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Hi, !
I'm excited to share my November business and life updates email! Grab a cup of coffee, settle in and enjoy!
Lots has been happening at Soul Stirring Branding HQ (Aka our house)! My in-laws came all the way from India last week and they'll be staying with us for 1.5 months. While I know the prospect of living with your in-laws could be some people's worst nightmare, it's actually been a really lovely experience so far for us.
Honestly, it's been so nice having someone to take care of me/us. As mothers I feel like we are always the carers never the cared for and it's exhausting. Without any family here in Sydney, and especially having babies during Covid lockdowns felt really isolating and sad that we couldn't have anyone to enjoy the experience with.
They got to meet the boys for the first time which was really lovely and my mother-in-law insists on cooking all our meals which has been amazing having so much yummy Indian food. Of course, the boys are such fussy eaters that the only part they'll eat is plain rice. 🍚 😂
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Why I temporarily ditched social media to create more space to focus on my health |
You may have noticed I've been a bit quiet on social media the last few months.
Trying to keep pace with posting 4x a week was getting me really fatigued, so I decided to take a bit of a break. I really wanted to create space instead to focus on my health coming into 2024. I decided a few months back - what's the point in running this business where I have this freedom and flexibility with my schedule if I'm not actually exercising it.
Because the cost of daycare is so high (almost as much as our mortgage), somewhere along the way I had convinced myself that I needed to squeeze out every minute of available work time or I'd be wasting the money we were spending so that I could work. I have been feeling so much better since I decided to put my health first. And now that I'm settled into a good routine, you should be seeing lots more from me online!
I'm even launching the Soul Stirring Branding podcast in January of 2024 and I can't wait for you to hear it!!
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Planning a photoshoot? Me too! Here are my tips. |
I've been having a ball planning my next photoshoot. It will happen on the 14th of December (as long as we get good weather 🤞).
That's the only pitfall of an outdoor photoshoot. Last year I had a photoshoot rescheduled twice due to bad weather! This time around, I'm doing a photoshoot at sunset by a lake, which is a bit different to my past approaches, which has been to do an indoor, more clean and luxe look (Like the images above!). I'm feeling the pull with my own brand to adopt a more earthy, natural and deeper look.
I feel like every designer out there has this super slick, minimal, hired all white space for their photoshoots. It's important to think about creating a point of difference with your overall brand, which includes your shoot!
When everyone else does their photoshoots a certain way it can definitely be tempting to think that you should do the same and not deviate from the script.
But you've got to remember that looking like everyone else (even if it's trendy and beautiful) probably won't help you stand out and it's especially important to follow your intuition on what feels like it's in alignment for you and your ideal client.
I can't wait to share the results!! I bought the most gorgeous picnic blanket in my brand
colours which I'm looking forward to incorporate and set up a little picnic scene by the lake. I also found a bunch of gorgeous second hand picnic baskets for only $15 off Facebook Marketplace!
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One of the things I do for all my clients and teach students to do in Aligned & Embodied is a photoshoot plan.
Why bother?
Well, winging it on the day could work if you have a photographer that gets you and there is certainly a place for spontaneity on the day, however, I'm a firm believer that a bit of planning goes a long way.
Photo shoots are one of those things where you can't redo them (unless you pay all over again), so there is a lot of pressure to get it right on the day. Having a plan makes you feel calmer and less frantic on the day as well as getting the key shots you actually want and not forgetting anything.
If you're scared/nervous to do a photoshoot, having your photoshoot plan in your back pocket is in my opinion a must have to give you more confidence and clarity. Most photographers also find
them super helpful in understanding your vision!
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Here are some tips on how to put together a photoshoot plan.
I recommend creating a landscape document in Canva as your base, then you can drop in images and text to map out what you want your shoot to look like.
I start every plan by defining what is the intention of the photoshoot. What feeling do you want to create? What's the energy you want to express? What kind of visual tone do you want to create? Should it be light and airy, earthy and muted or dark and moody?
Next, you want to create a big picture summary of the key groupings of shots you're after. What are the important shot themes you want to make sure are ticked off your list and you don't forget? For example: 1. With laptop sitting on the floor next to coffee table 2. With coffee cup on the lounge, 3. Hand shots holding flowers and throwing flowers in the air 4. Mock client shots showcasing my energy I bring to coaching 5. Frolicking at the beach 6. On the picnic rug in the park writing in my journal 7. Close up flat lay shots
with candles, crystals, journal, ornaments. etc... Start with just a general summary and then you can flesh each idea out.
If you're not sure on your categories, start finding inspirational images and then start sorting them into categories until your themes appear.
Next, you'll want to look for inspirational images which fit your themes/key overarching shot ideas. That way you can think about what angles/poses will look good, get ideas for props, and give your photographer a sense of what you're looking at for each shot.
Note sure how to find inspirational images? My go-to spot is PINTEREST. You can simply search "Brand Photoshoot" or "Personal branding photoshoot" or if you know more specifically your location you can also try that such as "Branding Beach
Photoshoot" or "Picnic Photoshoot" or even try with industry such as "Graphic Designer Photoshoot", "Coach Photoshoot", "Healer Photoshoot". Beware of the Pinterest rabbit hole. Once you start it's hard to get out because you'll be having so much fun!
You'll also want to create a final prop list of everything you need to bring to your shoot so you don't forget anything. Easier to do if you're shooting at home, but otherwise bring a big washing basket or box or something to carry everything to your location! Make sure you KNOW your brand colours at this point, as you'll want to align your props and clothing to those colours for consistency.
And you'll also need to know your outfits. Don't try and work it all out the night before! As you might need to go shopping or order things online which will take time to ship. Your photographer will probably recommend how many outfit changes you can fit in the timeframe of your shoot (or even have packages based on the amount of outfit changes allowed). I recommend trying everything on and taking selfies in the mirror so you get a sense of how things photograph. Look back at all the photos and decide which outfits out of the
options feel most aligned to your energy and also your brand colours.
I hope that helps you start planning out your next shoot!
If you want even more guidance, join Aligned & Embodied in February 2024 and plan out your shoot (as well as your whole brand) with a group of other soulful women so you don't feel like you're doing it on your own and you can get my expert eye to provide in-depth feedback and recommendations.
You can join the waitlist here!
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Recent Client Work & Feedback |
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“The branding package is not just gold standard, it's platinum standard! I was overwhelmed with happiness when I first saw the visual branding and shed a tear.After muddling through the hobby stage doing everything myself with my other business over a long period, I knew I wanted to invest in my personal brand straight up this time and get the messaging and branding right straight off the bat.
I was surprised at the depth Emma went into with everything. It was empowering to actually own my unique personality and reflect that in the branding. Emma’s been so easy to work with and I was really impressed with the way the process flows, with clear expectations of both parties' responsibilities.
Now, I feel proud to put the business out into the world, knowing that the branding is a true reflection of me and will attract my ideal clients. Emma’s process is well worth the investment! I’d have no hesitation in recommending Emma to anyone. It is a real deep dive into what makes your brand unique.”
Merelle Frencham
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Website launching soon!
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“Working with Emma was an absolute delight! The branding she created for me was nothing short of genius.My old branding felt too traditional and mainstream. It wasn’t really me anymore. The original design was somewhat safe and no longer captured the essence of who I am now. I was craving branding that vibed with my energy and personality—something that showed off my uniqueness to the world.
I’ll admit, I was nervous about splurging on myself and my business. It felt like a lot of money but I knew I wanted to make an investment in my personal and professional growth. After all, treating ourselves can fuel the creativity and motivation to keep moving forward as a lightworker in this world. But, there was a lingering concern that the branding might not quite hit the mark. The fear of it falling flat was real, but the reward of taking the leap and trusting Emma and her team was a risk worth taking. I couldn’t be more pleased with my branding and website. It truly reflects who I am and my work.
Emma has a remarkable ability to capture the essence of a brand and turn it into something extraordinary. The first time I saw my branding I was blown away! I felt seen and understood and she was able to translate it in a way that she could show potential clients who I am and what I’m about through my new branding. I couldn't be happier with the results, and I wholeheartedly recommend Emma for her exceptional skills and delightful collaboration.
Michele Sammons
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View Michele's website here.
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Thank you for being part of my little community!
If you know anyone that is in the process of their branding journey and needs inspiration, please feel free to forward this
email along! |
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