Emily Steele - Hummingbirds CEO
SESSION BOOKED:
Deluxe Brand Session
SESSION GOAL:
To capture updated headshots and lifestyle photos showcasing Emily’s bubbly personality and enthusiasm for her city of Des Moines that she can use for her website and marketing needs.
BRAND WORDS:
ENERGETIC│COLORFUL│PLAYFUL│HAPPY│URBAN
About the session:
I have photographed Emily on multiple occasions - for family photos and events she hosted - so it was super fun (and easy) to plan a Personal Branding photoshoot for her because I had already gotten to know her over the years.
Emily is the CEO of Hummingbirds, a marketing platform she founded that connects local content creators with brand campaigns in their city. Unlike other influencer platforms that focus heavily on individual influencers with high follower counts, Hummingbirds focuses on connecting local businesses with a large group of “real” local creators to experience their brand, collectively reaching hundreds of thousands of other local people. (Fun fact: I’m a Hummingbird myself.)
And since Emily’s vision is to help local communities thrive, she wanted her photos to “feel like I'm in Des Moines for sure, grab fun city shots and then more of a studio type of vibe.” So we planned her personal branding photo session around the following 3 different concepts:
Concept one: Studio headshots - in addition to capturing her personality and style (you seldom find Emily without a long dress, a big hat or an enthusiastic smile), we were able to bring in some fun pops of color between the studio backdrops and her wardrobe.
Concept two: Exploring Des Moines - I photographed her strolling around Des Moines’ East Village and popping into Daisy Chain and Indie House to show her genuine support of local businesses. (Not only did she purchase her coffee during the photoshoot, but also that amazing hat!)
Concept three: Travel + working remotely - Since Emily travels a lot, expanding Hummingbirds to other cities, she often works from cafes and coffee shops. We were able to capture both her travel and cafe photos in the same location.
We spent just about 4 hours together photographing each concept, including time for travel, transition and wardrobe changes. We had such a lovely morning together enjoying our beloved city. And by starting so early in the day, I was able to capture ALL of this content before lunch.
In her words:
I asked: “Why did you choose me?”
Emily said: “It's about aesthetic/style first and foremost. I like your style! I like you as a human, too, which makes a HUGE difference to have that comfort level.”
WHERE TO CONNECT WITH EMILY AND HUMMINGBIRDS:
PERSONAL BRANDING + HEADSHOTS
Are you ready to elevate your brand and your marketing with a library of strategic, custom images?
Let’s work together to create the photos your business deserves.