I first photographed Croydon business owner Jo in 2019; she was one of my first brand photography clients!
Jo’s business, Mortgage Confidence, is an award-winning mortgage advice company based in Croydon, South London providing a personalised & bespoke service. With 20+ years of experience in the business, Jo’s clients buy into her knowledge, expertise & her friendly & personal approach.
As a sole trader, Jo is her brand. She knew that to market her business, she had to market herself. My brief – on both occasions – was to help her bring a human face to her business.
The power of business networking!
We originally met through Laptops & Lipstick, a local women’s business network & despite the fact I am no longer a member, we’ve kept in touch.
I think this a great example of the power of networking; it’s not just the here & now, it’s about making connections & building relationships that go beyond the network. We’ve probably all read the research that says people prefer to do business with people they know, like, and trust. Networking is a great way to meet people, but the work you put in after the event builds the connection & the trust that leads to knowing, liking & an ongoing business relationship.
I was delighted when Jo approached me about refreshing her photography.
She was working with Emma at Semaphore PR on updating her website content & wanted some new images to go alongside the new words. To further boost her online profile she was also dipping her toe into video content for the first time.
Brand Photography: a Croydon collaboration!
The day of the shoot was a real collaborative team affair; Emma art directed & wrote the words. I shot the stills, Charley from Short Films.London made the videos whilst Victoria did hair & make-up. As a solo photographer, it is always a joy to work with other creatives on a shoot.
The photos from Jo’s first shoot four years ago guided the development of her visual brand. We didn’t want to deviate too much from this style as the original photography concept has become an integral part of her brand & is still working for her.
Below are my ten favourite images from Jo’s recent brand photography refresh. I’m going to leave the final words to Jo;
“Ally took the photos for my website when I started my mortgage advice company in 2019. When I wanted to renew and update my website 4 years later, I didn’t hesitate to ask her to take some updated photos.
She captured me and represented me and my brand so well in her photos. She does this by taking the time to really understand the company, the brand and in my case the person (me!) so she can accurately represent who we are.
Ally is also a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend her if you are just starting out in business or need a refresh or an update.
I am so pleased with our new photos and really feel that they reflect me and my business perfectly.”
– Jo, Mortgage Confidence, 2023
London & Croydon Brand Photography
Brand photography works with & compliments your brand personality through the use of colour, tone, style & more. It helps to create a consistent visual identity across all of your business & marketing collateral. From social media to your website to print. This builds familiarity & a recognisable brand.
With over 12 years of photography experience, I specialise in using photography to tell the story of your brand. Based in Croydon, South London, I am ideally placed for shoots across the whole of the South East.