Aligning your Visual Presence With the Future You're Building

Last week I did doing something I’ve genuinely never done before - a proper, intentional brand photoshoot.

Not my first professional photos, or course. I’ve had plenty of those over the years, always slipped in around the edges of something else - stolen moments at events, backstage before speaking, or tucked into the corner of a book launch for five quiet minutes.

Beautiful, meaningful moments… but never a dedicated shoot.

And I honestly never felt I needed one, I was perfectly fine using what I had. It did the job and I was happy with that. 

So this time felt different.

Last week's shoot was different.
Not because I finally carved out the space,
But because my business, Virtually Myself® (a private, strategy-led AI visibility system for founder-led small businesses) is stepping more fully into the corporate arena.

My co-founder and I have lots of behind-the-scenes and happy snaps, but now with larger clients, exciting opportunities and some strategic partnerships lined up for 2026, it was time to get a few professional photos together. 

This was providential. 

Because after a glorious season of "spring growth" which followed a long "personal winter" - it felt like the right moment to refresh my broader visual presence too.

The perfect opportunity to refresh my broader brand library at the same time, that curated mix of portraits, in-action shots, stills, and everyday moments I keep ready for whatever my work is calling me into.

And funnily enough, the timing aligns beautifully with a session I taught last week for the Marketing Me® community on Visual Vitality, how your visual presence isn’t decoration, but communication.

Your first frame of connection.
Your silent introduction.

Here are a few themes that came up in my workshop, and why they felt especially alive as I reflect on this shoot:

1. Your visuals carry your essence long before your words can.

People feel you instantly.
Not your perfection.
Not your positioning.
Your presence.

"A picture is worth a thousand words" (actually many more, tbh).  Are you clear on what they're saying??

2. Micro-moments matter more than polished campaigns.

Your audience doesn’t need an orchestrated rollout of cinematic preportions every week.
It doesn't even need to be professional. 90% of the imagery I use I've taken myself. 
They just need to see that you’re here - thinking, doing, creating, contributing.
Tiny contextual pings of “proof of life.” (a concept I unpack extensively in the Visual Vitality Workshop)

3. Visual storytelling becomes a form of leadership.

Especially now.
In a world saturated with AI-generated perfection, what stands out is anything carrying warmth, truth, and a human pulse.

And that’s what felt significant about this photoshoot.

It’s not about looking polished. (even though I did to my hair and make up, but that's not what makes the difference) 

It’s not about aesthetics for aesthetics’ sake.

It’s first and formost about congruence, ensuring the visuals match the season I’m stepping into and the impact my work is here to create.

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If you’re feeling a similar shift, like you’re growing into a new chapter and your visual identity needs to meet you there - you’re not alone.

This isn't about self-promotion. It's about curating what you want to be known for, strategically and authentically.

This moment invites many of us to bring our visual presence back into coherence with the next chapter of our professional life.

It doesn’t need to be dramatic -  tiny, consistent steps create the most sustainable evolution.

And I’m walking it right alongside you.

Welcome to the quiet revolution of digital storytelling.

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I believe that 2026 is the year when authentic human-led brands will come into their own in a more powerful way than every before. 

If you’re considering working with me next year, here are the two pathways that support different seasons of growth:

Marketing Me® helps you clarify your foundations.
Virtually Myself® helps you amplify your message.