The Power Of Branding In Photography & How To
Brand Yourself | Joel Grimes

Positioning yourself in the marketplace so that you are associated with something particular is what branding is, according to Joel Grimes, as he discusses in this latest edition of his Behind The Lens series. Just like we say Kleenex when we mean any facial tissue, or Coke for any cola. In terms of photography, he essentially links branding in field with having a certain look.The biggest compliment for Joel is when someone can see an image and associate it with him even before knowing for certain whose work it was. With as many photographers as there are, this can seem like an insurmountable task, but Joel insists it’s not exactly rocket science. Rather, it’s the combination of focus, time, and repetition. That’s not to say repeating the same thing over and over again will garner you success, but that in order to be associated with something, a look, it usually takes having done it numerous times, and over a lengthy period of time – about 2 – 3 years in his estimation. His humility allows him to say often that he isn’t a creative genius, and that he’s not a brilliant man, but that his love for the creative process and strong work ethic are keys to his success. The passion is what gets him going, and the work ethic allows for it to be executed. Once you are associated with a look, and have that brand association, Grimes stresses that you must understand that there is a shelf life to all branded looks, and you may be lucky enough to get in at the right time with your look, or perhaps the worst time when that look is ‘out’. Either way, you have to make sure the brand is yours, and your vision, so the process of evolution is really personal rebranding, and only if it’s yours will you have the staying power to see it through…….

Source: www.slrlounge.com