Creative Corporate Headshots for Kayleigh Lloyd, Graphic Designer
Graphic designer Kayleigh Lloyd kindly agreed to be in my recent promo video shot by the lovely Lene from Moments to Media. Here’s a little behind the scenes video at the day’s shoot along with an interview with Kayleigh about how great graphic design combined with photography can truly transform your business!
Hi Kayleigh! You are one of my fave graphic designers! Please tell us about you, your style of work and who you love working with?
Hey! I'm a brand designer for ambitious and colourful female founders, I love creating high energy brands filled with personality. The women I love to work with are filled with passion and purpose who understand the power of a strong, aligned visual identity and the confidence it can bring.
Why is having a professional graphic designer so important?
A professional graphic designer will not only allow you to create consistent and effective marketing materials, but they will help show off your uniqueness and set you apart from everyone else. I create fully layered brands which go far beyond a logo and truly show off the personality and passion of my clients - you don't get this from Canva stock images.
How do photos help when you're working on a brand identity?
Photos add the human element to a brand, this is a key part to any business as people buy from people. Showing up and looking confident is the best way to attract your audience, making sure the photography reflects your brand colours will strengthen the consistency and therefore the recognition of your brand. If I don't have photography when I'm creating a brand it certainly feels like there's a piece missing, and no matter how many illustrations or patterns I create nothing can add that personal touch like a photo of the person behind the brand.
What is the timeline between working with a graphic designer and booking in a photographer? What are the ideal stages of the process?
When I book in a client, if I know they want to have their photos done with you I make sure it's about 3 weeks from when I start - the full brand may not be completed, but the decision on brand colours can be decided at least.
Can you show some examples of projects we've worked on together? How did we work well together?
We are the dream team! Some great examples of us working with the same clients include - Executive Coach Kelly Swingler and Frankie de Barr from Nice Bundts. And we have more upcoming which is really exciting!
As soon as my clients have an idea of colour direction I make sure to keep you in the loop - I know you're always on the look out for new props, or accessories and I like to make sure you have as much time as possible to plan your shoots. Before they have their shoot I send you up to date brand guidelines, this helps you get a visual representation of their brand, it's character and the feel of the company. With this in mind you can make sure that the photography aligns and elevates the brand to it's full.
How did you feel before your own shoot? Did you have any anxieties?
I don't know if I'll ever get used to having my photo taken. I'm very self conscious of the way I look and I never liked seeing myself in photos. Since having my photos from you I've gained more confidence, and the reaction I've had from putting these photos on my website and social media has been HUGE! People instantly recognise my photos and link me to my brand straight away, not only that but I've had so many compliments about how great they look and what a friendly and approachable vibe they get from them.
What was the experience like? Did you overcome these worries?
The experience with you was incredible, I felt so pampered! I've never had my make-up done professionally, and it really helped me gain the confidence I needed to stand in front of the camera. Once I was there, any further hesitation was soon gone as the fun atmosphere, and guidance from you helped me overcome my awkwardness. It was a day I could really focus on me, my company and take that moment to feel proud of what I was accomplishing.
For your own shoot, how will you use these photos?
These photos will be used across my website and social media mainly - but they are also handy to have in my back pocket, incase I ever need to send them to someone to use in an article, or blog post - instead of taking a last minute selfie, that never works out well, or looks very professional!
Any tips for other women in business who are thinking they need to rebrand but don't know where to begin?
Brands should always be evolving and you should feel comfortable and confident in what you are putting out there. If you're recognising that your company's identity doesn't reflect you or align with your vision then it's time to rebrand. The best way to do this is to explore - look at all the designers and brand photographers out there, we all have different styles and you'll soon get a good feel for what you think would be the right fit for you. Book a discovery call and make sure that you connect with that person, they should fill you with inspiration and get you excited about the possibilities that your brand could take you.
I highly recommend Kayleigh - she is an amazing graphic designer so do check out her work over at https://lloyd-creative.co.uk/ and you can follow her on instagram here!
