SF Bay Area Brand Photography For Life Coach Michele Waterman
Sometimes you get connected to someone who not only becomes a client for life, but also a friend for life. And that’s what has happened with Michele Waterman.
As you may remember from my last post with Michele, the day of our initial brand shoot we got rained out from our plans to go frolic in the forest in the afternoon.
We didn’t let it rain on our parade as we quickly pivoted to some fun family photos by her home in between downpours.
But I promised Michele that we would reschedule the forest portion of her shoot as soon as it got sunny and dry enough outside.
Why Branding Photography Matters for Life Coaches
While a majority of us use our computers on a daily basis to market and conduct our business, there is a simple fact – no matter what you do, the livelihood of your business lives outside of your laptop.
This Solhaus Media value resonated hard with Michele, as she is big on daily movement and getting outdoors.
She suggested we head over to Nisene Marks State Park in the Bay Area for this portion of her brand photography shoot. It’s always been a dream of mine to photograph my client among a forest of redwood trees, and this location did not disappoint.
Creating Visuals That Reflect Inner Transformation
For these photos of Michele, we decided to get a little creative to reflect the personal renaissance Michele is having after a tumultuous few years.
We really wanted to encapsulate the idea of confidence and resurrection. A mid-life comeback from being kept small.
To start, Michele wore a beautiful red gown that popped against the backdrop of green trees. We played with the light to get some interesting shots that can tell a variety of stories, i.e. “seeing through the darkness”.
A Brand Photo Shoot in the SF Bay Area Redwoods
Michele then changed into one of her power outfits – a teal jumpsuit. We got a great variety of shots in this look, from standing tall and confident, to adding a lace duster for a more feminine edge to her vibe.
Getting Casual for Your Branding Session in Nature
Michele is big on exercise, so the last look we did was of her in her workout clothes. We got some fun creative shots of her running and the background blurred and ended with some cute shots of her in the forest with her tracksuit.
In addition to running a coaching business, Michele is also the founder of multiple non-profits and is a natural connector and collaborator. Her values revolve around inclusion and using your voice for good. I loved these last few shots because the nature of non-profits is to organize and create movements, and so I saw an opportunity for these shots to share a double meaning. We move to keep all aspects of our lives healthy, including speaking up for good causes.
Planning Your Own SF Bay Area Brand Photography Session
That’s the beauty of brand photos that don’t revolve around a laptop. Creativity is a fuel, which means that your creative and conceptual brand photos will have a much longer shelf life than if you just left yourself in a box.
Want to get photos like this for your own business? Click below to schedule a call to talk about how Solhaus Media can work with you to create powerful and authentic imagery.
Check out Michele’s brand video from our last shoot below!
This personal brand video captures the heart of Michele Waterman’s work as a life coach, filmed in the SF Bay Area. Through unscripted storytelling and intentional visuals, Michele shares her “why,” offering insight into her values, mission, and how she helps clients reconnect with themselves through transformational coaching. If you're looking for branding video inspiration that feels grounded, real, and reflective of your unique energy, this is a beautiful example of how video can elevate your personal brand.
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MEET BERNADETTE
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.
Abby is a Bay Area fashion stylist in the Silicon Valley experiencing a tremendous amount of growth in her business, so she knew it was time for a Bay Area video production for her brand with brand videographer Bernadette Marciniak of Solhaus Media.