NYC Branding & Portrait Photography: Carrie Murray, CEO of BRA Network
Network, network, network.
I am often asked how I built a brand new business from scratch simultaneously while moving 3,000 miles across the country and needing to break into a new market. In the spirit of complete transparency, it wasn’t a quick process, but the seeds I planted have proven to be well worth the wait. And it all started with networking.
Attending events and networking is a surefire way to build a reliable network up quickly.
Attending in-person meetups with agendas specific to business-growth has led me to building a robust network that not only helped in establishing myself in my new market, but also being able to create roots back home in the New York City tri-state area and across the country. (For those who don’t know, I am a New Jersey native who moved to Los Angeles in 2018.)
I began my brand photography business after moving to Los Angeles, seeing an extremely welcoming culture of entrepreneurs who needed marketing content.
In the Fall of 2019, I had a trip back to New Jersey planned and it just so happened that a big women’s empowerment conference was taking place just across state lines in New York City. Now, I wasn’t slated to go to this conference, but a new colleague of mine that I had met through networking in Los Angeles was attending and she was looking to get brand photos done in the Big Apple to illustrate her networking group expanding nationally.
Carrie Murray, the founder and CEO of The BRA Network always has big visions for her own business but even moreso the businesses of the hundreds of women that are in her community. Out of all the networking groups I am a part of, BRA has been the biggest source of support, encouragement and knowledge. And isn’t it fantastic that Carrie’s mission for us to always hire within the network first was going to be realized 3,000 miles away from her business’s home base?
We spent the day frolicking around New York City, starting at the New York Stock Exchange in the Financial District. Carrie was planning to host a big summit back in Los Angeles focused on women making more money, and so we aimed to combine that mission with the expansion of the network.
For the full gallery, click here.
We went on to the Flatiron District where we got beautiful views of both the Flatiron Building (unfortunately under construction at the time) and the Empire State Building
If you don’t take a picture with a cab during your New York City brand photography session, were you even in The Big Apple?
We ended the day at Central Park which could yield a shoot in itself but we made sure to hit up all the best spots including some shots with the skyline of Central Park South in view, the Literary Walk and finally Bethesda Terrace.
Photographing big buildings and vast spaces are not just for pretty pictures when it comes to brand photography. Backdrops against skylines tell a very specific brand story: strength, power, and growth.
Make no mistake, there were no happy little accidents during this brand shoot. Every photo had a purpose. Many photos can tell multiple stories, giving them more shelf life. Brand photography is worth every single penny when it comes to your marketing — make sure it’s spent with the right person!
For more information on the BRA Network or to become a member, visit www.bra-network.com
To see the full gallery of our images, click here.
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MEET YOUR BRAND PHOTOGRAPHER
Bernadette Marciniak is a branding photographer based out of Los Angeles & New York City. She works with coaches, healers, educators and creative business owners to create powerful imagery that converts audiences into clients.
A former photojournalist, Bernadette approaches brand photography from a storytelling standpoint, using the emotions of your ideal client to guide a photoshoot. Illustrating the achievable transformations of the people you work with is the most powerful way to create the visibility your business needs.
Bernadette loves good pizza, craft beer and red wine. She watches Parks and Rec, Friends and How I Met Your Mother on repeat.
