336 | iPhone Brand Photos That Actually Convert Browsers Into Buyers

1 - > SPEAKER_00: You don't need an expensive photo shoot to get 2 - > brand photos that convert. 3 - > Here's my simple three-step system. 4 - > But first, hi, my name is Jen Vasquez, brand photographer and 5 - > Pinterest strategist. 6 - > People will tell me sometimes that they can't afford 7 - > professional photos.

8 - > But here's the truth it's not about the camera, it's about 9 - > understanding what makes photos convert. 10 - > Welcome back to Marketing Strategy Academy Podcast, where 11 - > we help female entrepreneurs go from marketing overwhelm to an 12 - > easy streamlined strategy and system that includes Pinterest 13 - > and repurposing content to grow their businesses when they have 14 - > very little time. 15 - > I'm your host, Jen Vasquez. 16 - > Let's jump right into it.

17 - > I have seen iPhone photos actually outperform professional 18 - > shoots because they followed the right strategy. 19 - > And I'm gonna be showing you my exact three-step system for 20 - > taking brand photos with your iPhone that actually turn 21 - > browsers into buyers. 22 - > But first, here's the mindset shift that changes everything 23 - > about DIY brand photography. 24 - > The secret is not better equipment, it's photographing 25 - > with purpose.

26 - > Most people take pretty photos and wonder why they don't 27 - > convert in their marketing. 28 - > Converting photos solve problems and shows transformation. 29 - > Here's my three-step iPhone system. 30 - > And step three is a game changer that most photographers don't 31 - > even think about.

32 - > Step one, conversion setup. 33 - > So for step one, set up for conversion, not just aesthetics. 34 - > Three elements that every converting photo needs. 35 - > Professional look that builds trust, context that shows your 36 - > experience, and space for text overlay.

37 - > If you are a business coach, don't just take a headshot. 38 - > Take a photo of you at your laptop with a clean background, 39 - > shows professionalism, context, and gives space for quote 40 - > overlays. 41 - > Conversion beats perfection every single time. 42 - > If you want my complete brand photo shot list, plus 25 and 43 - > more other free resources for your marketing and for 44 - > Pinterest, basically for growing your visibility.

45 - > Link is in the description and it also includes my iPhone photo 46 - > checklist. 47 - > Step number two, master your iPhone camera settings. 48 - > Three technical musts: portrait mode for that professional blur, 49 - > window light, never overhead lighting, or you're gonna get 50 - > those dark craters underneath your eyes, and vertical 51 - > orientation for social media and for Pinterest. 52 - > Here's the setup.

53 - > Stand three feet from the window. 54 - > You don't wanna be right next to the window because the bright 55 - > light is gonna be washing you out. 56 - > But if you're three feet from the window, your skin, it's like 57 - > a beauty light. 58 - > It is the best light that you can get.

59 - > Switch to portrait mode, tap the focus on their eye, and that's 60 - > it. 61 - > Window light plus portrait mode beats expensive studio lighting. 62 - > One caveat: when you're in portrait mode, it can blur 63 - > really easily. 64 - > So make sure if you're having your friend or your husband or 65 - > your kids, because my kids have taken many a photo of me for 66 - > marketing, let me just be honest.

67 - > But you want to have when someone's taking the photo of 68 - > you and they tap on the phone to focus on their eye, the person 69 - > you in the photo don't move. 70 - > So if you're typing, just pretend like you're typing. 71 - > If you're smiling, then just smile. 72 - > You don't want to move all over the place because then it's 73 - > gonna get kind of blurry.

74 - > The other thing I will say in this situation is to take four 75 - > to five at least images. 76 - > And the reason why I say that is because sometimes when you're 77 - > photographing, it'll be kind of it may get blurry because you're 78 - > clicking and clicking and clicking when it's like moving. 79 - > If you have a stand, a cell phone stand, absolutely do that. 80 - > I'm gonna go ahead and insert the stand that I love here, and 81 - > there'll be a link down below to purchase it.

82 - > It is super affordable, but it sticks right to the back of your 83 - > camera. 84 - > It's insanely good. 85 - > And here's step three: the game changer. 86 - > Plan for use first, then photograph.

87 - > Most people take photos and then figure out how to use them 88 - > after. 89 - > That's backwards. 90 - > Before you pick up your iPhone, asked, where is this image gonna 91 - > go? 92 - > Have a place for it because that will really tell you how to take 93 - > that photo.

94 - > Pinterest pins need vertical photos with text space. 95 - > And an Instagram stories and real covers are also in 96 - > portrait. 97 - > Website headers need to be horizontal and make sure that 98 - > you shoot with purpose, not just for pretty. 99 - > One focused shoot beats a hundred random photos.

100 - > This system works because it's built around conversion, not 101 - > perfection. 102 - > When you shoot with purpose or photograph with purpose and 103 - > follow these three steps, your iPhone photos will outperform 104 - > expensive shoots that missed the marketing strategy piece. 105 - > This systematic approach is what I bring to my brand photography 106 - > sessions. 107 - > We don't just take pretty photos, we actually spend a 108 - > tremendous amount of time on understanding and learning your 109 - > ideal client, where you're wanting to grow your business, 110 - > and then we create the plan of taking those photos so that when 111 - > you're done with your session and you get that gallery 112 - > delivered to you, every photo has a place.

113 - > Most of my clients can use these photos for around six months, 114 - > some even a year, because we create a complete visual 115 - > strategy that works across all of your marketing platforms. 116 - > Every photo has a purpose. 117 - > If you want brand photography photos that are strategically 118 - > planned for all of your marketing needs, brand 119 - > photography session details are in the description. 120 - > Now, next week, I am going to be announcing something big for 121 - > July that's going to change how you think about community-driven 122 - > marketing.

123 - > If you want to be a part of something special, hit that 124 - > subscribe button and that bell so that you're notified every 125 - > time I publish a new video right away. 126 - > What is your biggest brand photo struggle? 127 - > I want to hear it below. 128 - > Taking photos, like being in front of the camera or knowing 129 - > how to use them, drop taking below or using in the comments, 130 - > and I will give you my best tip for whichever one you choose.

131 - > I'll see you next week.