off the record
The Blog
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How to Choose a Brand Photographer Who Actually Gets You
You can Google “brand photographer Chicago” and get a hundred results in four seconds. Plenty of talented people. Solid portfolios. Professional websites. Reasonable prices. Why does it…
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Feeling Overwhelmed About A Brand Session? Start Here
Most people are afraid of the planning part of brand photography more so than the photos themselves. There is so much leading up to them. What to…
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The Wrench Didn’t Take the Photo: The Cost Behind the Camera
Let’s talk about something that lives rent-free in the head of almost every professional photographer: the moment someone finds out what you charge and their eyebrows do…
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Who Owns Your Face? The Real Cost of AI Headshots
Let’s start with what the ads don’t tell you. You upload a handful of selfies. You pay somewhere between $20 and $100. You get back a grid…
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Confidence Doesn’t Always Stop the Mask From Going Up
Someone walks into a session feeling pretty good. Their hair is styled. They’re dress to the nines. They’re standing tall, smiling, ready. Then I lift the camera…
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I’m Not Just a Vendor. And the Best Work Happens When You Know That.
There’s a version of this job where the photographer just shows up, takes the photos, and disappears. You get your files. I’d get paid. Nobody’s unhappy. The…
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You’re Not Boring – But Your Brand Photos Might Be
I’m bored. I’m seeing the same photos everywhere — same studios, same poses, same “authentic” laptop laughter. So I sat down with my sketchbook, did a free…
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Katie Kastner Content & Marketing ~ A Case Study
When Katie first contacted me, she was already in the middle of a brand evolution. She was writing her content (Katie is a also a talented writer…
