I’ve known Jasper for around a decade now, stemming back to our coffee industry days. They’ve morphed from a barista and manager to an abstract painter, taking cues from their joy and pain as a trans person in today’s US political climate.
I wanted to do this personal branding shoot to see what it was like to document someone’s creative, artistic process in a way that didn’t interrupt them. As a creative person, you often get into that flow state where you sink into your craft and block everything else out. Everyone has their own way of doing things, and a personal branding photo session should highlight how you stand out from your peers.
In their San Francisco art studio
I spent a couple of hours in Jasper’s high-ceilinged San Francisco studio, lit by a skylight, and surrounded by color. Before this, we had already discussed what they wanted the photos to be like and how they would be used. I had a loose shoot schedule, a moodboard, and a shot list. We knew that they were going to create a painting from a blank canvas and that there would be other semi or finished works to use as props.
For the most part, I watched Jasper work and captured photos from various angles, while also experimenting with light and scale. The new painting was going on a very large canvas, and with the dramatic ceiling, it made for a great comparison. Scattered around the studio were also tools of the trade, color wheels pinned up on the walls, and little notes of inspiration.
Branding photos are more than good photos of you
When people think about a branding photoshoot, I think many lock in on this idea that they need to be in the photo somehow, always. And that’s just not true.
Branding is more than you and your work. It’s also about how you do it, where you execute, the process of generating ideas, and imagery that represent you/your brand. A set of images together tells a story of how you create your final works. Or as a service provider, how you work with your clients.
Creating on-brand custom stock photos requires strategic thinking and planning. I go into every personal branding shoot with a shoot plan in place, but with enough room to breathe, relax, and incorporate spontaneous photos.
How hiring a brand photographer like me can help you showcase your art and process
I played around with a slow shutter speed, trying to capture the big movements made while paint was being splattered. After painting, Jasper changed outfits, and we moved into the portraiture part of the session. We left this to the end because these clothes needed to remain relatively clean. Usually, I insert the environmental portraits between outfit changes so we can capture a wide variety of outfits.
San Francisco has a long history of supporting artists, but unfortunately, many have been priced out due to the high living costs. I think it’s incredibly important to support those in the arts. You can support Jasper’s art through their website here.
Brand Photos put into action on the artist's website
