Brand Photos for a Fine Art Photographer

Brand PhotographyClient Spotlight
Written By Bernadette Marciniak
 
Brunette woman standing in the middle of the desert in a bold pink and red dress and orange heels. There are Joshua Trees and mountains in the background.

I don’t know if you know this, but much like doctors needing their own doctors, photographers need photo sessions for themselves, too.

Which exactly where Lisa Whalen found herself, after re-launching her photography business a few years ago.

Room for Magic & Creativity for this SF Bay Area Brand Photographer

Lisa and I were slated to work together for an upcoming retreat – she’d be doing the photos and I’d be doing the video.

We decided that we’d treat ourselves to a content day for each other before our work began, so that we’d both have images to market our businesses with in the coming year.

woman wearing a long dress with her feet in heels standing on a rock in the desert wilderness.
A woman laying down on the floor of the desert wildnerness in a long bright red and pink dress with her feet and heels pointing up to the sky.
A brunette woman posing confidently with her hand on her hip gazing out into the horizon dressed in a bright pink and orange dress and orange heels, surrounded by joshua trees

The retreat was in Palm Springs, which is already a beautiful landscape for photographs. I mean, can you even with these quintessential California homes and palm trees?

But Lisa, like me, is also an adventurer, so when I said to her, “I have a crazy idea,” she said “Yes!” to it before even knowing what she was signing up for.

Lucky for her, my suggestion was to drive the hour over to Joshua Tree National Park to get some photos of us there. I mean, if we’ve come all this way, why not practice that whole, “When in Rome,” mantra right?

Weather & Your Brand Photos

Brunette woman wearing sunglasses standing in the middle of the road smiling looking back at the camera in orange heels and a bright pink and orange dress. There is a strong LA vibe with lots of sunshine and palm trees and mountains in the background
Brunette woman wearing sunglasses happily dancing in the middle of the street with one arm in the air and her mouth open. In the background is a single story home with bright blue doors and palm trees.

I know everyone loves to think that California is sunny and 70*+ year-round, but when you’re in the desert in February, it really does become a gamble.

It was cloudy and a little windy, the latter of which is always a nuisance when your hair is all done up for photos. It also meant it was a little chilly.

Regardless, we lucked out with some pockets of sunshine during golden hour, and were happy with the even lighting the clouds provided when the sun tucked away behind them.

A Team Effort

We were also joined by Solhaus Media SF Bay Area brand photography team makeup artists, Monina Wright and Michelle Montes. Not only was this a saving grace when it came to hair touchups, but everyone got to take turns at getting content for their own businesses, and Lisa became a model for Monina and Michelle’s photos & vice versa!

One brunette woman is getting her makeup touched up by another woman, Monina Wright, who has a makeup bag and wearing jeans. They are standing in the middle of the desert.
One brunette woman is getting her makeup touched up by another woman, Michelle Montes, who has a makeup tools in hand and wearing a blue dress. They are standing in the middle of the desert.

Taking Brand Photos ‘Til Dusk

Anyone who’s been to this national park can tell you that sunset is the most magical time there. As the sun sets behind the horizon, the colors constantly change, giving you a fresh canvas with every passing minute. We soaked it all in until it became too dark for our cameras and too cold for our fingers. The last few shots were admittedly just for some fun, to document friendship and fun times.

Brunette in a black and white polka dot dress in front of bright pink flowers. She has one hand on her hip and another in the air as she is smiling taken by SF Bay Area Brand Photographer Bernadette Marciniak of Solhaus Media.
Brunette in a black and white polka dot dress in front of bright pink flowers. She has both hands on her head and is smiling at the camera taken by SF Bay Area Brand Photographer Bernadette Marciniak of Solhaus Media.
Brunette in a black and white polka dot dress with both hands in the air and mouth open like she is cheering. There are several palm trees in the background and it is a sunny day. Taken by SF Bay Area brand photographer Bernadette Marciniak.
Brunette in a black and white polka dot dress with both hands in the air and smiling at the sky. There are several palm trees in the background and it is a sunny day. Taken by SF Bay Area brand photographer Bernadette Marciniak.
Brunette in a black and white polka dot dress in front of a wall of bright greenery. Taken by SF Bay Area brand photographer Bernadette Marciniak.

A few days later we wrapped up her shoot with some fun videos by the pool. It took a whole team to make it work — check out our shenanigans below!

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MEET BERNADETTE

A photo of SF Bay Area brand photographer Bernadette Marciniak, a blonde woman in a yellow shirt holding a camera. She is standing in front of a wall of pink flowers.

Hi! I’m Bernadette Marciniak, founder of Solhaus Media, a woman-owned brand photography and video production company. We work with coaches, healers, podcast hosts, educators and creative business owners to create powerful imagery that converts audiences into clients.

Bernadette is a cat mom of two, who loves good pizza, craft beer and red wine. She’s usually bingeing on the hottest new true crime documentary, or finding solace in the upteenth repeat of Ted Lasso or Friends.

Solhaus Media is based in Los Angeles, the SF Bay Area, and New York City.

 
Bernadette Marciniak

Personal brand photographer for entrepreneurs who inspire & innovate

https://www.bernadettemarciniak.com
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