga Mortlock:getting that gist of you, of your energy.
Aga Mortlock:So I know it sounds a bit awful, but that's how I work.
Aga Mortlock:I really want to get into the nitty gritty of you and showcase the exact essence
Aga Mortlock:of you, but you on your very good day.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Rachael Botfield:On the best day.
Rachael Botfield:I love that.
Rachael Botfield:And I think I totally agree with that.
Rachael Botfield:And What you said about like, know, and trust, that is, for me, podcasting
Rachael Botfield:is another way for you to do that.
Rachael Botfield:It's all about visibility, isn't it?
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:And I feel that that, the branding, especially having, um, having your
Rachael Botfield:photographs done, like you talked about capturing the essence of you.
Rachael Botfield:Those photographs will really help bring everything together
Rachael Botfield:with your podcast as well.
Rachael Botfield:So, um, This is an audio only podcast, you're just listening to our voices
Rachael Botfield:and then you're getting to know, um, what we're both like and, and, uh, what
Rachael Botfield:we're about, but having the images as well can help solidify that whole brand
Rachael Botfield:experience and the whole experience of them getting to know you through your
Rachael Botfield:podcast, through your social media, through your website, whatever medium
Rachael Botfield:it is that they come, come across you.
Aga Mortlock:Absolutely.
Aga Mortlock:And I think with the podcast, again, this is another, you know, we not to.
Aga Mortlock:Two dimensional people.
Aga Mortlock:Yeah, we very much much 3D and 4D, right?
Aga Mortlock:So yeah, it's very important to have those beautiful images you feel confident
Aga Mortlock:to show Okay, because how many times we've got those pictures and you really
Aga Mortlock:really not happy But we've got no other choice and we're putting them out there
Aga Mortlock:and putting them with like that will do Will do is not good enough for you.
Aga Mortlock:Okay, love.
Aga Mortlock:So I think we have to, whatever we do in online presence and
Aga Mortlock:online space, we have to be proud of what we're putting out there.
Aga Mortlock:If it's mediocre and we're not happy about this, it's a very good chance that people
Aga Mortlock:gonna get that perception of us as well.
Aga Mortlock:So your impression is all about showcasing your face.
Aga Mortlock:Showcasing your voice, I always say to people, do your live videos, go out
Aga Mortlock:there, show people how your body language, you know, everything comes together.
Aga Mortlock:So when we talk about the visibility, voice is very important as well, because
Aga Mortlock:people kind of, you know, When they're going to see eventually face to face, you
Aga Mortlock:know, it's really important that they, because our perception of all the human
Aga Mortlock:beings on so many different levels, so voice, sound, visuals, movements, body
Aga Mortlock:language, everything comes together.
Aga Mortlock:If you're giving people more of those touch points, you know, they can create
Aga Mortlock:that vision of you without meeting us face to face more, more than better.
Aga Mortlock:Right.
Aga Mortlock:So I think the podcast and also the topics you're interested about
Aga Mortlock:and passionate, you can, do you, do you think Rachel, they can actually
Aga Mortlock:feel passionate in people's voices?
Aga Mortlock:You know, the people light up, the voices light up, the faces light up when they
Aga Mortlock:talking about what they passionate about.
Aga Mortlock:And that's very, very often the case.
Aga Mortlock:What happens when you run your own business, right?
Aga Mortlock:So it's really important that if you feel passionate about something,
Aga Mortlock:you look passionate about something, you just go there with confidence
Aga Mortlock:and amazing energy, people are going to completely buy into it.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, you absolutely can tell when people are passionate about it.
Rachael Botfield:I mean, I can tell your passion shining through of wanting to help people, yeah,
Rachael Botfield:to help people, you know, get the best out of them to help them with their
Rachael Botfield:business, with whatever they, whatever their passion is for their business.
Rachael Botfield:And I.
Rachael Botfield:When I first had my brand photos done, um, there were a couple of years ago,
Rachael Botfield:a couple of years ago now, before then I was kind of using stock images and
Rachael Botfield:things like that on my website, as you do when you first start and things.
Rachael Botfield:But I, I really loved it when I had my, my first pictures done because there's a,
Rachael Botfield:there's a select few that I really love.
Rachael Botfield:Like there's one that's for my podcast art and I use for my profile picture
Rachael Botfield:and I really feel like that's me.
Rachael Botfield:And I like, and I love using them for my website.
Rachael Botfield:I use them in my social media as well and my graphics.
Rachael Botfield:And, like you say, it's that way for someone to see your face and
Rachael Botfield:your, your passion coming through.
Rachael Botfield:So, one thing I was going to, to ask um, is, So a lot of us who are
Rachael Botfield:starting a podcast already have a business, you know, like myself.
Rachael Botfield:And as I was saying before we set recording, I actually created a
Rachael Botfield:separate brand for my podcast.
Rachael Botfield:And, um, cause I, when I first started out, I was a virtual assistant and,
Rachael Botfield:uh, then I became, um, interested in podcasting and decided that was
Rachael Botfield:my passion and went down that route.
Rachael Botfield:So I actually have two different brand colors and it's something, as I said,
Rachael Botfield:that I've been thinking about changing because I feel like there's a bit of a.
Rachael Botfield:difference between the two, um, colors.
Rachael Botfield:But if someone is starting their podcast, would you, you'd recommend
Rachael Botfield:that they extend their current brand and, and bring that under
Rachael Botfield:podcasts under that kind of banner?
Rachael Botfield:What kind of, um, tips or, or recommendations about images
Rachael Botfield:and also, um, where to use those images as well that they could
Rachael Botfield:do for their, for their podcast?
Aga Mortlock:When it comes about branding, I'm really strong believer into
Aga Mortlock:having a same voice and consistency across all those different projects you do.
Aga Mortlock:Because you, your brand, you're not going to be like two different
Aga Mortlock:peoples all of a sudden, right?
Aga Mortlock:It's always you, it's always your personality and you like what you like.
Aga Mortlock:So when it comes to brand colors and your visual projection or fonts or
Aga Mortlock:voice, you know, it's really important that you Sticking with your personality.
Aga Mortlock:So if you like your purple, so you like your turquoises or you like
Aga Mortlock:this, I really believe you should carry this on across all your life.
Aga Mortlock:Social media platforms and all your different ventures you're doing because
Aga Mortlock:people need to recognize you because when you say, okay, that's Rachel Oh,
Aga Mortlock:she's got another thing she's doing but it's still Rachel Okay, so, you know
Aga Mortlock:you would do that umbrella thing and you know, it can be little twists to it
Aga Mortlock:But I think it has to, you as a brand, you're supposed to be consistent, right?
Aga Mortlock:So I wouldn't do two different things unless it's completely not related and
Aga Mortlock:you're starting new business and you want to cut off from one things to another.
Aga Mortlock:But if this is part of your brand, which complements each other, I would
Aga Mortlock:really, really urge you to keep that consistency across the whole brand.
Aga Mortlock:Platforms, because I think people easily recognize you and they all
Aga Mortlock:of a sudden associate that colors and that font with your brand.
Aga Mortlock:And that's what we're going for.
Aga Mortlock:That's what we're looking for.
Aga Mortlock:That instant recognizable thing, you know, like Coca Cola and stuff like that.
Aga Mortlock:Maximum expenses.
Aga Mortlock:You know, they're not changing the logos depending on if they're
Aga Mortlock:selling furniture or milk.
Aga Mortlock:It doesn't really matter.
Aga Mortlock:Right.
Aga Mortlock:They're all consistent because that's on the umbrella on the brand.
Aga Mortlock:So yeah, consistency across all your, uh, all your social
Aga Mortlock:media would be very advisable.
Rachael Botfield:So with, um, having some brand photos done, would you recommend,
Rachael Botfield:if you already have them for your business, for your current brand, maybe
Rachael Botfield:getting some done that are more specific to podcasting so that you can use those
Rachael Botfield:to, in, in that section of your website, in, in the graphics or cover art and
Rachael Botfield:things like that to promote the podcast?
Aga Mortlock:Obviously.
Aga Mortlock:Cause you know, I think certain things, you know, the headphones,
Aga Mortlock:you know, like tools of your job and stuff like that, you know?
Aga Mortlock:It has to be relevant to what you do.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:And, you know, even like sitting in front of the mic, you know, and, and
Aga Mortlock:recording things and stuff like that.
Aga Mortlock:It's really important that you cover all those aspects of your brand.
Aga Mortlock:So if it comes to podcasting, you know, that image would be relevant, which is.
Aga Mortlock:your studio, your mic, your headphones, you know, all those different things.
Aga Mortlock:It just shows the tools of your job.
Aga Mortlock:So I would really strongly recommend that, that the top up it should, should
Aga Mortlock:really happened if you expanding your business into that, into that direction.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:So you can expand your portfolio to be.
Rachael Botfield:To add that section in of you to have those for your the cover art and for
Rachael Botfield:the website I always recommend people have their pictures on the cover art
Rachael Botfield:because I think that that as well Even though sometimes you're like a
Rachael Botfield:tiny little tile on on your phone.
Rachael Botfield:I always think it's nice to have Uh, the face behind the podcast, especially
Rachael Botfield:if you're an audio only podcast and you're being found on Apple.
Rachael Botfield:People need to know.
Aga Mortlock:Yeah.
Aga Mortlock:People need to know who they, who's talking to them.
Aga Mortlock:You know, like Mel Robbins, you know, any podcasters, you know,
Aga Mortlock:was, uh, Steve, Steven Bartlett.
Aga Mortlock:They've all got faces on it.
Aga Mortlock:They do because people want to know who's talking to them.
Aga Mortlock:So it's, it's really, it's really important.
Aga Mortlock:And you know, I think always when your Moving and evolving and stuff like that.
Aga Mortlock:You never know what's going to happen six months or 12 months.
Aga Mortlock:You never know.
Aga Mortlock:So updating your images on a regular basis is very important because
Aga Mortlock:that's, what's gonna get you more.
Aga Mortlock:Current, and that's what's going to keep your brand on top of those, uh, different,
Aga Mortlock:different things you're doing in business.
Rachael Botfield:Well, visibility is like we, like you said earlier,
Rachael Botfield:that's a key thing in your podcast and your, with having your brand photos.
Rachael Botfield:We want to get in front of more people.
Rachael Botfield:We want to be heard, listened to, seen by more people.
Rachael Botfield:The aim, the aim of our business.
Rachael Botfield:I really love your passion and behind.
Rachael Botfield:Behind what you do.
Rachael Botfield:And do you mainly work with female solopreneurs or do you work with
Rachael Botfield:larger businesses as well these days?
Rachael Botfield:Or is it
Aga Mortlock:mainly?
Aga Mortlock:You know, yeah, I started as a, as a women only photographer.
Aga Mortlock:I don't know, just naturally kind of worked maybe because my past, my
Aga Mortlock:makeover studios, I've photographed women and I feel comfortable.
Aga Mortlock:I know how to guide them.
Aga Mortlock:Uh, I know how to pose them because, you know, even if you think, Oh,
Aga Mortlock:it's all natural, you know, it's all about angles and I'm your mirror.
Aga Mortlock:So I need to guide you during the session.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:Cause you might not have awareness, how you look like and stuff like that.
Aga Mortlock:So I feel very comfortable with that.
Aga Mortlock:Photographing women.
Aga Mortlock:But as my career progressed, it just spreads out.
Aga Mortlock:So I photograph men, I do big companies, like 60 people, you know, companies
Aga Mortlock:and stuff like that, bigger ones.
Aga Mortlock:So it kind of spreads out.
Aga Mortlock:Although I would say that women it's.
Aga Mortlock:It's, I would say 70 percent of people, like one, one kind of people,
Aga Mortlock:person, companies, you know, like your coaches, nutritionists, PTs,
Aga Mortlock:you know, those ones who've got their own business and, um, that's the
Aga Mortlock:still would say core of my brand.
Aga Mortlock:But it really spread out across their, uh, across their whole genre right now.
Aga Mortlock:I can't tell it's only women.
Aga Mortlock:I don't photograph men or I don't do bigger companies.
Aga Mortlock:Uh, it still kind of happens.
Aga Mortlock:If probably if you look at my socials, you're going to see women mainly.
Aga Mortlock:But don't get, don't get, don't get misled there.
Aga Mortlock:You know, I really think that women, maybe because I photograph my more
Aga Mortlock:women, maybe this is because women understand the importance of connection
Aga Mortlock:and nurturing people, and they understand that being the best kept secret in
Aga Mortlock:online presence, it's not when they're going to get you to your goals.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:Because sometimes I think, and I'm not generalizing, I think maybe some people
Aga Mortlock:have got, they're still old fashioned.
Aga Mortlock:So.
Aga Mortlock:views that are just headshot will do.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:And I'm not going to be throwing myself on a social media.
Aga Mortlock:This is not for me.
Aga Mortlock:You know, there's still kind of resentment hanging around there, who
Aga Mortlock:I am to showcase, or people going to think that, you know, I'm popping out
Aga Mortlock:left, right centred, I'm vain, you know, lots of people still got those kind
Aga Mortlock:of, you know, those preempted, things in the heads that it's not good to be
Aga Mortlock:visible because it's vain because I'm not Kardashian and stuff like that.
Aga Mortlock:But I really think more and more bigger brands understand that showing that people
Aga Mortlock:behind the brand is really important.
Aga Mortlock:You know, behind the scenes is important, but I think women especially.
Aga Mortlock:They've got, they understand the importance of connection on every
Aga Mortlock:single level and your success in your brand, it depends of creating and
Aga Mortlock:speaking to the right audience in a, and sending the right message and visuals,
Aga Mortlock:as we know, are crucial to your, to connect with, with your audience.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, I totally agree with you there.
Rachael Botfield:The connection, it isn't about having lots of, like you say, that people think it's
Rachael Botfield:just about having loads of photos taken of yourself so that you quote unquote
Rachael Botfield:look nice and I think that's a problem that women have always been, uh, had
Rachael Botfield:against, had against them in that way.
Rachael Botfield:Um, but it is about connection and it's about showing that you are a human and
Rachael Botfield:you are a person and this is my passion.
Rachael Botfield:And this is what I have to offer.
Rachael Botfield:Come and connect with me and get to know me rather than being some faceless brand.
Aga Mortlock:Yeah.
Aga Mortlock:And you know, if that's something what stops you from having a podcast
Aga Mortlock:because you don't like the sound of your voice or having your pictures taken
Aga Mortlock:because you don't like your left ear.
Aga Mortlock:Right.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:So it's not about you love.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:It's about those people you want to connect.
Aga Mortlock:And, uh, I always say it's, it's.
Aga Mortlock:You serve those people, you've got solutions for those people, you can help
Aga Mortlock:those people and you know, you're meeting people in shops every day and they don't
Aga Mortlock:run around screaming from the look of your face or the sound of your voice, right?
Aga Mortlock:So that's a good idea to have your pictures done because you
Aga Mortlock:know the scary monster, okay, you might have in your head.
Aga Mortlock:You know, it's just funny, isn't it?
Aga Mortlock:How people think that images are completely something different
Aga Mortlock:than seeing someone face to face or having a podcast done.
Aga Mortlock:It's got.
Aga Mortlock:People listening to your voice every single day, why they would all of
Aga Mortlock:a sudden judge you because your voice or something, what you've
Aga Mortlock:got to say, why would they do it?
Aga Mortlock:So I think we need to get over ourselves very often.
Aga Mortlock:And all those little voices we've got in our hearts, in our
Aga Mortlock:heads, we're not good enough.
Aga Mortlock:I'm not this enough or that enough, right?
Aga Mortlock:It's about showcasing who you are and how you can help people.
Aga Mortlock:It's not about you, what it is about you, but it's really about
Aga Mortlock:Your ability to help other people.
Aga Mortlock:That's why I'm saying brand photography, it's not your vanity projects.
Aga Mortlock:It's not somewhere you go to, you know, have beautiful pictures of
Aga Mortlock:you for to put on a wall, okay.
Aga Mortlock:To stare at them or having little album, but it's to showcase your business.
Aga Mortlock:So people get to know you and if they need your services, they can reach
Aga Mortlock:you with ease and they don't have to dig out and find you somewhere because
Aga Mortlock:people's attention span is very short.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:If they like something, they're gonna jump on it and they're going to
Aga Mortlock:book you if that message is correct.
Aga Mortlock:If you're not going to show up, how are they going to find you?
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, and if you can't show up for your own business for
Rachael Botfield:them, how are they going to trust you or, A, get to know you like you said.
Rachael Botfield:But yeah, it's um, I think a lot of people have that worry about having
Rachael Botfield:pictures taken and also the sound of their voice with podcasting.
Rachael Botfield:I have to say, when I first started, I was a bit like, Oh,
Rachael Botfield:that sounds a bit great on you.
Rachael Botfield:But do you know what?
Rachael Botfield:The more you listen to it.
Rachael Botfield:The more it sounds normal, I think we spend so much time convincing ourselves
Rachael Botfield:that we don't look right or don't sound right or whatever it is that we have,
Rachael Botfield:women especially, I think, that we do need to get over ourselves a little bit.
Rachael Botfield:And I feel like I've got over that little hurdle now of voice.
Rachael Botfield:It sounds, I don't hear that disconnect between when I talk and when I listen
Rachael Botfield:to a recording, which I used to do.
Rachael Botfield:I do that less now because I've Like, obviously I've been podcasting for
Rachael Botfield:a few years now, so I'm used to it.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, I think that, yeah.
Rachael Botfield:Getting used to it.
Rachael Botfield:We can see how important it is to have, um, have those
Rachael Botfield:brand photos for our business.
Rachael Botfield:Would you be able to give us a little couple of tips on how to find, um, the
Aga Mortlock:right photographer for, for us?
Aga Mortlock:Absolutely.
Aga Mortlock:You know, I think, I think this is really great that you asked
Aga Mortlock:that because that's crucial.
Aga Mortlock:You really need to, first of all, do you really need to, I know it's,
Aga Mortlock:again, it's going to sound really woo woo, but you need to get that
Aga Mortlock:connection, okay, with someone.
Aga Mortlock:Because, uh, Photography, especially brand photography is quite an intimate process.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:Someone's going to stood there pointing at you.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:With the camera.
Aga Mortlock:And, and it's, it's kind of, it's kind of, you know, vulnerable
Aga Mortlock:place to be in front of the camera.
Aga Mortlock:I completely get it because I had pictures taken myself.
Aga Mortlock:So I exactly know how you feel and you don't want to feel like, you know, the
Aga Mortlock:reindeer in their headlights, right?
Aga Mortlock:When you know that your face freezes and you know that your
Aga Mortlock:face just doesn't look right.
Aga Mortlock:So you need to find someone who puts you at ease.
Aga Mortlock:who've got the good spiel.
Aga Mortlock:You feel good around and, and you feel at ease and comfortable.
Aga Mortlock:That's, that's the main thing.
Aga Mortlock:Cause, cause you know, someone can be very good to technical, someone have
Aga Mortlock:the, have the most beautiful portfolio in the world, but if that can't put
Aga Mortlock:you at ease and you still look stiff, the technical skills, it's, it's,
Aga Mortlock:it's It's really not that important.
Aga Mortlock:So first of all, I would say jump on the call with that person.
Aga Mortlock:See how I always do Zooms.
Aga Mortlock:I refuse to take any bookings by sending quotes, quotes of the email,
Aga Mortlock:because I think that works both ways.
Aga Mortlock:If I feel comfortable with you, we know that we're on the
Aga Mortlock:same kind of plane vibes wise.
Aga Mortlock:And, you know, we can bounce off each other and then we can have good fun.
Aga Mortlock:You know, it's important for me as well, you know, because, you know,
Aga Mortlock:it's, it's important that you.
Aga Mortlock:Enjoy what you do and you're supposed to enjoy what I do, you know, so so I think
Aga Mortlock:find out that person How are you getting on at the personal level when you're
Aga Mortlock:chatting if that person is your person?
Aga Mortlock:Secondly really really go on their website Social media and see if their photography,
Aga Mortlock:they do it's something you actually like, because there's lots of different styles
Aga Mortlock:of photography, you know, with me, I kind of try to mold my style to what you need,
Aga Mortlock:because I think everybody's different.
Aga Mortlock:And some people like vibrancy, the colors, some people like more muted images.
Aga Mortlock:I always make sure that I'm not imposing my personal style on your brand.
Aga Mortlock:I'm basically fulfilling your brands is that the other way around, but
Aga Mortlock:I know the lots of photographers.
Aga Mortlock:That's the way I shoot, that's the effect I use, and you're getting
Aga Mortlock:that if you want or not, right?
Aga Mortlock:So it needs to be someone who understands your brand.
Aga Mortlock:And also, someone, I would also say, I really think recommendation is a
Aga Mortlock:good way to go about finding someone, read their reviews, you know, if
Aga Mortlock:someone, you know, have something good to say about that person.
Aga Mortlock:Because, you know, sometimes they have, might have beautiful pictures, but, you
Aga Mortlock:know, there might be 10 people who didn't enjoy working with that person, you know.
Aga Mortlock:So I think.
Aga Mortlock:I would, you know, brand photography, it's investment.
Aga Mortlock:So you should really be scrutinized and check those people if that's
Aga Mortlock:your right people, because, you know, you can spend all that money
Aga Mortlock:and still not be happy about that.
Aga Mortlock:And that's not really great way, you know, to go about it.
Aga Mortlock:So check them out on the social media, see if you like what they do.
Aga Mortlock:And definitely.
Aga Mortlock:Talk to them in person over the zoom because you need to get the vibe if they
Aga Mortlock:if they can make you feel comfortable That's you're not you're not winner.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, it's very important like you say you do feel a
Rachael Botfield:bit vulnerable when you're having your photograph taken especially if you if you
Rachael Botfield:already have if you have those feelings that You know, we were just talking
Rachael Botfield:about of that you, you know, conscious of the way that you look, or you're
Rachael Botfield:not sure how the photo is going to come out, having somebody that makes you feel
Rachael Botfield:at ease and like you say, is able to bring out your brand and bring out your
Rachael Botfield:personality is really, really important.
Rachael Botfield:And like you say, it is an investment and it's an important investment, um,
Rachael Botfield:but something that you want to kind of take your time and figure out the
Rachael Botfield:right person to be able to help you.
Aga Mortlock:Only one thing I would say, and it's funny things
Aga Mortlock:what I'm going to say, but I would say never shop by the price, uh,
Aga Mortlock:when it comes to brand photography.
Aga Mortlock:And I know they might say, Oh, because you charge that and
Aga Mortlock:all the people are cheaper.
Aga Mortlock:That's you're going to say it, but it's not about that.
Aga Mortlock:Cause I know people who sent, spent less amount of money in the brand
Aga Mortlock:photography because someone was cheaper, but they then ended up with
Aga Mortlock:spending still quite substantial amount of money on the pictures.
Aga Mortlock:They're not going to use.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:So what's more money down the drain?
Aga Mortlock:And it's like with everything, like buying some coat is going to fall apart.
Aga Mortlock:It's all apart on five minutes, you know, or you just wearing it.
Aga Mortlock:And after first wash, it just looks awful, right?
Aga Mortlock:Sometimes you really need to know that not going for the cheaper option,
Aga Mortlock:because you don't, that's why I don't have prices on my website, because.
Aga Mortlock:I don't want people to compare my price to someone else because they
Aga Mortlock:should choose me because they, they kind of gauge with my personality
Aga Mortlock:and they know that I can deliver what they want because I'm listening what
Aga Mortlock:they want because I'm not minimalizing the issues they've got in their head.
Aga Mortlock:If they're going to tell you, I don't like my ear.
Aga Mortlock:I don't like my nose.
Aga Mortlock:They call my lips.
Aga Mortlock:I'm going to try to avoid those things.
Aga Mortlock:You know, I'm not making emphasis on that because I know everybody's got
Aga Mortlock:their own, their own insecurities.
Aga Mortlock:So you need it.
Aga Mortlock:Pick that person who you think they're going to deliver, not who's the cheapest.
Aga Mortlock:But I think that applies to everything, isn't
Rachael Botfield:it?
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:Because it is, I know people have budget constraints and that's absolutely fine.
Rachael Botfield:But you're right that if you're going to go solely on price, you might end,
Rachael Botfield:you might not be happy with the end result and find the best person to help
Rachael Botfield:you with, you know, like I say, in this case it's, it's brand photography, but
Rachael Botfield:the same applies, I think, uh, to other.
Rachael Botfield:businesses and other people out there offering services.
Rachael Botfield:You need to, it's not just about the price.
Rachael Botfield:It's about whether you gel with that person as well.
Rachael Botfield:Thank you so much for sharing all that information.
Rachael Botfield:And I hope everyone has a better understanding of how getting some
Rachael Botfield:great brand photography can really help your brand and your podcast.
Rachael Botfield:I would love just to end with you letting us know about how you could help us.
Rachael Botfield:I noticed on your website that you have a brand clarity call as well
Rachael Botfield:as offering the brand photo shoot.
Rachael Botfield:I'd just love to know a little bit more about that.
Aga Mortlock:So, yeah, it's, it's really good a way when you still
Aga Mortlock:maybe starting your business or different parts, you know, of your,
Aga Mortlock:of your brand and don't know how to put those new things within your
Aga Mortlock:existing, uh, brand, or if you starting something new, fresh from a start.
Aga Mortlock:And I really believe I, I always expect that.
Aga Mortlock:Explain that as a, as a kind of always compare it to having your
Aga Mortlock:SatNav and you having your postcode.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:And the clarity always going to give you that little postcode, the aim,
Aga Mortlock:what you, what, where you want to get.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:So during the brand clarity, basically what we do, we just gauging of where
Aga Mortlock:you want to go, who you want to talk to, figure out what kind of message
Aga Mortlock:would work with your audience.
Aga Mortlock:And also I would do like a little audit of your social media and your online presence
Aga Mortlock:to figure out what you're doing, right.
Aga Mortlock:And what can be tweaked to get the right message.
Aga Mortlock:So it's, it's a little bit kind of overhaul of what you're doing already
Aga Mortlock:and where we're going to go from here.
Aga Mortlock:Or if you start planning the new venture from scratch, how we can get the right
Aga Mortlock:message in front of the right audience.
Aga Mortlock:So we very, uh, so we scrutinize your ideal client.
Aga Mortlock:You know, we're talking who you want to appear, what you want your branch
Aga Mortlock:to evoke, what feelings, what emotions.
Aga Mortlock:And what's the core message you want to project and based on that,
Aga Mortlock:we can go further, but without knowing who you're talking to and
Aga Mortlock:why you're talking to those people.
Aga Mortlock:You're gonna get confused.
Aga Mortlock:And people don't buy from confused people.
Aga Mortlock:So it's really good to have that clarity.
Aga Mortlock:Go to the business with the clarity.
Aga Mortlock:Who are you talking to?
Aga Mortlock:Why are you talking to those people?
Aga Mortlock:And how you want to present and project that message.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, 100 percent it is.
Rachael Botfield:If you don't know who you're talking to, you're, you're in trouble.
Rachael Botfield:Basically, the first thing you're doing.
Rachael Botfield:I mean, I say with people that start a podcast as well, you know, you're
Rachael Botfield:thinking about your ideal listener.
Rachael Botfield:And here in this case, you know, we're starting podcasts For our business.
Rachael Botfield:So, you know, it's for your ideal client, but if you are unsure about who your
Rachael Botfield:ideal client is, when you're trying to bring up and develop your podcast,
Rachael Botfield:you're going to also run into that kind of problems as well, if you don't know.
Rachael Botfield:And it's something, I mean, I, I do review my ideal client, um,
Rachael Botfield:every six months, I would say.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:It's so important to re refresh and refocus because sometimes
Rachael Botfield:you can feel self drifting.
Rachael Botfield:And I felt that with this podcast, um, When I first started, you know, I had all
Rachael Botfield:these things and when I ran out of the, well not ran out of the ideas, when I had
Rachael Botfield:the, I finished what I planned, you know, I always make sure when I'm doing a new
Rachael Botfield:season, am I delivering what I want to deliver to these people to make sure that
Rachael Botfield:I can bring it back to, to that important question is, you know, You know, who
Rachael Botfield:are these people and what do they want?
Rachael Botfield:How, what help do they need?
Rachael Botfield:Um, so yeah.
Rachael Botfield:Um, that sounds like a really valuable service, Agha.
Rachael Botfield:I really like to think so.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah.
Rachael Botfield:It's important because sometimes it is hard.
Rachael Botfield:Sometimes it's nice to have it from another perspective as well.
Rachael Botfield:It's the outsider look, right?
Aga Mortlock:It's the outsider look.
Aga Mortlock:And it's hard to see how our brands, how people percept our own brands.
Aga Mortlock:If you're not outside decks, cause you know, you get muddled up in your own head.
Aga Mortlock:So it's really good to have that fresh set of eyes on your brand or, you know, how
Aga Mortlock:you can promote that brand successfully.
Aga Mortlock:And just like you said, Rachel, it's, it's, you know, we don't
Aga Mortlock:have to speak to everybody.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:And we, we, we won't be able to speak to everybody.
Aga Mortlock:and serve everybody in this world.
Aga Mortlock:It's why it's really important to set yourself that little target.
Aga Mortlock:And also, I would flip it all the way around.
Aga Mortlock:It's not about who you can serve, but who you enjoy serving.
Aga Mortlock:I always said to my people, What do you like to do in your business?
Aga Mortlock:Cause you've got hundreds of different services.
Aga Mortlock:What you like to do, because I think if you promote those services, which
Aga Mortlock:makes you feel happier, you know, and more, you know, you know, that that's
Aga Mortlock:why you may be put on that world.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:And you might have different types of services, which you enjoy a little
Aga Mortlock:bit less, or you're still doing it because someone else is doing.
Aga Mortlock:I always says, just promote those things which you enjoy doing because your
Aga Mortlock:passion and your confidence and your enjoy for the business going to show up.
Aga Mortlock:differently than doing those things you think you're supposed
Aga Mortlock:to be doing or those people need.
Aga Mortlock:Okay.
Aga Mortlock:Um, I really believe that always flip it to yourself.
Aga Mortlock:Do what makes your heart sing.
Aga Mortlock:Don't try to please everybody.
Aga Mortlock:Don't try to talk to everybody.
Aga Mortlock:Be a little bit narrow minded because when you fulfill your energy, if your energy
Aga Mortlock:is there and you're happy about it, you're not going to get this energy depleted.
Aga Mortlock:And you know, we have got, we hear all the time about burnout and stuff like
Aga Mortlock:that because people do those things, so many things, they maybe don't feel
Aga Mortlock:like they should be doing or they feel they're hard, you know, so I would say
Aga Mortlock:do what you're happy with and serve those people who you're happy to serve,
Aga Mortlock:not what you think you should be serving or who's got the money, you know.
Rachael Botfield:Yeah, I love that.
Rachael Botfield:I think that is a great place to finish on, serving people by doing
Rachael Botfield:what you love and then your passion and authenticity will shine through.
Rachael Botfield:Yay!
Rachael Botfield:That's fantastic.
Rachael Botfield:Thank you so much for coming on today.
Rachael Botfield:Um, I will put all of Aga's links into the show notes where you can find her website.
Rachael Botfield:Follow her on Instagram and get to know her a little bit better.
Rachael Botfield:I'm sure she'd love to hear from you all.
Rachael Botfield:I would love that.
Rachael Botfield:If you have any , if you have any questions or, or take a
Rachael Botfield:look at her awesome photos.
Rachael Botfield:Um, thank you so much and we will see everybody soon.
Rachael Botfield:Thanks for listening to the show.
Rachael Botfield:If you'd like to connect with me, I'll get in touch then head on over to my website.
Rachael Botfield:If you like the episode, then I'd love it if you could leave me a
Rachael Botfield:review in your chosen podcast app.
Rachael Botfield:Your feedback is much appreciated.
Rachael Botfield:See you next time.