Whether you are looking for Personal Branding Photography or for Business Branding Photography.

Bristol has some iconic landmarks that will grace any website or corporate marketing campaign.

 

As a commercial branding photographer I am always looking for images that can be used by my clients for their branding and marketing.

And we all know the importance of location when marketing your business.

 

Here in Bristol we are gifted with some locations and landmarks that are instantly recognisable.

So when I am not spending time on my business I love nothing more than to go around on my bike looking for suitable locations to photograph.

 

Now, just to let you know I have a few guidelines when I am out shooting my “Bristol Panoramics”

 

1.   No photographs of the suspension bridge as its rather overdone! Mind you I am still looking for that unique view and if I find it, believe me, I will use it!! ( See Below)

2.   Ditto for hot air balloons. Even though I get so excited when I see one.

3.   They have to be shot with horizontal framing, so my clients can use them for headers and banners on their websites.

4. All in high resolution so they can be cropped into a 2x1 ratio or even skinnier!.

  

In fact this last point is worth dwelling on.

 

When I was shooting fashion, invariably the work was used in magazines and best of all magazine covers – the Holy Grail!

This meant I was always shooting and holding the camera for a vertical orientation – or portrait crop. Something you have to practice, as most cameras feel a bit unusual to hold in this manner.

 

Nowadays as most of my work is shooting for websites it’s back to horizontal framing, which obviously is suited for viewing on PC or Laptop screens. Things are changing though with the proliferation of the mobile phone to view websites, this format, I think suits squares.

Instagram has obviously helped massively in the promotion of photography, and I am a big fan of the square!

 

Why do local images help my business?

 

If you are a solopreneur looking to upscale your personal brand or a SME looking to increase your customer base, it’s all about Location, Location, Location!

 

 Now if you’re an estate agent it’s pretty obvious what the benefits are. But what about other businesses?

 

If you start thinking about your location, and why you live or moved there it is arguably a part of your personality. I moved from London to Bristol because I love living in cities. I could have moved to the seaside, to the country but it’s not part of my DNA.

I live in a city because I like socialising, eating out and so on. I also like to go to galleries and love culture and always looking out for the next big thing. And that is all part of who I am and therefore, intrinsically, part of my brand.

 

Another reason is the way that the location has a brand, Bristol has got a different brand to Bath which is another city less than 5 miles away. They are completely different and that’s in a good way. They both are distinctiveness and both have their unique charms.

 

My brand would be viewed to be very different if I lived for example, in Bath.

 

OK let’s move on and have a look at 5 different locations in Bristol that are great for adding a bit of local oomph to your brand.

 

THE COLOURED HOUSES

 

Nobody seems to know where or why the tradition of painting your house in a bright colour started, but one thing for sure is that it has become  extremely popular.

 

Where I live near Totterdown it’s almost de rigeur. In fact my house, I am ashamed to say is not. (can’t decide on a colour). And my neighbours are gently badgering me to give it a lick of paint -which I will…. eventually!

 

But what we can be sure of is that the painted houses have given Bristol a solid brand, and though not the only place it is certainly a great piece of marketing and more to the point  - it looks great in photo’s.

 

Here is my take on the phenomenon, a recently renovated row of houses with the most stunning of views over Bristol harbour. I got my assistant to stand in on the shot to add a touch of visual narrative and scale. Waited till the light was at the right angle and voila! Oh, and it’s probably worth mentioning that in the aforementioned Bath you are not allowed to paint your house! Giving a completely different vibe.

 

 

PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES

 

There are so many green spaces and parks for photoshoots in Bristol that you are spoiled for choice.

Following on from receiving the European Green Capital Award in 2015 the city has been blooming since!

I live on the edge of one of it's larger parks - Victoria Park and this is where, last year, this photograph was taken.

If you wanted to go further afield within a short drive or cycle ride you could be in the fabulous countryside of North Somerset or even cross the bridge into South Wales and explore some of the worlds best beaches.

 

TEMPLE MEADS QUARTER

 

This is the latest addition to the Bristol skyline and it’s just behind the train station and changes on a daily basis.

 

Lots of companies are moving there HRMC and the soon to be built new Campus for Bristol University.

 

Photographically speaking, there is definitely a modern vibe with lots of glass and geometric angles. Perfect if you want to promote yourself as a modern and cutting edge brand.

 

 Also a great place to photograph construction work with lots of brightly coloured cranes reaching to the sky and exposed building structures. All good stuff.

 

 

CLIFTON VILLAGE

 

Nestled on the hill is the hamlet of Clifton. Half owned by the University and the other half by the elite!

 

Stunning Georgian architecture in immaculate condition and some of the largest houses you are likely to see in a city.

 

Lots of little restaurants and high-end shops, it reminds me so much of Knightsbridge and Chelsea.

 

As far as branding goes this is going to suit the luxury and premium end of the market – so if this is you get up there (if your not there already!) and get some of that atmosphere into your website and social media.

 

 

THE SUSPENSION BRIDGE

 

Ok, I have to admit having a love-hate affair with the bridge. Hate it because it’s just so overused as a marketing image, I mean you see it everywhere and I love it because when I hike up the hill to look at it – ooh it does look impressive! So you may notice that I have no photo included, this is because even though I have photographed it many times, still haven’t got something I like. But now after doing a recce I have a plan for a unique view, but have to wait till Autumn to get the light right.

 

 

Well there you go get out there and use your own landmark locations for your personal and business branding. And hit me up with some examples.