Reader,

Growing up in Bombay, I learned to look for quiet moments in the chaos of the city.

Not just faces.
I was obsessed with light and the environment.

Sometimes I would stop strangers to make portraits.
Sometimes I’d end up in conversations in cabs or restaurants where strangers would share from the heart.

I didn’t think of it as a method or framework.
I loved the connection and being able to make people feel seen.

Years later, I realized I use those same skills in my brand work.

Your job title tells people what you do.
But it doesn’t tell them much about the person doing it. ​
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It doesn’t show your personality, what you notice, what you believe or the experiences that shaped the way you work.

That’s the part of branding I find most interesting.

When I talk with someone about their work, I listen for the things they’ve stopped noticing because they feel completely ordinary.

Sometimes that becomes the story we tell.
Sometimes it changes their positioning.
And sometimes it changes how they should be seen visually.

A headshot shows people what you look like.
The story of who you are is bigger than a face.

Some of my best brand work has started with a throwaway line like, “Oh, that’s just how I’ve always done it.”

More often than not, that line was the story.

Alpana

P.S. I’m opening 5 founding spots soon for editorial images that support your story and content, so you’re never stuck looking for a visual.

Want first look?

Reply with “me” and I’ll send you the details before anyone else.