Hello! I'm Sarah Morgan, a San Diego Branding Photographer. I specialize in magazine style business brand portraits that help you attract your dream clients. How do you want to be photographed?

New Year, New You

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

At the beginning of a new year we hear all about New Year, New You. Well, it’s a new year for your business as well. So let’s get your new year started off right with a branding image for your marketing plan.

Have you thought about your social media for the year? Will you be creating new marketing pieces, creating a magazine or updating your website in 2022? Now is a great time to schedule a Personal Branding Session so you have enough images to create all the content your business will need for the new year!

A personal branding session provides you with a collection of magazine style, storytelling images you can use in your social media throughout the year, make your marketing pieces more personal or update your webstie to introduce yourself to your prospective clients. Now is a good time to become the face of your business if you haven’t already!

Do the images on your website, social media and marketing materials draw your dream clients to you consistently or do they need an update? I can help you clarify or define your brand and bring it to life in storytelling, magazine style images for use throughout the year on your social media, website and marketing.

Experts recommend that every 9th image in your social media be of YOU! Your prospective clients want to see you! Your current clients want to get to know you!

Having great images that help you tell a story about you, your business, one of your passions, a current trend in your industry, etc. can make creating content for your social media so much easier and keep you and your business relevant in your customers feeds.

I know, most people don’t enjoy being photographed. It can be stressful, but I promise, I’ll make it fun and stress-free.

My Personal Branding Sessions include…

A discovery call to clarify or define your brand and design a session and shot list to capture images that support your brand message.
Shoot design
Wardrobe consultation
PDF to help you prepare for your session
Photoshoot with hair and makeup
Zoom reveal of images for you to select from
Where & How to Use Your Images PDF
Brainstorming call to develop story ideas for blogs and social media posts

BOOM! Within a few weeks you will have the images you need for all your content for the new year!

A Personal Branding session can set your 2022 marketing and social media plan on the right path!

CALL TODAY TO BOOK A SESSION OR
COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION
858.414.9646
or

Email: Sarah@SarahMorganPhotography.com

I’D LOVE TO SEE YOU!

How Hiring a Web Designer Can Save You Money

Saturday, October 30, 2021

You have a business or are starting one and you have a To-Do list as long as your arm. Where do you start? With Your Website!

How hiring a web designer can save you money

Once you have defined your brand and message, you need to begin yelling from the rooftops and your website is going to be the one of the first places you should start yelling. But you don’t know how to build a website or maybe you do but you don’t have 25 hours a week to work on it. This is where hiring a web designer will not only save you time, but money!

Being a branding photographer, I love when clients have a web designer onboard. The first thing I always do with clients is an extensive consultation to get to know them, their business and their current brand. If you are just starting out or you have never clearly defined your brand, we will do that. The next thing we do is design and plan the photoshoot. This is where the web designer comes in. Before I pick up the camera, I need to know exactly how I need to photograph you. Do you need specific banner images? Do you need a few lifestyle images? Do you need a specific headshot image? What size do your images need to be to work best on your site? Working with your web designer, you will have an idea of what your website will look like and where images will be displayed. Your web designer can give you specs for image sizes and orientation.

Yes, hiring a web designer will cost some money, but it is well worth it to get your site done quickly and the best it can be and it will save you money in the long run. (I have a great designer I recommend who spreads out payments over 12 months so you can design your site, get it up and running and tweak it over a whole year! Check out Build A Better Web.Site Dave and his team will take good care of you.) If you hire a branding photographer and do your shoot without knowing what your website will look like, then you may be wasting money on images that just don’t work.

How Branding and Photography Go Hand in Hand

Friday, October 15, 2021

If you have a business, then you’ve been hearing the term Personal Branding lately and you might wonder what photography has to do with branding. Well, they actually go hand in hand!

How Branding and Photography Go Hand in Hand

In order to have a cohesive, comprehensive brand, first you must define it. You need to know who your client is and exactly what your message is to them. Then you need to get that message out to the world and what better way than with stunnning, lifestyle photographs that help prospective clients get to know you, start to trust you and want to work with you.

The first step in bringing your brand to life it to educate your photographer on…

Who you are
What you do
What your message is
Where you work
What service or product you provide and how it helps your clients

Your branding photographer will have an extensive consultation with you to dive deep into the answers to these questions in order to know how to photograph you. You will discuss…

What your current branding is
What your branding colors are
How you want your clients to view you and your business
Where you are currently using your images
Where you want to use your images in the future
What stories you want to tell
What you will wear
Where your session will be held
What props should be used in your shoot

You will also discuss where you are going to use all your images…

About me/Employee page on website
Website images
Social Media
Blog
Email signature
Facebook/Google Ads
E-course/online programs
Downloadable resources ie. PDFs
Online newsletter articles
Flyers/emails for speaking engagements
Business cards
Marketing materials/brochures
Magazine/catalog for your business
Online store
Presentations/tradeshow images
Thank you cards for clients
Holiday cards for clients
Welcome package for clients
Podcasts

Aremed with all this information, your photographer will design and plan your photoshoot to capture the exact images you need to help you attract and engage your ideal clients!

You and your brand are the most important aspects of your business. Make sure your brand reflects what you stand for, who you are and what your message is.

Written by Sarah Morgan, a San Diego based branding photographer.

3 Steps Before Hiring a Branding Photographer

Friday, October 1, 2021

You have a small business with an online presence and you are ready to level up your social media with branding photos to attract and engage your dream clients. Awesome! So what should your first steps be? Here are 3 steps to take before hiring a branding photographer.

3 Steps to Take Before Hiring a Branding Photographer

Step 1 – Define your ideal client! You need to know exactly who you are trying to attract. One exercise to do is to write down everything you know about your ideal client. Where they work, how much they make, where they live, what type of car they drive, where they shop for home furnishings and clothing, where they dine out, etc. You can even give them a name so they come to life for you. Knowing exactly who you are trying to attract helps to clarify your message because you will know exactly who to talk to these prospective clients because you will already know them.

Step 2 – Defind your brand! Who are you, what do you or your business do, what is your message, how do you want people to think about you, what product or service do you provide and how does it help your clients? Know who you are helps to clarify your message to prospective clients so they feel like they already know you and will want to work with you. You will also want to select your branding colors so you know what to wear to your branding shoot. You can check out how some of my clients show up for their brand in my Branding Gallery

Step 3 – Design your website! Before getting photography done, know what photos you need! Yes, branding photography provides you with a collection of images, but you want to be sure you have the images you need to make your website sparkle and stand out. Your photographer will want to know if you need a banner, headshot, lifestyle photos and what size images are needed for your website. Having your website design in hand makes the entire process smoother and you won’t waste money on images that don’t work for your site. If you need a website designer, I highly recommend www.buildabetterweb.site

5 Ways to Use Props in Your Personal Branding Photos

Friday, May 14, 2021

5 Ways to Use Props in your Personal Branding

⭐ Props help tell the story of what you do. What does your workspace typically look like? What products do you sell? What equipment do you use?

⭐ Props can bring in your brand colors and add visual interest. It’s as simple as adding pillows to your couch, colorful notebooks to your desk, a coffee cup in your brand colors or flowers to your side table.

⭐ Props can be used to create a connection with potential clients. Example: Add strategically- chosen books or magazines that resonate with your audience.

⭐ Add a few personal touches to your workspace to give clients an idea of what you’re all about. Example: If you are a wine connoisseur, bring along a bottle or two for some fun, lighthearted shots.

⭐ Use props for detail shots. Example: Bring your laptop for a close-up of your hands typing, your microphone for your podcast, or a coffee mug with a clever saying to add personality.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Need more ideas? Give me a call and we will brainstorm together to create the perfect session for you and your brand!

Go to my gallery for some ideas https://www.sarahmorganphotography.com/pp_gallery/personal-branding/⠀

What is the Difference Between Headshots, Personal Branding and Contemporary Portraits?

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Have you wondered what the difference is between Headshots, Personal Branding and Contemporary Portraits?

When I meet someone new and they ask what I do for work and I say I am a portrait photographer specializing in Headshots, Personal Branding and Contemporary Portraits, I sometimes get a funny look. I never realized people didn’t know the difference between these types of portraits. I thought it was time to clear up the confusion.

Headshots

Headshots are head and shoulder portraits to introduce you to potential clients. These portraits are used mainly for business cards and as your profile photo on social media. Packages range from 2 images to 6 images depending on the type of session you select. See more samples on my website.

Personal Branding

Personal Branding is a collection of images that engages with potential clients and give them an idea of who you are, what you do and your business message. These images are used for engagement on social media. Packages range from 15 images up to 160 images so you have plenty of content for your social media campaigns. See more samples on my website.

Contemporary Portraits

Contemporary Portraits are stylized, fun and personal sessions. These portraits are a Celebration of You! We collaborate on how you want to be photographed and design your shoot including clothing ideas and options. These are Legacy Portraits to mark a moment and to be handed down to future generations. See more samples on my website.

What type of photos do you need for your business? Are you ready to create a masterpiece to gift to your family? I would love to meet you and have the opportunity to photograph you. Just call the studio to book your session at 858.414.9646.

Keep in touch on my Instagram to see current work.

Are your wedding images still on a USB? | Sarah Morgan Photography

Monday, April 13, 2020

When your children want to look at your wedding photos,

will they have to dig through your old computer to do it?

Did your wedding photographer shoot your wedding and hand you a USB?

Are you overwhelmed with selecting images and creating your own album?

Do you not have the time to invest in this project, but want it done?

Do you want to leave an album for your children to hold and turn the pages?

GOOD NEWS! I CAN HELP!

TOP 5 REASONS YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL WEDDING ALBUM

1 ~ Your Wedding album is a family heirloom to be passed from generation to generation

Do you remember looking through your parent’s Wedding album when you were a kid? It would have brought back your parents special day and they could share those special moments with you. A Wedding album is a record of your family history. It stays in the family and is handed down from generation to generation. Your Wedding is just the beginning of your unique family story. One that your descendants will want to know and share.

2 ~ Digital files can be lost

Yes, digital image files are great. They are fun to share on social media and to email to family and friends. I don’t want to be the bearer of doom and gloom, but it is unpredictable how long digital image files will last. Look at CD’s, they were the next best thing after floppy disks (remember those?) and within a few years, computers were being sold without CD drives as USB drives took over. Technology is changing so quickly and there is no guarantee that the media your files are stored on will be around in 10 or 20 years. Hard drives fail at the worse possible times and erase all kinds of precious data, including treasured photographs.

3 ~ A wedding album is real and touchable, it isn’t hidden somewhere on an old computer or media device

Wedding albums are real, tactile and easily accessible. You can touch it, feel it, see the quality and smell the leather. Opening images on a device will not have the same impact as sharing your memories and emotions as turning the heavy pages of a beautifully crafted designed album. by not printing your images or creating an album, you are not protecting them or sharing them in a way that brings people together. Nothing beats print. You’ll never regret putting the beautiful colors of your life on paper and binding them in a thick, sturdy book.

4 ~ It truly is easier to show off your gorgeous wedding photos with an album

It is true, you can view your images on a device, but scrolling through hundreds of images can be tedious and become meaningless. On the other hand, a gorgeous professional wedding album tells the story of your wedding day. An album will bring you and your friends and family right back to that day. The sounds, the joy, the fun, the love will all be included in your wedding album story.

5 ~ Your wedding album can be customized to your specific needs and desires

There are oodles of online sites where you can create your own album, but do you really have the time? You not only have to create the design, but first you need to select the images you want to put in your album. Culling images down from the 1200 your photographer gave you to the very best 100 can take hours of time. Also, the quality of the online books doesn’t compare to the craftsmanship of a professional album. I can take away all the anxiety and create a beautiful design just for you and at the end of it, you will have a heirloom for your family.

Contact me at sarah@sarahmorganphotography.com or 858.414.9646 for information.

How to Select a Newborn Photographer | Sarah Morgan Photography

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Since announcing that Sarah Morgan Photography will no longer be doing newborn baby portraits, of course I’ve gotten several inquiries. Unfortunately, my back can no longer take the long sessions and lifting the little bundles safely. So the next question is do I have someone I can refer clients to. At this time I do not, but I will work on that. However, with the very recent news of the woman posing as a newborn photographer and trying to steal another families newborn, I thought I would write up some tips on how to select a newborn photographer. So how do you select a newborn photographer?

10 Tips to help you select a newborn photographer

First and foremost, be sure the photographer is a professional photographer. You can do this by checking their website and social media.
- Do they have images dated back for at least one year on all their social media channels?
- Do they have a website?
- Do they have good reviews on their social media?
- Do they have clients that can do a testimonial about them. It is completely okay to speak to a previous client.
Now granted, there are brand new photographers out there who are trying to get a business going and they provide tempting offers of cheap photography packages, but do you want to trust your newborn baby to one of these people with no experience? With these portraits, it really is best to go with a trained, experienced photographer who will know how to safely handle your baby. You can safely help out new photographers with 6 month, 1 year and family sessions where baby isn’t so fragile.
Does the photographer have a studio? Whether or not you opt to have the photographer come to your home, it is best to know that the photographer is established. As seen in the news reports of late.
Who will be providing the props needed for the shoot? Clothing rarely fits newborns so you want to select a photographer that has wraps, little hats, props and buckets. You shouldn’t have to spend time and money shopping for props, a pro will provide them.
Ask if photographer gets vaccinated every year to protect themselves and the newborns they are photographing. Every newborn photographer should have the same vaccinations as a neonatal nurse. They will be handling your newborn and have their faces very close to them. Better to be safe than sorry.
Do the babies in the photographer’s sample photos look comfortable? Are their necks and heads safely cradled? If the babies look uncomfortable or their necks are twisted, craned or looking funky, pass on that photographer as they are most likely untrained. You want a photographer that will safely pose your newborn in comfortable, safe positions while still creating beautiful portraits. Safety should always be number 1!
Is the photographer professionally trained or experienced. It is okay to ask this! It is your newborn baby we are talking about.
Does the photographer work with an assistant or a spotter. More hands create a safer environment, but it also creates a bit more chaos in the studio. If you are a nervous mom, you will have to weight out which you prefer. I have worked with and without an assistant, but only without after I had done hundreds of sessions.
When looking through the photographer’s portfolio, does their work and style speak to you?
Lastly, if your gut is feeling funky about a photographer, move on to the next one.

Trust your instincts!

Most newborn photographers are very professional and it is easy to tell they are pros, but it is up to you, the new parent to sort through the throngs and make a good choice. One more bit of advice is to do your homework and book your newborn photographer BEFORE the baby is born. Once that little munchkin enters stage right, life gets crazy, so start looking for your photographer around 20 weeks to give you plenty of time to do your research and you will even have time to squeeze in a maternity session as well!

How to Find the Perfect Photo Shoot Location | Sarah Morgan Photography

Thursday, August 1, 2019

How to find the perfect photo shoot location. Choosing a photo shoot location might seem like a big deal but it really doesn’t have to be difficult. The location you select will drive some of the other decisions you will need to make about your shoot so it’s important to choose the right place. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when looking for the perfect photo shoot location:

What kind of theme do I want? If a particular building or natural backdrop would work well with your theme, look around your area for spots that meet your requirements. If you don’t know what kind of backdrop you want, take an afternoon to drive around your city for inspiration. It’s easy to overlook beautiful spots that are practically in your backyard. Ask family, friends or your photographer for idea as well.
Are you allowed to take pictures there? Make sure you can legally take pictures at the location that you have in mind. If it’s not public property or available to the public you will need to get permission first. It is not legal to do photography in front of corporate offices, shopping malls or on private property.
Is it accessible? Consider that not all outdoor locations may be available all year round or you might not be able to get to them at all. Your safety is also an important aspect to think about before you decide on a location. Taking pictures on the edge of a beach cliff may look neat, but it’s best not to put yourself or your family in harm’s way.
How do you get to your location? Will it be easy to walk to the session location and if not, are you able to change your clothing and touch up your hair and makeup before the shoot? Also consider the people who will be in your photos, older people can’t always navigate sandy beaches or walk for long distances. You should also find out whether there is a restroom close enough in case you need it.
Will the photo session be in a public place? If the location you have chosen has a lot of foot traffic, you need to ask yourself whether you are comfortable being photographed in front of others. If not, you might want to rethink your choice in location.
Does the location convey the vibe you want in your portraits for your home? If your home decor is all blues and whites with a beachy feel, you might not want to consider the mountains as your location. If your home decor is all browns, tans and greens, a park setting might be perfect for the portrait that will hang on your wall.

Make sure that your location doesn’t become a distraction and that there is shelter nearby if you need it. Your location tells a story so it’s worthwhile to choose a meaningful spot.

Announcing Contemporary Portraits! | Sarah Morgan Photography

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

We are happy to announce that we have added Contemporary Portraits to the studio!

What exactly are Contemporary Portraits? These portraits are glamorous magazine style photo shoots resulting in gorgeous portraits for everyday women (and men).

You’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a photographed like a celebrity or model; to have your hair and makeup done, be styled and be glamorously photographed. That’s exactly what these portrait sessions provide our clients. This is an experience you will never forget.

These photo shoots are perfect for personal branding, headshots, senior portraits or just to treat yourself to a beautiful experience and gorgeous portraits. These portrait sessions are also a great way to create a beautiful mother/daughter portrait, best friends photo or to have a fun girls day out!

A bit camera shy? Don’t worry, it’s not your job to be ‘photogenic’ or ‘good in front of a camera’. It’s my job to help you through your entire photo shoot and to show you the most beautiful photos you have ever seen of yourself.

From your first consultation to your grand reveal, we will be there to help you every step of the way. We will help style your shoot by advising what is best to wear, pose you from head to toe and work with you to capture great expressions. We will help you select the best images from your shoot and guide you through the entire process. All you need to do is relax and enjoy the experience!