On this episode of On Cam ready, how to show up online and cross
social media so you appear as an expert that the pressed can't
resist. I'm Jamie Maglietta.
We're talking with a branding photographer, Carly Storm.
We're going to get to her in a second.
You know, this bonus episode is a little bit more casual.
I really wanted to just talk to Carly about how to help you show
up as your best self online. So we're going to get to that.
We're also, I'm going to talk about how you can make the most
of your photo shoots and your video shoots that you pay for
that you're like, I really want to use this, but I now need to
know how to use this right? So we'll talk to Carly just
about how to maximize your investment when you are getting
a photo shoot or having some videos done for your business.
Just a reminder, you know, I have a a newsletter and so I'm
going to focus a lot of this conversation with in my
newsletter. It's called On Cam Ready.
It's resources for you to help you look your best at the weekly
newsletter. You can get that right now on
Sub Stack. Eventually it will be on my
website on camready.com so do check it out.
In addition to this podcast and this YouTube video show, I
really do focus on helping you shine online.
So with my newsletter and also these conversations I'm looking
to elevate you. If you have ideas please reach
out. E-mail me Jamie at on Cam Ready
dot com. I also am Offspring Services, so
if you need content creation strategies or production media
training, you know who to go to come to on Cam ready.
And now let's get to our guests. We are talking to Carly Storm.
She is a branding photographer. Carly joining us from Bloomberg
New Jersey. My old stomp and ground.
How are you, Carly? Hey, nice to see you.
This is an honor to be on here. Thank you.
So why don't you tell us a little bit more about Carly
Storm branding and I think you it's called Carly Storm Branding
Co, right. So tell us more about what you
offer and who you. Are so I'm a brand photographer,
meaning I specialize in photo and I also do video for mostly
small businesses, preferably female and usually service
based. And I love to get to know a
business, mostly a person, the owner, in order to have they
have them have authentic photos of themselves so they can show
up online and tell their stories.
Yeah, and it's all about their story.
It seems like you're saying you want to get to know them, so is
that what? Is that what you're trying to
get at? Like you're telling their story
through visuals 1. 100% like my number one goal is for someone
to walk away. First of all, saying they had a
great time. Like I'll get notes like that
was the best day ever. And even if they haven't seen
their pictures yet, but I really need to befriend my clients and
get them comfortable and really have their own personality shine
and feel comfortable. And whatever their personality
is, some people are more serious and people are more serious or
silly, and I want to make sure that that's really authentic in
their photos. And then when they put them on
their social media, on their website, their marketing
materials, someone falls in love with them and it really reflects
how it is to work with the people that I'm working with.
And and we don't need to get into this aspect of it, but on
Cam ready as I mentioned in the intro, I really do try to help
people leverage their expertise online so that they can attract
the press organically, right. You know it's all about showing
up on social providing value and and also tapping into the trends
as well as whatever the news is discussing right to to really
step into the media ecosystem and have producers or
journalists find you as a as a potential source.
So in this conversation I really want to help you all focus on
how to look your best when you are having those photo shoots
done or or working with Carly on a video of your business, right.
Like you really want to make sure that you're getting the
most out of it. So I love what you do in New
Jersey, how you have everything all inclusive for people that
come through. Why don't you tell us a little
bit more about those type of services you offer, just so
everyone knows off the top. Yeah, so I have a unique
offering. I have a photo studio, I've
named it the Headshot and Brand bar, and most of my clients
lately have been using this space.
It's 1700 square feet, so I can adapt it to everyone's needs.
And often I like to have photos taken in someone's own space,
but sometimes their space isn't ready, pretty, have good light,
all the things. I've had a wave of lawyers for
example, and recently they wanted to make sure they look
more approachable, which is my, like, I love.
It's an intimidating industry, but really they're humans and
and you're going through something hard probably if you
need a lawyer and they're humans at the end of the day and they
want to showcase that. So instead of doing a photo
shoot at their probably fluorescence office with the
stacks of green and red books behind them, I'm showing them
off here with with good lighting and and in poses that'll make
them look more approachable because it's it's authentic to
them. Yeah.
And and I like that you're bringing up the approachability,
you know, because that's something that we, we tend to
focus on with some of our, you know, television experts where
they're saying, you know, if you want to attract the press, you
need to look approachable. You need to look like people
would get along with you because that's what is attractive to
guest bookers for television. They do want people who are
relatable. So I like that you're taking
that approach, especially with lawyers.
Recently I've been working with more real estate agents down
here in Atlanta and I find the same thing, like they want to be
approachable and that's also for sales and building client
relationships, right, as you're saying.
So when you're working with people, what are some of the
tips that you kind of share with them to help them better prepare
for their shoes? So this is my favorite question.
So I joke. I have a Japanese aunt who's
like my, my, the source of wisdom.
And she always says with an accent I'm not going to try to
replicate. Preparation brings happiness.
And it's so true because I now have figured out.
And whoever I hope whoever you hire as a brand photographer in
video, they make you feel so prepared that when you walk in
you're just like ready to go and excited versus like, oh, I
forgot this. I forgot this.
Oh my oh, you know I didn't do this.
Oh, I should have got my hair makeup done.
You know, you, if you hire somebody with experience, really
should have this whole ready to go, like hair, makeup team ready
to go, props ready to go, shot list ready to go.
And then all you have to do is show up and feel, feel good, and
then your authentic personality can shine through versus the hot
mess, unprepared version of yourself, which doesn't
photograph well, doesn't feel good.
You're not going to like your pictures.
You talked about something before and I feel like I wanted
to get my megaphone, which I have in the prop closet and yell
to everyone that will listen people when they're starting to
get publicity. I think everyone thinks that
they are going to get a photo, a photographer just like show up
their door and hair and makeup sent to their house to to
feature them. They don't.
You need the pictures before. Can I can I get my microphone?
So I laugh. I actually just recently hired A
publicist and and a lot of my clients were referring to her or
they're starting to get a publicist and Julianna and
having a stack of photos ready to go and your website looking
legit, not oh like, oh, we're about to get featured on this
podcast. Let's hurry up and get our
website ready or I don't have a photo.
Can like, somebody come over and take a quick picture of me?
You know it's not it's not the same thing.
So the same thing with that frazzled hot mess version of
yourself. Like if you sending somebody
over a media kit or often they'll send my gallery of
photos over to whoever is going to feature them.
Be like, here you go. Use one of these because they're
not going to come to your house with a photographer.
I've never heard of it. So I get like emergency photo
things. Like if if I have a photo to
them by tonight, I'll be featured in, you know, Forbes.
I'm like, should have thought of that, so.
Yeah, way in advance. And you know, there's a few
things that you brought up that I just want to highlight.
You know, she's saying if you get booked on a, you know,
television show or a podcast, like they're not really sending
hair and makeup either. So you have to have all your
look in advance prepped. And there's no better way to
determine your look than preparing for a photo shoot and
really seeing how you look in different colors, different
lighting and having that professional touch that does
help you establish your look. So you want to have that well in
advance before you are going to be putting yourself out there on
social, on line as a commentator or guest, 'cause you want to
have your look down. Another thing she mentioned that
I brought up before, but I want to make sure we, we really do
focus on is the shot sheet. So if you're someone who is
trying to do this on your own and you're like, OK, well, I
really don't have the, I can't invest in that right now.
I want to take my own photos or I want to do this on my own.
Like, yeah, you can, you know, you can try and and do
everything you can, but you want to make sure that they are of
quality to print quality for your website.
You need lighting, you need makeup, you need it all.
And it's really hard to do that alone, but you can do it and the
shot sheet is a great way to get yourself going.
A shot sheet is something like that's laying out all the
images, so all the images that you want to capture, right, or
the video clips. So would you mind Carly just
telling people more about the shot sheet?
Because I have had people ask me about that so many times, like
what's a shot sheet? Mm hmm.
So I can I take it back a step to see how we get to the shot
list that I made here. So normally if you're working
with a brand photographer, you should have a great combo and
make sure you like each other. You have a million other brand
photographers around. Make sure you're vibing and and
you feel like it's going to be captured.
Otherwise, like not not a good fit from there, personally, I
take people down a journey. I like to see what kind of vibe
I think that I am seeing and then kind of feed it back and
hear like 5 words and and the energy that you want to portray
and see if I think it's like the same thing, 'cause it's all of a
sudden you're like, oh, I'm super silly and you're, you
know, you haven't smiled one time on our our car, whatever,
for example, like want to see if it's if it's making sense.
So it's really important to me to make sure I understand what
the business is, who you're talking to, what your goals are
because like let's say you're a 30 year old woman that's working
with geriatric people at a nursing home would be different
than a 40 year old. I don't know, lawyer that's
working with divorces. Like it's a different it's
you're like you're a different person in this scenario and
you're energy is different. Your ideal client is different.
So there are ways like we're not going to wear we're not going to
use you know a disco ball and and high heels possibly if we
were working in a nursing home unless for some reason that's
your vibe. But it doesn't feel like it.
It works it it to me, it has to feel like it's authentic.
And at the end of the day, I want everyone to feel like they
their website is a reflection of themselves.
So when they meet you and they show you like, oh, I felt like I
already knew you because I saw your pictures and it's like
completely on brand. So my goal and like my favorite
thing is one I said, like everyone leave and be like that
was so fun. And then say like, you really
captured my personality and like, I don't care if you look
pretty online. I don't care if you're like hair
is flawless. I want people to make money.
I don't want, you know, I mean it's it's that's the whole point
of this. And I kind of like personally
have divided my website photos and and I recommend people's
website photos to be professional especially video.
And then content is is a different ball game.
You know if you're posting something or a promotion on ad
really it could be made by yourself.
I feel like who who can get a professional photo shoot all the
time. I mean I feel like a bit, you
know I have a big big budget but at the end of the day people
also want to know you, right. So if you have in between photos
of you know, B roll of you just working or just, I don't know,
going to take your dog for a walk or whatever you want to
post about, people will also connect you with that.
But at the end of the day, when they go onto your website, I
want to see like a clean, professional, you know, online
storefront that feels professional.
Because at the end of the day, if you have more professional
photos on your website, you look more credible.
It looks more legit. It looks like you have more
experience, even though it might not be true, but that's that's
what people are seeing when they open up your storefront.
Yeah. And when you're, when you're,
you know, looking on social media, just for example, let's,
let's see if there's some tips we can give people on the types
of images that you like to see when you're scrolling that you
try to capture, that maybe other people should consider, you
know, when they're trying to get their photos.
I think this could be like a great clip for when I do cut for
social so you know, whoever's listening, be sure to check out
my Instagram. I have one at on Cam ready and
I'm also at Jamie under score, the producer.
Carly, where are you at on Instagram so people can find
you? I'm Carly dot storm dot branding
Co and I also am Headshot brand bar for my studio that I rent
out and use for my own. Great.
So guys, check us out online. And Carly, you know, so why
don't you provide some tips, like what tips do you have for
people listening on What type of images seem to do well, Like
maybe get you stopping when you're scrolling.
Yeah, you can offer, yeah. So I feel like at the end of the
day, if somebody doesn't know you or they were referred to
you, they want to know what it's like to work with you.
So personally, I've gotten the most engagement with personal
things of my kids, which I don't take kid photos, but I just
connecting. I work with a lot of moms, not
only moms but other women. But it seems to get like the
most engagement and conversation going, especially if there's a
tone of motherhood in it. Because at the end of the day, I
personally started my own business because I want to be
flexible, to be able to pick up my kids and have time with them
or take away from them too. So that to me is important.
So that's something that I like to post about because that's a
connection point with other people.
And funny enough, I get more, more engagement when I have
behind the scenes footage of me working and taking pictures,
even if you never see the final image on my Instagram, which is
funny because it's just a cell phone behind, you know, And it's
just be a role of me working and maybe standing on something and
maybe being silly. Sometimes it like it's
authentic, right? So it's a little peak to see
what it is to work with me. I take my job seriously, but
like not too seriously. It's very fun.
And if that is somebody that somebody would want to work
with, like, that's important to you.
But if somebody else would be like, she's so annoying and I
want to work with her. That's the whole point of social
media. We're trying to take a little
glimpse, you know, like, and I hope that they went on here be
like Carly looks so annoying. Not into her and I never hear
from these people but what the the golden point is when someone
goes on my website, going on your website on our whatever
social media and they're like, you are the person that I want
to work with like obsess. You look so much fun because
that's that's authentic to me and that's what they're looking
for. Yeah.
And like, you know, using social media to really showcase who you
are is a great way. And then to her point, you know,
trying to make sure that you have those professional images
on your website. Yeah, of course, share them in
your feeds. But when you do, you want to
make sure that they're either in like a carousel or you're
offering some advice. You're not just selling, right.
I mean, yeah, that's just the way it is.
That's just, you know, we don't have to be social media experts
to know, like you really want to start leveraging your
personality online in addition to your expertise.
And she's even showing that by saying like when her, her
engagement's up on behind the scenes videos.
That's the same for me. If I'm offering tips on how to
produce or how to take photos or how to put together social media
reels, I get the most engagement on those too.
So it's it's that behind the scenes value that she's talking
about. So making sure that you have
videos being shot, even while you're getting your photos taken
is a good idea. Do you guys do that too?
Where when people are there having their photos taken, they
can also get some video done video shot?
I do. I don't recommend having my
video team film that. I think it's personally a waste
of budget. Normally I have, it's just
there's no need for. Me when it comes to money, yeah.
Yeah, just like let's set up a tripod or the phone in in the
corner and and start filming stuff.
So and I also have my assistant that will film.
But for me, I always say calling the pros when you're going to
send out a ad or some kind of blast and it really needs to
showcase like your business, fine-tuned and that's a whole
another beast. But just showing up on camera
and showing behind the scenes is a different thing than saying
like, oh you know, open for business or telling you about my
business. Blasting on a promoted shoot is
a different ad, so. Yeah, no, I get.
That that's how I differentiate those two.
Mm hmm. I think that's interesting
because I see a lot of people like they'll post all these
behind the scenes of them having their photos taken.
And I'm always like, fun. Yeah, it's fun.
It's fun, It's fun and it's annoying and I like, wanna gag
saying it, but people wanna hire people that are busy and doing
things. It's not just like I'm, you
know, I'm home waiting for, you know, for new business.
So if you're getting a photo shoot and going here and doing
this, you look busy and it's like, I hate saying it out loud,
but it's, it's true, you know, mm hmm.
So. And people also really at the
end of the day wanna feel connected to a story and to
other humans. So if you know people come in
and they'll tell me things that they remember seeing on my
Instagram about my kids or where I was travelling, I'm like, you
remember that? But we really remember stories.
Mm hmm. Remember Stories and Carly's
working on helping you with your brand and your story through
photos and videos, so definitely check out her website.
I'll make sure that there's a link to Carly has going on
below. Again, she's in New Jersey.
Carly, before we wrap up, I would love for you to give like
any other tips that you may have for people who are looking to
just take advantage or make the most of their shoes.
I always say that location, props, outfits are what tell the
story and also help give a bunch of variety.
Make sure you ask your photographer if she he, she is
going to get a like what you're going to get out of the photo
shoot. I personally deliver.
It's a very debatable topic in my industry, but I personally
deliver all the good photos in my shoot because I'm like just
use them. And I have people come back
because they knew that I banged out, you know, 100, they got 150
photos, whatever, whatever it is because they brought, you know,
a bunch of props or whatever they're working on.
Every brand is so different, but they really like most of my
clients are like in a middle budget.
So they can't maybe do a huge, you know, full day photo shoot
every three months, but they wanna have somebody that they
could depend on to to make them a lot of content to last last as
long as they can last. So yeah, I always say my studio
has a bunch of different backgrounds.
So if you are doing a photo shoot, make sure you know if I
keep taking photos of me in this very specific shirt, in this
very specific background, over and over and over again for a
year to year like, all right Carly, we're sick of looking at
this at this photo. Yeah, like a little variety.
Yeah, so change your shirt. Like if you have undershirt, add
a jacket at something. And then, you know, in my space
specifically, I have a ton of props and and furniture.
I'm constantly moving furniture. So it makes it look like even if
I took this shirt and you know posted it in a month and I'm
sitting in a different hot pink chair in my space, it would look
different. So make sure you're allowed to
change during your photo shoot. I don't care what people do.
I I usually say either three or 45 outfits just to have like to
narrow it down and a stylist helps pick out outfits to make
sure you feel on camera ready. But posing too, if we're all,
you know only taking pictures like the same way smiling same
way also looks very redundant. So make sure you're the person
you're working with. You know walks you through a
process and tells you how you can move your body, how you can
smile, look away, look here look down and and provide a variety
within the same scene that you're shooting.
That's AI think that would be a really good question to ask a
photographer like show me an example of like how many images
you got from from me sitting at this desk could you overhead
over here zoomed in onto my hands with a coffee cup behind
over. You know what I mean.
And then it doesn't look like the same picture you're using
over and over again, because at the end of the day we got to be
posting a few times a week, so. Yeah, it's.
Hard out of photos. It's exhausting.
So it's exhausting, Yeah. So guys, you know, make sure you
know this really quick. This conversation brings up my
previous chat that I had with Christy Hunter.
She's an influencer and photographer, actually saw her
in Nashville. She took some of my photos from
my website. I'll have to connect to
Bloomberg and see you because. Bloomfield.
Bloomfield, sorry I have to come out to Bloomfield and see you
because when I'm out there. But yeah, I met with Christy
Hunter in Nashville and it was wonderful.
We had a great time. Guys, listen to that
conversation if you're loving this before we do.
I know I said we were wrapping everybody.
I'm really sorry. But I had one point that I just
realized I didn't ask. Do you mind telling us why you
have a publicist like business owners are probably wondering?
Do I have a publicist? Yeah, what?
What brought you to that point in your career?
I was joking because it sounds very cool, like it does talks to
my publicist. So I'm at a point in my
business. I've been in business for seven
years. I'm like growing, growing,
growing, and then it's really fun.
So working with people, getting interviewed for cool podcasts
with cool people like you. It's like, it's fun.
It's new experiences. I don't know if we would have
found each other. I'm open to new possibilities.
A lot of my clients are starting to get published.
I get emails like, oh, your picture was just posted in the
forums or whatever. And it's like, I want, I want in
on this. It's really fun.
And I, I, I love having. I, I talk all about women.
I I work with guys too. But I love working with women.
I want women to, if they're starting their own business, for
it to be successful. And I want them to have the life
that they want. You know, like some people want
to work all the time, 100 hours a week, whatever for me.
And I feel like most people aren't attracting.
They want flexibility. They want a stable nice income
that they were able to leave their corporate job or leave
whatever they were doing and follow their dreams.
And to me, if they're able to, you know, if they need whatever
they need. Photos, video, anything,
Support. Friendship.
I I have a networking group too. Just to get their dreams
fulfilled is like the whole point of this.
Mm hmm. Mm hmm.
I hear you. I hear you.
So great. I love all this.
Well, I'm glad you did it. I think it's it did.
I mean we connected through her. So, I mean it's it is something
that can open many doors for you, especially if you're
feeling like that is where you're where you're at in your
career. And I think anybody who's
listening, if you're feeling the same way and you want more
publicity and you want to be in front of the press, it's not a
bad idea to start looking around for a publicist.
You just have to be ready. And some of the points that we
made in this conversation are are points that you need to
really check off, a good website, great photos, social
media strategy, things need to be in place.
So thank you again for joining us, Carly, and offering so much
great advice and I really appreciate having this
conversation. It was my honor.
Thank you Jamie and. Again, remember to check out the
description for links to all things that we've discussed and
on the next episode. I think I'm going to really
focus on YouTube over the next few episodes, talking to people
who have YouTube channels and what they're doing online.
So if you have ideas or you want to pitch yourself, remember
e-mail me jamie@oncamready.com. Bye guys.
See you online.