From a Brand Photoshoot to Speaking in Aruba: How Personal Branding Opens Unexpected Doors

Last summer I photographed a hairstylist who had just taken over a business that hosts educational retreats for hairstylists.

She specifically needed brand photos to market the retreats, and we wanted the images to capture exactly what those trips feel like.

Not stiff.
Not corporate.

Fun. Relaxed. Community-driven.

So that’s exactly what we created.

The shoot took place outside by a pool on a hot summer day. Everything was planned out ahead of time, like I always do for my brand photography sessions, but the vibe felt effortless.

She brought a few stylists and her sister to model for the shoot, which made it feel less like a production and more like a girls day.

There were drinks.
Food.
Inflatable flamingos floating in the pool.

And I was there capturing the energy of it all.

Because that’s the real goal of brand photography. Not just pretty photos. Photos that help someone sell the experience they’re offering.

She needed potential retreat attendees to look at those images and think:

I want to be there.

The Coffee Meeting I Thought Was About Another Photoshoot

A few months after the shoot, she reached out and asked if I wanted to grab coffee.

Naturally, I assumed she wanted to book another brand session. Which I was totally on board with because the first one had been so fun.

But when we sat down, she said something I wasn’t expecting.

“What would you think about being a speaker on our next retreat?”

I think my brain shut down for a second.

She wanted me to talk about personal branding.

How hairstylists can show up online.
How to market themselves confidently.
How to stand out in a crowded industry.

Me.

Speaking.

On a retreat.

This opportunity was something I had never even thought about pursuing. Yet here it was, sitting across from me at a coffee shop.

I was excited immediately.

She didn’t have the destination locked in yet, but the previous retreats had been in Punta Cana and Antigua.

I told her I’d happily go anywhere warm.

The Email That Confirmed It: Aruba

A couple months later I received an email while my child was napping on me.

The destination had been finalized.

Aruba.

A place I’ve wanted to visit since high school.

I responded immediately.

SIGN ME UP.

Soon I was signing a contract, sending over brand photos of myself, and coordinating with another speaker for the retreat.

Then I had another idea.

If hairstylists were coming to this retreat to grow their businesses, they might also want professional brand photos they could use to market themselves.

So I created a page offering my Bite Size Brand Sessions specifically for the stylists attending the retreat.

Minutes after the page went live, I received an inquiry.

Not from an attendee.

From another speaker on the retreat.

She wanted brand photos to market her own upcoming retreats.

And she booked immediately.

That was the moment I sat back and thought…

What is happening right now?

What I’ll Be Teaching at the Retreat

At the retreat I’ll be speaking about something I care deeply about: helping women market themselves confidently.

Specifically, I’ll be teaching hairstylists:

How to market themselves on social media
How to show up confidently online and in person
What to share so they attract the clients they actually want
How to avoid burnout while still staying visible

The goal is simple.

To help these women build a personal brand that brings the right clients to them.

Not just more clients.

Better aligned clients.

And for the stylists who want it, I’ll also be offering Bite Size Brand Sessions so they leave the retreat with photos they can immediately use to market themselves.

The Bigger Vision Behind All of This

What makes this opportunity feel so special is that it started with something simple.

A brand photoshoot.

The hairstylist needed photos to market her retreats.

Now those photos are helping fill those retreats.

And now I’m part of the retreat itself, helping other women grow their businesses.

It feels like a snowball effect, and honestly…

I’m here for it.

When I left my 9 to 5, I trusted that if I followed the vision I had for my business, opportunities would appear that I couldn’t fully see yet.

This is one of them.

My bigger mission has always been to help women grow and scale their businesses with confidence.

To help them believe in themselves enough to go after their bigger dreams.

And to remind them that when you start living your life and running your business with audacity, doors begin opening in ways you never expected.

Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a photoshoot.

And before you know it…

You’re packing for Aruba.

Thinking About Investing in Brand Photography?

If you’re building a business and want photos that actually help you market what you do, brand photography can be one of the most powerful tools you invest in.

Because the right images don’t just look good.

They help people understand your work, your energy, and the experience you create.

And sometimes…

They open doors you didn’t even know existed.

If you’re ready for brand photos that help you confidently show up and market your business, I’d love to work with you.

Let’s get you on the calendar.