Why I Invested in My Own Brand Storytelling Session (And Why The Energy It Always Gives Me Is Worth It)

I tell my clients this all the time: brand photos aren’t just for marketing.
They’re for momentum.
They’re for confidence.
They’re for staying true to who you are now and ushering in the future you.

Which is exactly why I invest in my own brand storytelling sessions regularly. I am more comfortable behind the lens but I know I need to get in front of the lens if I want to build and brand and life I love.

I do my own brand session every year (at least).

Not because something is “wrong.”
Not because I feel behind.
But because I know, without question- trust me I have dine it for a few years now and it matters, the energy and clarity it brings every single time.

Why Refresh My Brand Imagery?

My business evolves.
My messaging and content shifts and refines.
My leadership expands.

And my brand visuals? They need to evolve too! I don’t wait until my photos feel outdated or misaligned. I choose to refresh because I understand how powerful it is to see yourself reflected accurately in your brand in real time.

Brand storytelling sessions allow me to:

Stay visually aligned with my current season
Show up confidently and consistently across platforms
Lead from the front, not the sidelines
Draw new attention to my content because let’s be real everyone likes to see new images
Practice what I say all the time with integrity

This isn’t reactive. It’s strategic and it was a sacrifice: of time (I was SO busy but ended the year with investing in me so I can start 2026 strong) and money (I get it it ain’t cheap but it is WORTH IT). I had a million reasons not to but I did it and I love the results! Special shout out to my friend Mabyn for meeting up in Greensboro for the day of creating images together! And shout out to Leah of The Jet Set Mindset for being a fabulous client that day!

Being in Front of the Camera Is Part of the Work

As a brand photographer, I don’t separate the creative from the leadership.

Being photographed isn’t about ego, it’s about embodiment.

Every time I step in front of the camera and get uncomfortable, it reinforces:

The confidence I’ve built
The clarity in my voice and direction
The standard I set for my clients and helps my remember the vulnerability of being in front of the lens
The fun it can be to celebrate what you have built and vision for where you are going!

There’s something special about saying, “This is who I am now and I’m willing to be seen as her.”

The Real ROI: Energy and Momentum, Not Just Images

Yes, I walk away with images I love and use constantly (I immediately changes my profiles images and created new banner images and changed out my email prep for clients with all updated imagery- yay!).

But the real return is internal and I can feel it. It is healing for a woman who spent time in her younger years hating my body and what God calls good. I choose to celebrate and love me and seeing my gallery and the fun smiles, candid moments, and fire looks (I invested in my own stylist- shout out to Nakia of NL The Stylist and it was amazing! You can add her or the amazing Yvonne Cane to your Brand storytelling session to elevate your experience)

Brand storytelling sessions give me:

A renewed sense of presence online and content ready to go to make staying consistent easier
Momentum in my marketing
Fresh excitement for sharing my work and content
Confidence that shows up in how I speak, sell, and lead

That energy touches everything in my business. There is just something about investing in your self and your brand that encourages me and helps me level up.

Practicing What I Teach (On Purpose)

I believe in this work deeply because I live it and I have seen my business expand and grow from nothing- no clients, zero word of mouth recommendations, unknown in a new market just over a year ago to booked out 3 months in advance and it is absolutely tied to me showing up and being visible and unique in my own brand! .

Brand storytelling sessions aren’t something you do once and move on from. They’re something you return to as you grow, refine, and expand. This is also why I develop relationships with my amazing clients and offer brand refresh rates!

They’re how you:

Stay connected to your brand
Document your evolution
Own and claim next season before you’re in it

I invest regularly because I know the power of showing up with aligned visuals as a business owner and I want that same experience for my clients.

A Reminder for Fellow Business Owners

You don’t have to wait until something feels off.
You don’t have to justify reinvesting in yourself.
You don’t have to “outgrow” your photos to deserve new ones. If you are always waiting for “more clients” before you invest in you think about how those aligned clients will find you?

Sometimes the smartest move is choosing alignment before you think you need it.

And the confidence that comes from that?
It shows up everywhere. Let’s go 2026! Now booking n March and April- book a discovery call and let’s chat your brand goals.

here are some of my favorites from my session: