Do you know your brand? I’m sure you do. Until you’re asked to explain it. Then it’s deer in the headlights and the ole “I’m an elopement photographer, but I also do big weddings. If you want, I can capture family portraits and corporate events. Oh, you have a newborn? Sure, I can take those photos too!” Not exactly how you nail your brand.

The response you get? Raised eyebrows and lack of faith. I get it. You don’t want to shut yourself off from paying clients! You’re a photographer. You can photograph a bunch of great shit!!! But. Being the jack of all trades makes clients (erroneously) think you’re the master of none. So take a step back and think about what your brand is. One coherent sentence.

And if you’re still not sure, that’s totally okay! That’s why you’re here. To learn how to nail your brand in 7 days. And that’s more than just your pitch sentence. That’s the work it takes to learn your brand and niche down. We’re digging deep until we hit your gold, honey!

Get Brand Bold Now!

Signs you still need to nail your brand

• The first thing to consider is whether you even need a brand boost.
• You’re trying to compete with budget photographers.
• You raised your prices… and nobody booked.
• If you’re stuck wondering, “Why isn’t anyone finding me?” 
• YOUR INBOX IS WAY TOO QUIET
• You get the initial inquiry, then get ghosted.

So, what does building my brand mean? Knowing your clients, finding your niche, building your voice, auditing, and building your brand bigger than you are.

The Goal of Getting Couples

If you’re overwhelmed, stressed out, and downright frustrated because you’re out here doing #allthethings, spinning your wheels, and STILL getting crickets instead of dream clients, I’m here to help.

Imagine waking up on a Tuesday, and BAM, there it is: a message from a couple planning their elopement, saying, “We’ve been stalking your website for weeks and just HAD to reach out. You’re exactly what we’ve been looking for.”

Like, excuse me?! That’s the energy we’re calling in. No more crossing your fingers, hoping someone inquires. We’re going to get your dream clients sliding into your DMs because your brand speaks to them on a soul level.

Determining Who Your Couples Are

First off, you have to know who your clients are. What are their personalities? What do they value most about their elopement day? Are they adventurous, sentimental, bold, or non-traditional? Yeah. I bet you thought elopement was the niche. Nope! In fact, the elopement space continues to grow every year. Maybe it’s the post-pandemic world. Maybe it’s more people throwing up the middle finger to societal expectations.

The point is, there is a wide range of people who choose to elope, so you need to niche down a few layers. Are you the one who captures gorgeous elopements at city halls and knows all the best nearby spots for waterfront photos, greenery, or views? Do you want to go worldwide and take couples places you’ve never been? Are your couples the ones who love the beach, and you specialize in the best beaches and in becoming the all-knowing sunset-and-tide schedule gal? See. All very different vibes. What do YOU want? Once you know the answer, we’ll find the couples who want the same thing you do!

NOTE: If you’re NEW to the elopement space, I have a whole specific plan for you. There will be a bit of “Killing Your Darling,” which I know SUCKS. That gorgeous, game winning soccor shot that you caught? Amazing! Print it out and put it on your corkboard. You should be proud. Then delete it from your website cause your eloping couples don’t give a fuck, and you’re taking up valuable website space. 

Make the Shift to Elopement Photography: 10 Common Concerns 

Niche!

Once you have an idea of who your couples are and what kind of photographer you are, we’re going to niche down. In every industry, people want specialists. Elopement photographers, especially, need to specialize because elopement couples crave someone who understands their unique journey. The more specific you are, the better you’ll connect with your couples. They won’t be looking at the price tag—they’ll be seeing your value.

What I really want to stress is that it’s not about which niche is best for photography. It’s about what niche is best for YOU! Being authentic and yourself is going to get you far more results (and make you way fucking happier) than trying to be something you are not.

Carving Out Your Niche in Photography: Embrace Your Voice

Pssst, check out my podcast episode walking you through how to find your niche!

Carving Out Your Niche – The Climb with Kelsey – Apple Podcasts

Carving Out Your Niche – The Climb with Kelsey | Podcast on Spotify

Building a Voice is how you Nail your Brand

You have your brand, you have your niche. Now, how do you talk about it? That’s your voice! What do you love about photography? Who are your dream clients? What makes you different? Tell your damn story! People connect with stories, and your journey is worth sharing. Why do you wake up each morning to work as a photographer? Let that belief fuel everything—your content, your brand, your entire business.

For me, the joy I see in couples and the beauty of nature fuel my passion. My dream clients aren’t just those with a big budget; they share my values of authenticity and adventure. And my ‘different’ comes from personal experience.

Example: “I grew up surrounded by nature, and that’s where I feel most alive. It’s no surprise that I’ve fallen in love with photographing adventurous elopements. I believe everyone deserves a wedding day that’s true to who they are—free from expectations.”

Solve your clients’ problems through your story. Maybe your dream clients are overwhelmed by traditional wedding pressures. Use your experiences to empower them, educate them, and offer honest-to-God resources. Your brand story becomes their guide.

What are the 3 C’s of branding? Clear, Consistent, and Compelling. Make sure your couples know what they are getting when they book you. Be consistent- once again, keep the soccer shots off your website. Be compelling. Why you? And to be clear, it should be YOU! So get comfortable with pitching yourself. 

Nail Your Brand by doing a Brand Audit

To get where you want to go, i.e., a booked-out, happy elopement photographer, you’re going to shift your branding and messaging to appeal to adventurous, free-spirited couples rather than traditional wedding clients. Once again, you have to go ten toes down to avoid confusion or inconsistency in your marketing materials and social presence.

Do a brand audit. You don’t need to scrape everything you’ve ever done, but pivot! On those wedding photos, crop the couple. Focus on the first look. Remove the photos that no longer serve the brand. Also, not all elopement photographers are the same! I’m big on hiking elopements, so I’m showing photos at the top of the mountain, in the rocks of Greece, under a waterfall in Iceland! What kind of elopements are you capturing? Double down on them!

Imposter Syndrome 

A lot of people get through the first sections when I work with them. They’re nodding along, taking notes, saying, “THAT’S GOING TO BE ME, KELSEY!” Then they leave the workshop, start working on it, and make it a mountain. Don’t psych yourself out! You have all the steps. You can do it, and you deserve it. And why NOT you? 

It’s time to ditch the self-doubt, silence that nagging imposter syndrome, and claim your space already. Fake it until you make it if you have to, but do not give up. Do not turn around. You got this, honey!

After this workshop, you’ll know what makes you different, and you’ll own it like the main character you are. No more second-guessing your pricing, overthinking every caption, or feeling like you’re yelling into the void. You’re booked with clients who trust you, value your art, and want you to document their love. 

Why? All because of your brand. It’s BOLD. It’s clear. It is so unapologetically YOU.

Branding Beyond You

Now, after you have your brand. You need to know how to teach it. As I said, you’re going to get booked and busy, and you need to think outside of yourself. My brand is not Kelsey. It’s Honeybee Weddings. This way, I can train my team in the brand, and we can continue to build out the empire! The goal is to be the CEO of your photography business, not every single part of it. 

Our Photographer Brand Onboarding Guide (currently discounted for our blog readers!) offers a deep dive into training your new photographer. This covers their responsibilities, how to photograph in your brand style, how to interact with your couples, AND MORE. Your brand is your core foundation. It will be the northern light to direct your training

Successful associate photographers align with your vision, genuinely enjoy being part of your team, and embrace your brand. Associate photographers who ask about pay, NOT the brand, will not be a good hire. While you will pay well, it’s about their mindset. We believe in taking care of people AND payment. Your full-time associates should love working with your clients as you do! The associate photographer experience aims to match the quality that you would provide yourself.

Hiring your associate photographer team can be pretty hit-or-miss. You may think someone will be a great fit, only to learn they are not fully invested. Don’t get down on yourself. To hire someone is to give them a chance; to let someone go is to know what they are really like. Hence, the roster, not everyone will work, and THAT’S OKAY! I promise that if you keep at it, you’ll find great photographers who represent your brand well. And are a hell of a lot of fun to be around!

Mistakes Photographers Make When Building an Associate Team

We’ve talked a lot about building your brand. When you’re ready to dive into the nitty-gritty on how to create a visual identity (website, logo, social media presence), check out this blog from Alicia Rius!

Nail your brand in 7 days with the workshop REPLAY

The Wildfire Method™ – My signature step-by-step framework to ditch the doubt, define your secret sauce, and light up your brand with confidence. In this high-impact workshop, you’ll learn how to stand out in a saturated market and attract adventurous elopement couples 

Solemnly swear, in ONE HOUR, you’ll nail your brand and start attracting elopement couples in just 7 days—so you can ditch the doubt, stop blending in, and finally book the clients you actually want! Can’t wait for your DMs and to celebrate your success with you!

Get Brand Bold Now!