Why Storytelling Drives Deeper Connections with Your Audience

Jennie Wright [00:00:02]:
Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Acquire Podcast. I’m excited to have everybody here today. I’m your host, Jenny Wright. I’m a list build and lead generation expert, and I do not get enough about talking about lead generation, sales, strategy, marketing, branding, pretty much anything that makes that marketing engine move. And one of the things that is not talked about enough is making sure that we tell an authentic story. Being able to convey who we are, what we do, and how we get that in front of our ideal client is essential especially with all the noise in this online environment, which makes today’s conversation absolutely perfect. And I get to talk to a local.

Jennie Wright [00:00:40]:
I get to talk to somebody I’ve known for a couple years, Natalie Amlani who is awesome. We’ve actually been able to meet in person several times which has been super fun and she is a personal brand strategist and photographer and when I say photographer I really have to elevate this because she’s like the ultimate photographer. She’s done

Nathalie Amlanie [00:00:57]:
I love that.

Jennie Wright [00:00:58]:
She’s done the brand shoots for some of my clients and they are phenomenal. So Natalie thank you so much for being on.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:01:04]:
Oh, I’m so happy to be here. Thank you for such a nice intro.

Jennie Wright [00:01:07]:
Absolutely. I mean, I could get into the whole thing where I know you have like an MBA and you’re project management guru. You’ve got all these things. But I’d rather talk about, I mean, you we can get into that as well, but I’d love to talk about how you pull out the necessity of who the person is at their essence and get that across to people because like I was saying in the intro it’s so busy and so untidy in social media to try and get that across and you have very limited time. How have you developed this skill to be able to do that?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:01:42]:
So I really believe that it’s through my own personal experience, to be honest. So I reflect back on my journey. And, like, right now, if you were to go on my social media, you’ll see my face on it all over it. And I do try to show up and set an example, but I wasn’t like that before. I actually grew up really camera shy, really afraid to speak up in a room, and then also not really knowing, like, how to pose, like, all the things. Oh, you know? So then over time, it was a skill that I learned and I observed. I went to school for photography, and part of the magic was it was that I noticed that I was always observing. And I could feel other people’s energies and put myself in their shoes.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:02:30]:
And then through the expression of photography, I was able to capture moments that other people may not even realize for themselves. So it’s something that I was always really good at. So that’s that’s one piece of kind of seeing the story, right, capturing it behind the scenes. But then I realized that the whole marketing of my business relied heavily or or would be better if I were to show up on camera. So I noticed in myself that there was a shoot where a client wanted to take some behind the scenes of me and take a selfie, and I was so uncomfortable. I’m like, what? No. Like, I don’t need to be on camera. This is all about you.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:03:08]:
Right? And she’s like, no. Like, you should showcase, like, who you are. I mean, here I am doing brand photography, telling people to show up online, and I knew what would sell and what would work for them, but I actually wasn’t executing that myself fully. And, so I stepped into the client’s shoes by really, really doing this experience for myself. Showing up online, doing videos, started getting branding, photos, and I found that it it’s almost like a muscle where, like, the more you practice it, the easier it becomes. Or sometimes when I’m scared of going on a roller coaster after I go on it, I’m like, oh, it wasn’t so bad. Right? It’s the anticipation in not knowing that really can, like, hold someone back, especially me. And I found that the formula because I am actually working on a blog post about this, how to overcome, like, camera shyness or how to really, you know, step into yourself in front of the camera.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:04:11]:
And so much, like, so much of it has to do with planning. Mhmm. That’s one thing for sure. I really take a lot of time to plan shoots with clients. So then I find that because both sides, we have an understanding of the whole purpose of the shoot. Like, what are we doing? It’s not just showing up. You’re like, okay. Well, maybe we’ll just take some photos here and there.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:04:31]:
It’s really trying to, capture a purpose, the heart of the brand, the person’s personality. And then it’s like, how? How are we gonna do that? This is the plan. Right? And then, we list that all out, but that is all stuff that we have on paper so that on the shoot day, we know that that’s been done. And it’s just really focusing on being in the moment, being present, me guiding the person, talking to them, them feeling that they can trust me because we’ve already established that foundation. And then from there, it’s just, like, flowing, flowing with whatever comes next, which I feel really helps with their confidence because they’re already feeling, like, opened up to the experience.

Jennie Wright [00:05:17]:
You you had a good analogy there. I relate to the roller coaster analogy. That anticipation of like, I think of Wonderland. Right? So Canada’s Wonderland, which is, like, you know, just outside of Toronto where we both live. And Canada’s Wonderland has been around forever. I was going I used to go there when I was a kid. Did you go there when you were a kid? Yes. So, the anticipation of waiting in line to go into, like, the Ghoster Coaster, which was, you know, like one of the coasters for kids and you’re hearing the little ratcheting up right of the coaster and then everybody freaking out yay as they go down the hill like and your stomach would already be in a little bit of knots like how bad is this gonna be how good is it gonna be and everything.

Jennie Wright [00:05:52]:
I think that relates really really well to having a brand photo shoot in many ways because there’s a lot of unknown for people who are just not used to it. Like you said it’s a muscle. Right? And I think the more you do it the more comfortable you get for sure. Totally. Yeah. Absolutely. And I think that’s important. Tell me why it is so important to be able to visually storytell about your business in order to connect with your ideal client.

Jennie Wright [00:06:18]:
Why is this so important for us?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:06:20]:
There’s so many different okay. So number one, when you say visual, it it’s also something that we have to do as business owners to visualize our own success. So what so, you know, like, if we were to close our eyes, what does it look like for us to be each doing what we want to do for our clients? What does it feel like for yourself and the person that you’re servicing? Like, all of that is part of the success and bringing that dream to life is really what we wanna storytell. Right? So the storytelling is like, yes, you will have a batch of photos of yourself, you know, sitting on a couch and writing on a desk, but it’s that energy of you fulfilling that purpose. That purpose that you’ve always dreamed of doing and also how you help other people, that energy can really be felt in photos. So it’s almost like, for example, when I take family portraits, there’s a certain level of emotion that people can feel, And it’s the same thing with branding photography. So if you’re feeling, like, really alive and excited for, for example, I feel really excited for when I’m holding my camera. So sometimes the headshots that I give of me holding the camera, you know, I can I’m, like, a little bit more lit up or alive.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:07:39]:
Right? So then it’s just that connection that people can feel. And, also, people wanna get to know who they’re working with and investing in, especially if you’re offering something that’s high ticket. There’s a lot of people offering expensive things, so the differentiator in why they might pick one over the other will be the connection that they feel with that person. And that almost comes down to, like, a feeling. It’s like gut instinct. Right? Like, who can they see themselves, like, you know, investing in, connecting with, having, like, a long term relationship with at the end of the day. Right? Because some of these offers and experiences aren’t just one time. They they are something that is, like, a lasting impression.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:08:25]:
You know? Like, you invest in a brand. You may make a one time purchase, but you’re using it day in and day out, for example. Right? So we wanna feel, like, good about it.

Jennie Wright [00:08:36]:
This is, like, so not part of the conversation I was going to have, but I have to ask it because Yeah. It makes me think this. You’re behind the camera. People are taking pictures of you. I’ve I’ve seen this in person of you actually doing this, and and I actually took pictures of you behind the camera, for one of my clients. You have to be on. Not only on for the client, but on for that as well. How draining is that for you as the person behind the scenes and also in front of the scene a little bit taking all the pictures? Like how are you showing up for your clients day by day by day with that energy they need to feel confident, to feel empowered in all the things.

Jennie Wright [00:09:11]:
What does that what does that take for you to do that?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:09:14]:
Well, I love this question so much because I think about it all the time. So I like, after I’m done a photo shoot, I am so alive. I feel so elevated and uplifted. I just love stepping into my client’s shoes because it’s this energy of, like, dreaming, of visioning, of bringing someone’s, like, beauty from within out. Like, everyone has such a beautiful story, and it’s just, like, amazing to bring it out, learn more about how they started, even learning about their personal lives. Like, you know, the strategies in a branding photoshoot is, yes, we are following, like, a script or whatnot, but we’re also getting to know each other. Like, I’m I’m asking them a few different things about how they feel when they’re doing this or that, or have they ever traveled here? Like, it’s just getting to know that person in a different way. Mhmm.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:10:08]:
And it really lights me up. Like, I find it really interesting. I think it’s part of my own personal curiosity that I’ve always had as a child. Like, that’s why I just love stories. Right?

Jennie Wright [00:10:18]:
So you get energy from this. Like, you’re not are you like an and then this is again, this is me asking questions about you, but are you more introverted, extroverted, ambiverted? Because if you’re pulling energy from these things and it’s lighting you up, like Yeah.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:10:33]:
Definitely, like, I can come across as an introvert because I can be really shy sometimes when I’m in new situations, but I really get charged from being around people. So my husband and I joke about it all the time because he’s a strong introvert. So he can go days and months without needing to see anyone. But but our family where sometimes I’m like, I I need to see some people outside of our family. Do you wanna, you know, like, goodbye, or let’s let’s maybe arrange, like, the social meetup or have people over? I think that’s why I also really enjoy facilitating the embrace events. I get, like, this high off of seeing people connect. But the question about how I prepare for my clients, I actually so this is what I do for my schedule because my schedule is actually really busy. So people always ask me all the time, how do you do it all?

Jennie Wright [00:11:23]:
Yeah. Because you got two young kids.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:11:25]:
Yeah. People say it all the time. Like, you are everywhere. How do you do it all? And I’ve thought about that because it’s not like a straightforward answer. Like, oh, I have a calendar and I put it in. Like, it’s it really is the energetics of it. So I that’s I mean, I was a project manager, like, when, you know, previous to this at the bank. So I’m I really thrive off of planning.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:11:48]:
So, for example, if I know that the client shoot is in the calendar, we will we like, you know, we will do the steps on paper of planning it, but I am also energetically in my mind. Like, I see that space on the calendar of January 15, let’s say, and I’m already starting to energetically hold that space, visioning how that shoot’s gonna look like. And I already know how it’s gonna feel like because I’ve talked to the client. So then I’ll also do the steps of, like, like, same thing that I tell clients. Make sure you’re getting a lot of rest the night before. Right? I will make sure that I have my list of everything that I need to pack for the client experience the night before. And for for longer shoots, I like to pick up some, like, snacks, like, things that are nourishing and healthy, like drinks and stuff like that.

Jennie Wright [00:12:29]:
With your green juice and stuff. Yeah.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:12:32]:
I just really like to, like, set the experience, and the environment that that we’re gonna be in because it’s almost like hosting. Right? I’m hosting this experience. So there’s a lot of, like, care and nurturing that goes into it. So I do like to plan. Yeah. So one thing I yeah. Even for trips, I always tell my husband. I’m like, I wanna pack in advance and then for the twenty four hours before the trip, I can’t pack because I can’t at least, it’s just that last minute thing I don’t like to do.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:12:59]:
Like, I wanna eat

Jennie Wright [00:13:00]:
it too.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:13:00]:
Space. Yeah. Whereas he’s very last minute. Right? So then it it’s like because I I like to just have that energetic space to just then prepare for the fact that I’m gonna be going on a trip.

Jennie Wright [00:13:15]:
I hey. I’m one of those people that looks for the trip a month in advance. Right? I am that person, and I cannot pack, like, the day before. It drives me nuts too. Totally get it. Yeah. It just it makes me insane. But you know what? Having that mindset of being very, like, organized about stuff like that means that the client benefits because if you’re coming into a brand photo shoot and you have chaotic energy you’re creating that chaotic energy for your client it’s really hard for them to relax it’s really hard for them to feel you know in the moment being able to be their authentic self and so on.

Jennie Wright [00:13:48]:
The same thing falls into when I, you know, do launches and stuff like that. If the client feels chaotic, like, I just already know that we’re gonna have a problem. And I think this is a great way for your your project management experience to, like, transcend and come into this, which is great. And, you know, I know that with you when you run your events, I’m sure you bring that too. Mhmm. I have questions about and then, you know, I’m a big proponent of getting your branding photography done even though please don’t be upset with me. I haven’t done it since 2019. Oh, no.

Jennie Wright [00:14:20]:
Twenty twenty. It was 2020. It was 2020. Right before the pandemic hit, literally, a week before everything went down, it was February of twenty twenty and late February, and I had a brand photo shoot done. And I haven’t done it since. Okay. My bad. Twenty twenty five planning.

Jennie Wright [00:14:38]:
Here we go. But my question is, what are the tangible results? Right because this is a long this is like a long term thing you get your pictures done you have immediately like based on your your like one of your VIP ones you have like three months of great content and so on I’m sure people can expand that and use it longer. What’s the immediate benefits that people can see in their businesses by having the right type of photography, not just any type, but the right type of photography done for their businesses?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:15:04]:
The immediate benefit is this magnetic energy that comes off of you as soon as you share your photos.

Jennie Wright [00:15:11]:
Okay.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:15:11]:
So this is top of mind for me because I was doing event photography last week for a coach for an event that she held, and I also did headshots for the attendees that were there so people could upgrade and get headshots if they wanted to. Some of the attendees who have received and selected their headshots so far have immediately posted on LinkedIn and shared, like, a story or something about themselves, maybe sharing their accomplishments. But there’s this, like, newfound energy that I can see in their post because they also have this new image of themselves that they feel so good about. So it’s like this layer of, you know, sharing the text, but also this, like, confident image of themselves that reflects this point in time of who they are right now. And you should see the engagement that’s on these posts.

Jennie Wright [00:16:00]:
Oh, yeah. Like, oh my god.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:16:01]:
I love Renew Headshot or, like, they’re they’re really commenting on their content. And I was like, yes. You go girl. You know? It’s just like Yeah. I I can just feel it, and I’m so happy for them. Like, it’s that this is what I noticed. Or a one client, she did a whole, VIP session. So she has, like, a lot of photos

Jennie Wright [00:16:23]:
to

Nathalie Amlanie [00:16:23]:
use, but they’re they’re planning the launch. So what they did was they picked one of the photos and they posted a teaser on the ins on this new Instagram account by creating breaking up the photo into a grid of nine squares so that it makes this, like, massive image when you look at it together. And there’s a tagline and a quote about what’s coming. Smart. And that you know what I mean? Like, it just creates so much, like, wow. So they’re feeling really good about it, excited. They’ve teaser images, and it just brings this whole level of, like, elevated confidence and excitement.

Jennie Wright [00:17:04]:
I agree. Mhmm. I totally agree. I know that as somebody who builds, like, funnels and launches and things like that, and I don’t do as much of that as my as I have in the past, I’m moving like, I move more into the CMO role of things. But for all of the funnels and the summits and everything that I had to build, photography was such a huge important piece. The visuals were huge and important. And when a client would give me, like, the basic headshot, you know, like, top of head to, like, mid upper arm or if I just got the shoulders, I’m like, come on. I can’t put this on a page.

Jennie Wright [00:17:37]:
And as soon as a client would give me an image where and and you’ll know what I’m talking about, where, like, the client is on one side of the image and there’s all this, like, float space where I can float copy or graphics or opt in box or whatever. The page that was how I was getting these high conversion landing pages was not doing headshot box. Right? It was like this beautiful hero image with the client on one side, and then I could float all this gorgeous copy and stuff. And that’s one of the secrets of of a high converting landing page or sales page. And having that photography is essential, but not everybody gets it. But I will tell you that if you’re when you’re looking at sales, when you’re looking at conversions, when you’re looking at selling your course, I don’t care if it’s $9 or $900. Conversion matters and and percentage points matter. Right.

Jennie Wright [00:18:26]:
And that photography can add percentage points. Oh, interesting. That’s cool. I’ve done this, Natalie, where I’ve had AB testing, where I’ve had because I had to prove this to a client. I had this client, he was a bit of a jerk, and he’s just like, Arnold, believe that, you know, blah blah blah works. And I’m like, okay. Let me prove it to you. I’m gonna AB test this.

Jennie Wright [00:18:45]:
Okay? And then it’s definitive, and then you can thank me later. And, I I I literally did two, like, AB test. I’d had, like, one where I built it, and it was the gorgeous sort of, you know, hero image brand photography kind of stuff because he had some. It was older. He didn’t even look like that guy anymore, but whatever. Mhmm. And then I did one with his newer sort of, like, LinkedIn headshot and stuff like that. And can I tell you that the difference was 14%? Oh my gosh.

Jennie Wright [00:19:09]:
14%. Same traffic, Nothing different. Same copy. Only thing that was different was beautiful hero image versus headshot with a stupid little form. And I love being able to and I just love being able to put that in front of somebody and say, see? Tada. And, and then that’s the end of that story.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:19:28]:
I am writing down the quote right now. It’s like the best. Like, photography will raise percentage points to your launch conversion. Oh, yeah. So good.

Jennie Wright [00:19:36]:
Yeah. It’s it’s it’s I love that. It’s huge. So when you’re thinking of doing this, just don’t think it’s pretty pictures on social, which it is, but they’re more than that. Mhmm. This means that you can connect with more people, which will mean more trust, which will mean more sales, And those percentage points matter when you’re getting in front of an audience. Yes. I I

Nathalie Amlanie [00:19:57]:
mean, I always saw I’ve I’ve actually said this in a speech before about if we think about the simple example of a children’s storybook. Mhmm. Like, children, they like the visuals, but they also like to hear the story. It’s this combination, right, that strengthens what like, it strengthens each other. Right? And it’s very memorable when they could see the images as well. Mhmm. So it’s like and stories always follow a flow so you can kind of anticipate what’s happening, but you also wanna see that point in the story. Like, it’s it’s this whole thing that packages really well together.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:20:35]:
Yes. So it’s it’s it’s it’s important to have those visuals to go along with that copy, that story. Always.

Jennie Wright [00:20:43]:
I fully agree with you. Always. And it it is a difference maker in the sales side. It’s a difference maker. If you’d you know what a book a call funnel is. Right? So the whole point of a book a call funnel is get people on a page, make them realize they wanna have a sales call with you for their big, you know, probably high ticket item. And I work with a lot of clients that do, like, 12,000 up to 35,000 or $50,000 masterminds. And you’re gonna not gonna nobody’s gonna buy that off the website.

Jennie Wright [00:21:13]:
They wanna book a call. But to get them to book a call, you need to get them to convert. And those pages, a lot of people will just throw a wall of text and then put a book call button at the bottom. Those don’t convert well. The person is actually gonna make the decision literally in the first five lines. And the thing that makes that decision isn’t the copy. It’s the way it looks on the page and what is surrounding it. So if you have really pretty icons or really gorgeous hero image or my favorite is, again, always client off to one side looking at the copy or the box, not even gesturing, they’re just looking at it, draws the eye to it.

Jennie Wright [00:21:53]:
I can get that page to convert, like, over 4040% with the right imagery. And it’s always harder to get people to convert without the right imagery, which is why I think it’s so important to have brand photography. Yeah. But so to to that point, and I actually wanna switch this up a little bit. One of the things that I know that you talk about a lot is empowerment and strategy, and and I think you kinda put those hand in hand. How do you convey to a potential client or how do you engage with the world to be able to say this is the important piece and it doesn’t have to be so hard?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:22:30]:
The important piece of

Jennie Wright [00:22:33]:
growing your business, getting in front of your ideal client. Like, how do you how do you share with people? Because I’m sure there’s fear and worry over, like, well, how do I appear empowered? How do I how do I connect with my ideal client that way? What I mean you have that innately because you get that energy from people but how do you convey that to the client? Like I know you I’m we we know some of the same people and I know one of the people that you you did a photo shoot not too long ago with with somebody who’s super shy. How do you how do you get that person to engage and understand that this is not the scary thing and it’s actually the good thing?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:23:06]:
Yeah. I I I really like this question because I actually got an inquiry come through where someone was saying that they were reading my reviews, and it mentioned that I help someone who’s camera shy overcome that. And they were like, I’m camera shy as well. Can we chat? Right? And I was like, oh, yeah. This is so interesting, because I never really honed in on that specifically. But in terms of the importance and then conveying that, I really say to people, like, people wanna get to know you. And then more importantly, I do it indirectly by I’m genuinely really interested in learning more about the person when we hop on a call, and I am just all over it. I’m like, oh my gosh.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:23:47]:
So I’ll take the time to listen to their like, what their business mission is, who they serve, and their vision for the shoot. And then immediately, my mind starts thinking of all these different ideas and visuals and story buckets. And I tell them, this is what I’m thinking for you. And these are the ideas, and this is why I feel that this will be great for you, and it’s really drawing on what they’ve already told me.

Jennie Wright [00:24:12]:
And I feel like a picture?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:24:14]:
I completely paint a picture, and it’s just something that just pops up in my mind as they’re telling me I’m already, like, it’s it’s already like swirling, you know, in my mind. I’m already like painting the canvas, and then I share with them the vision of like, okay. These are the possibilities of what we can do, and this is why I think would be good for you. And I see you you know what I mean? It’s really and it’s not something that’s a cookie cutter approach. It’s really what I feel would be great for them, but it’s also throwing like, nearing back at them what they’ve just told me. So I’m not, like, suggesting things that are out of left field that are crazy that you know what I mean? That would make them uncomfortable, but it’s really encouraging, like, what they are envisioning. Mhmm. Bringing that to life, making it, like, tangible so they can feel it almost.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:25:01]:
Yeah. And then from there, it’s, sometimes if there’s still a little bit of apprehension, I mean, there’s always a planning process. Like, I always tell them this is what we’re gonna do. I think even giving the vision, the recap email that I give after that’s pretty organized gives confidence. I’ve I’ve heard people tell me that. But it’s also just, like, yeah, just giving examples. Sometimes I’ll give examples of other, clients that I’ve shot who are perhaps maybe in their field or share, like, a similar aesthetic that they’re looking for just so that they can really see it. You know? Because one thing is I’m painting the picture through words again.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:25:43]:
Yeah. Of course. But sometimes people need to see a little bit of a visual. So then it could be even me showing, like, sharing my screen and, you know, going through this is the space that I’m thinking. Because I’m already thinking about the space of where we’re gonna shoot this. And then I’ll be like, you know, what do you think of this? And then it’s just everything starts to become more alive. And I’ll be like, here’s an example of someone who, you know, similar aesthetic or similar to what you’re describing. And it it’s not always, like, a client of mine.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:26:11]:
It could be someone who is well known on the Internet, and I’ll pull up their website because I can feel or get a sense of what they’re trying to embody. So then, you know, just like a photo shoot, like, we will create, like, a Pinterest board for inspiration. Like, it’s not something that we need to reinvent the wheel. We will, like, we will look at other sources of inspiration. For sure.

Jennie Wright [00:26:33]:
Wow. Mhmm. I love that. That means that, you know, that puts you in a very special category, by the way. Oh, really? I know. So you being able to, as a person, to listen to people and in the moment as they’re describing it, be able to visualize and plan and create and then be able to, sort of visualize it back to them and get them to see what it could be is is is actually in a very advanced, like, sales technique.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:27:03]:
Oh, I love that. Yeah. I think yeah. That’s cool. It is. I actually don’t like, I don’t talk about that much at all, but maybe I should.

Jennie Wright [00:27:11]:
It’s cool. It’s a it’s it’s a it’s a very high like, it’s an advanced sales technique of being able to take somebody as because it’s in the moment. You’re doing it at the second that it’s happening as opposed to let me get back to you with my ideas because you’re able to then I’m sure your sale like, you’re able to close usually on that discovery call most likely because you’re able to create that vision and, bring that to life for people. So that’s a really that’s something really, really cool, something I notice, when people do for sure as opposed to the, you know, let me figure it out and get back to you and send you stuff. I that that’s really cool. I wanted to just before we circle up and and and bring this together, I could keep talking to you forever because it’s so much fun, but I really wanted to just sort of wrap this up and talk about the clarity people need to have before they take this step. And I know you have a freebie that people can grab. It’s the brand clarity workbook.

Jennie Wright [00:28:01]:
Why is it so important that people have to have that clarity, and how would this workbook kinda help them

Nathalie Amlanie [00:28:06]:
out? Yeah. Like, one of the things that is really helpful as a foundation is we need to know somewhat of our purpose. Yeah. Right? So, like, whether it’s a product or service, what are we putting out there? You know, sometimes we’re still in the stage of figuring it out, but there is some sort of underlying, like, arrow or direction that you’re going in. So you wanna at least have that. And then from there, really understanding yourself. So how do you, you know, want to kind of appear in terms of like, they say you’re, like, brand voice. Right? But so much of that, it’s so important because it’s really setting the tone and the vibration and it’s, like, everything.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:28:51]:
And it just makes such a difference. I mean, the aesthetic of it is I might be like, okay. Would you say that your brand is a little more dark and moody or, like, white and airy? You know? But that’s black and white right there. That sets a completely different contrast. Right? So it’s just knowing a little bit of that. Like, you really have to know a little bit of that mood that you want, the feeling. So that’s all in the brand clarity, and that’s kinda like the branding principles in general. You know? Like, sometimes branding people will equate to, like, colors or logos or taglines.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:29:25]:
But in general, even to get to that point, we we need to have a little bit of, like, knowledge of where we’re going.

Jennie Wright [00:29:34]:
Of

Nathalie Amlanie [00:29:34]:
course. Like, I find it really helpful when we know who we’re serving because these images are really meant to speak to our audience. So sometimes, like, for example, if someone is creating a food product, like I’ve shot for a client who, creates a food product. And, I mean, in general, if we think about it, we’re sitting around the family table. Food is for all ages. But, you know, who is this product really catered for if we dive deeper? Like, what sort of lifestyle are they living so they have an appreciation for more healthier foods? Right? So that starts to, like, narrow it down a little bit. So really doing that work on your target audience, stuff like that really does help because then it just it it works with then using it in a launch or a website or social media because I really picture the journey of, like, yes, you do the photography, but there’s a whole team of creative people who are gonna help that business move forward. So if you have that solid foundation, then it just helps everyone to get on the same page to put that vision forward for you.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:30:44]:
Well, as

Jennie Wright [00:30:44]:
a marketing strategist who deals with a lot of people and the necessity of brand, I thank you. What you do makes my life so much easier. And when I see you, like, really good brand photography from a client, I’m like, yes. That my job just got, like, so much easier. And when I don’t see it, I’m like, you need a photo shoot. I will sell your thing to from here to you know where, but you need a shoot. Like, please go get a brand photo shoot. So, yeah, I love that.

Jennie Wright [00:31:13]:
Thank you, Natalie, so much for doing this. How can people find you, get in touch with you, and, hey, even if you’re not in Toronto, book a session. Maybe you’ll travel, maybe you’ll travel here. I don’t know. But how can they do that?

Nathalie Amlanie [00:31:24]:
Yes. Okay. So I am hanging out on LinkedIn and Instagram these days. So that’s Pictonat branding creative for Instagram, and then LinkedIn is my name, so Natalie Yamani. And then my website is pictonats.com. So just click and explore, check it out. And then for people not in Toronto, I do offer, like, mentoring sessions now where I can help kind of what you’re describing, like, kind of saying back to you what your vision is and how you can make it come to life. I call it, like, the reframe session.

Nathalie Amlanie [00:31:59]:
So, yeah, you can reach out for

Jennie Wright [00:32:00]:
that too. Absolutely. And you know what? Travel to Toronto. Come here in the summer. Book a nice VIP full day photo shoot and stay in a nice hotel. It’s worth it. Yes. Have a good time.

Jennie Wright [00:32:10]:
Absolutely. Thank you Natalie. I really really appreciate and as for everybody who’s listening if you like what Natalie was saying go and check out our show notes we’ll have everything listed there so you can find her, you can get her workbook which is fantastic, and you can learn more about what branding and photography and all those wonderful things can do for your business. Make people like me happy, go get it done, and go get it refreshed. Don’t do what I did and like not do it since 2020 as we are now in 2025. So everybody listening, thank you so much. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, please think about hitting that subscribe button so you don’t miss another episode and leaving me a review. Let me know what you think.

Jennie Wright [00:32:45]:
Thanks so much, everybody. We’ll talk to y’all soon. Take care.