336 | iPhone Brand Photos That Actually Convert Browsers Into Buyers

You've spent time (and maybe money) on brand photos and they're just... sitting there. Not bringing in clients. Not converting. Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm walking you through my 3-step iPhone system so your photos actually work for your marketing.

Topics covered:

• Why iPhone photos sometimes outperform expensive professional shoots
• The mindset shift from "pretty photos" to "converting photos"
• How to set up every shot for conversion, not just aesthetics
• The iPhone camera settings that create a professional look
• Why planning for use BEFORE you shoot changes everything
• Where to place text space and how to think about vertical vs. horizontal orientation
• How Jen's brand photography sessions are built around visual strategy, not just a pretty gallery

ALL LINKS MENTIONED: https://jenvazquez.com/iphone-brand-photography/

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

You don't need an expensive photo shoot to get brand photos that convert. Here's my simple three-step system. But first, hi, my name is Jen Vasquez, brand photographer and Pinterest strategist. People will tell me sometimes that they can't afford professional photos. But here's the truth it's not about the camera, it's about understanding what makes photos convert. Welcome back to Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast, where we help female entrepreneurs go from marketing overwhelm to an easy streamlined strategy and system that includes Pinterest and repurposing content to grow their businesses when they have very little time. I'm your host, Jen Vasquez. Let's jump right into it. I have seen iPhone photos actually outperform professional shoots because they followed the right strategy. And I'm gonna be showing you my exact three-step system for taking brand photos with your iPhone that actually turn browsers into buyers. But first, here's the mindset shift that changes everything about DIY brand photography. The secret is not better equipment, it's photographing with purpose. Most people take pretty photos and wonder why they don't convert in their marketing. Converting photos solve problems and shows transformation. Here's my three-step iPhone system. And step three is a game changer that most photographers don't even think about. Step one, conversion setup. So for step one, set up for conversion, not just aesthetics. Three elements that every converting photo needs. Professional look that builds trust, context that shows your experience, and space for text overlay. If you are a business coach, don't just take a headshot. Take a photo of you at your laptop with a clean background, shows professionalism, context, and gives space for quote overlays. Conversion beats perfection every single time. If you want my complete brand photo shot list, plus 25 and more other free resources for your marketing and for Pinterest, basically for growing your visibility. Link is in the description and it also includes my iPhone photo checklist. Step number two, master your iPhone camera settings. Three technical musts: portrait mode for that professional blur, window light, never overhead lighting, or you're gonna get those dark craters underneath your eyes, and vertical orientation for social media and for Pinterest. Here's the setup. Stand three feet from the window. You don't wanna be right next to the window because the bright light is gonna be washing you out. But if you're three feet from the window, your skin, it's like a beauty light. It is the best light that you can get. Switch to portrait mode, tap the focus on their eye, and that's it. Window light plus portrait mode beats expensive studio lighting. One caveat: when you're in portrait mode, it can blur really easily. So make sure if you're having your friend or your husband or your kids, because my kids have taken many a photo of me for marketing, let me just be honest. But you want to have when someone's taking the photo of you and they tap on the phone to focus on their eye, the person you in the photo don't move. So if you're typing, just pretend like you're typing. If you're smiling, then just smile. You don't want to move all over the place because then it's gonna get kind of blurry. The other thing I will say in this situation is to take four to five at least images. And the reason why I say that is because sometimes when you're photographing, it'll be kind of it may get blurry because you're clicking and clicking and clicking when it's like moving. If you have a stand, a cell phone stand, absolutely do that. I'm gonna go ahead and insert the stand that I love here, and there'll be a link down below to purchase it. It is super affordable, but it sticks right to the back of your camera. It's insanely good. And here's step three: the game changer. Plan for use first, then photograph. Most people take photos and then figure out how to use them after. That's backwards. Before you pick up your iPhone, asked, where is this image gonna go? Have a place for it because that will really tell you how to take that photo. Pinterest pins need vertical photos with text space. And an Instagram stories and real covers are also in portrait. Website headers need to be horizontal and make sure that you shoot with purpose, not just for pretty. One focused shoot beats a hundred random photos. This system works because it's built around conversion, not perfection. When you shoot with purpose or photograph with purpose and follow these three steps, your iPhone photos will outperform expensive shoots that missed the marketing strategy piece. This systematic approach is what I bring to my brand photography sessions. We don't just take pretty photos, we actually spend a tremendous amount of time on understanding and learning your ideal client, where you're wanting to grow your business, and then we create the plan of taking those photos so that when you're done with your session and you get that gallery delivered to you, every photo has a place. Most of my clients can use these photos for around six months, some even a year, because we create a complete visual strategy that works across all of your marketing platforms. Every photo has a purpose. If you want brand photography photos that are strategically planned for all of your marketing needs, brand photography session details are in the description. Now, next week, I am going to be announcing something big for July that's going to change how you think about community-driven marketing. If you want to be a part of something special, hit that subscribe button and that bell so that you're notified every time I publish a new video right away. What is your biggest brand photo struggle? I want to hear it below. Taking photos, like being in front of the camera or knowing how to use them, drop taking below or using in the comments, and I will give you my best tip for whichever one you choose. I'll see you next week.