Investing in a personal brand shoot has so many benefits to your business. It will allow you to create a professional and consistent look across your website and social media. And help you to connect with your ideal client by showing them who you are, the face behind your business. You want authentic images that capture your personality and reflect your brand. But for neurodivergent business owners a brand shoot can be an incredibly daunting prospect, especially when you have experiences of feeling misunderstood because of your neurodiversity.
Maybe you’re worried about your needs being heard and accommodated, or your vision for the photos being understood and achieved. Perhaps you are worried about the planning and communication process, or if you will feel comfortable during the shoot, or if the final photos will feel authentic.
Add in RSD, sensory sensitivities, indecisiveness, different communication styles or or a mix of neurodivergent traits and it can get overwhelming. That’s why finding a photographer that you trust and makes you feel comfortable is so important.
In this blog I will cover how I help you feel safe and comfortable throughout the whole process.
Making you feel safe and comfortable during a personal brand photoshoot is my job
As a photographer it is my job to understand who you are, what you do and what you want from your photos. It’s also my job to make you feel comfortable, safe and relaxed, not just in front of the camera, but throughout the whole process. I can’t capture those photos that showcase your personality and tell your story if I don’t take the time to get to know you and what your needs are.
As a late diagnosed ADHDer I’ve had a lot of the concerns and worries that I outlined above, and it’s taken me a lot of time to feel more comfortable not just in front of the camera, but also with my my image. And to understand what I want my photos to say about me. So whether you have ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia or another (or multiple) neurodivergent traits, I want to make sure that I create an environment where your unique needs are met so that you get those authentic photos that reflect you and your business.
How do I make my personal brand photoshoots neurodiversity affirmative?
Here some of the main aspects that I consider when working with neurodivergent business owners:
1. Communication and Processing style
Transparent and clear communication can be helpful and varies from person to person, so it’s important to find out what this means for you. I always ask what method of communication my clients prefer. For some it’s zoom, for others it’s voice notes, email or WhatsApp messages – I’m flexible and happy to adjust to meet your needs.
2. Understanding sensory differences
It’s important that you feel comfortable on the day of the photoshoot. So I take time to understand what would help with this, what might make you feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed. So whether it’s related to clothing, lighting, noise or locations and environment I can plan with this in mind. I can’t bear clothes that are too high or tight around my neck (anyone else feel like their clothes are trying to throttle them?) so I make sure to wear something that not just makes me look good but that also feels good to me.
3. Collaboration process and planning
The planning process is vital for getting the right photos for you. I need to understand you, your business and your vision for the photos, as well as your needs and ways of expression as a neurodivergent business owner. And if your clients are also neurodivergent, then we also need to figure out what photos would appeal to them, considering that they might be different from neuronormative expectations, such as intense eye contact.
I find sharing a pinterest board for inspiration as part of the planning process is a great way to have a shared vision for the photos – and so do my clients. Here is what Alicja Nocon, an autistic coach, shared about her experience of co-creating a pinterest board during her brand shoot with me:
“ I thought it worked really well. It enabled me to literally see what the end-product might look like and made it easier to communicate what I wanted – and didn’t want!
read the blog about alicja’s shoot
I really wanted the photos to be aligned with my brand colours and brand values while also ensuring they appeal to my prospective autistic, ADHD and AuDHD coaching clients – together we were able to achieve that, thank you”
4. Location considerations
Thinking about what locations will work for the brief but also make you feel comfortable and relaxed during the shoot. For example, I often get overwhelmed and panicky in large crowds so I prefer a quieter space with less people and distractions.
5. Personal space and boundaries
Finding these out in advance will help me understand how I can make you feel more comfortable during the shoot. I will never ask you to do something that makes you uncomfortable and always check in to see if you are ok and happy with what we are doing, In particular I will always ask if you are comfortable with me adjusting your hair or clothing during the shoot. Also if I have an idea about a shot I think would work well I’ll explain my thinking behind it, and check you are happy to give it a try first.
Read my recent blog: Personal Brand Photography For Neurodivergent Business Owners – A case study with an autistic coach
If you have any questions or want to chat about a brand shoot and your specific needs please get in touch or find out more about me and my work by visiting my home page.
