How to Prepare for Your Brand Photoshoot For Hutchinson KS Business & Real Estate Professionals
Your Headshot Is Costing You Clients
Woman sitting on a couch wearing a black tank top, owner of Wildflower Boutique in Hutchinson KS, photographed for a personal branding session by Sara McMillian Photography.
You know that photo on your LinkedIn profile? The one from three years ago that makes you cringe every time someone views your page?
It's costing you money.
Here's what's happening: A potential client searches for real estate agents in Hutchinson. They click on your profile. They see that outdated, stiff headshot, the one where you're wearing clothes you don't even own anymore ,and they think, "Is this person even still in business?"
Then they click on your competitor's profile. Fresh photos. Confident smile. Professional but approachable.
They call your competitor.
The truth is, your brand photos aren't just pictures. They're the first impression most clients will ever have of you. And if that first impression is outdated, awkward, or inauthentic, you're losing business before the conversation even starts.
Here's What's at Stake
Without professional brand photos, clients assume you're inexperienced or outdated. You blend in with every other agent or business owner. Your website feels generic. Trust is harder to build.
With the right brand photos, you look established and trustworthy. Clients feel like they already know you. Your marketing actually reflects who you are. You attract the clients you actually want to work with.
The good news? You don't need to be "photogenic." You just need a plan.
What Happens When You Get This Right
One of my clients, a real estate agent in Hutchinson, was struggling. She was losing listings to newer agents. And she knew why.
Her headshot was five years old. Stiff. Formal. Nothing like the warm, funny person she actually was.
Potential clients would land on her profile, see that photo, and call someone else.
After her brand photoshoot, everything changed.
Her new photos showed up everywhere: website, Google profile, Instagram, email signature. And within a month, she started hearing feedback she'd never heard before:
"I loved your photos, you seem so approachable. That's why I called you."
That's what happens when your visuals finally match who you are.
She didn't just get new photos. She got new clients.
The Simple Plan for Photos That Grow Your Business
Recently, a Hutchinson business owner told me she was losing sleep over her brand photoshoot. She didn't know what to wear. She hated being photographed. She was convinced the photos would look nothing like her.
Sound familiar?
Here's what I told her:
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Here's the plan:
1. Know what you want clients to feel. Before you pick outfits, write down three words, like "professional, approachable, experienced." These words guide everything from wardrobe to locations.
2. Plan how you'll use the photos. Website? LinkedIn? Marketing materials? Share a shot list with your photographer so you leave with exactly what you need.
3. Show up confident. Get rest. Hydrate. Remember: these photos are an investment in your business, not a vanity project. That mindset shift changes everything.
And here's a secret:
You're not supposed to know how to pose. That's the photographer's job. Your job is to show up and be yourself. The best photos happen in those in-between moments—the laugh between poses, the relaxed expression when you think the camera isn't rolling.
Here's What You Need to Do Next
Professional brand photos aren't just LinkedIn headshots. They're your visual handshake with the world.
Done right, they:
Attract high-quality clients
Build instant trust
Boost your online visibility
Show off your expertise
Done wrong or not done at all, they cost you business every single day.
So here's my question:
How much longer are you going to let that outdated photo represent you?
At Sara McMillan Photography, I walk Hutchinson professionals through every step from strategy call to final delivery, so you feel prepared, confident, and supported.
Ready to stop losing clients to that old headshot?
Let's create photos that help your business grow.
Serving real estate agents, business owners, and professionals in Hutchinson, Wichita, Newton, and Central Kansas.
