Melissa Martin

27/03/2024

Hey Peeps,
I’m making a few changes to this account.

Privacy is the new black so I’ve decided to no longer use this account.

You’re welcome to join me over on Instagram where I have made my account there private.

If Insta is not your thing then send me an email at: [email protected]

with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and I can keep you updated on my latest musings and projects.

Of course, if we are already connected via other platforms or IRL then no need to do anything because we are still friends! OBVS
😘

28/08/2023

Thrilled to have Lucy and Brianna from in my studio last week for some new headshots.

These two brought the vibe and were so fun to photograph. Thank you ladies for your beautiful energy! 🙌🏻

I know how daunting it can be to step in front of the camera and be photographed by someone you don’t know very well.

For this reason I always like to connect with my clients beforehand to help put them at ease and answer any questions they may have.

I also like to send a Welcome Guide and Shoot Day Info sheet prior to their session so they feel prepared and confident knowing exactly what to bring and how the session will run.

On the day it’s just about having fun, going with the flow and following my direction. Kinda like a yoga class! 🧘‍♂️

It’s really that easy! 😃

Need to update your headshot?
Send me a DM today.

Mel xx

14/06/2023

This woman doesn't exist.

Nor does the background.

I created this image using AI (Midjourney).

I prompted it to produce a photo of a professional woman by referencing my own original photographic work.

The realism is mind-blowing, right?

Here is where I see positive uses:
✅ Moodboard creation - being able to visually articulate ideas to clients/creative team and close the gap between ideas and results
✅ Presentation materials where communicating an original vision for a project is integral to winning the work

Here is where I see negative uses:
❌ Fakery and deception

I asked my Instagram followers how they felt about photorealistic AI images like the one below.

Some were intrigued. Others hated it.

Out of curiosity, how do you feel about it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

09/06/2023

Are you a service-based entrepreneur struggling to attract new clients for your business?

It could be time to evaluate your personal branding strategy!

Ask yourself these questions:
🤔 Do you have a clear understanding of your brand's mission and vision?

🤔 Have you established a consistent visual identity for your brand?

🤔 Do you regularly create and share content relevant to your audience?

🤔 Does your content showcase your expertise?

If you answered no to any of these, then it's time for you to take action.

Check out our "Brand Yourself for Success" quiz to see where you can improve your personal branding strategy and attract new clients!

Answer 10 questions and we’ll send you a personalised report to help you develop your personal brand and set yourself up for success based on your result.

18/05/2023

Have you ever traveled overseas to a place you’ve never been to before?

Before your trip, you dive into countless articles and resources, sparking your imagination and filling your mind with visions of the incredible experiences that await.

The moment you arrive, you jump into a taxi and eagerly begin your adventure.

Your friendly cab driver shares their insider knowledge of must-see landmarks and attractions pointing to many of them on the way to your accommodation.

To make the most of your time, you write them all down on your phone excited to discover each hidden gem.

However, as you lie on your hotel bed reflecting on the day, the seemingly endless options start to feel overwhelming.

What should you do first? Where should you go?

How do you make the most of your time?

After imagining several different itineraries in your head, you start to feel fatigued.

Suddenly wish you had a local guide - someone who understands your unique preferences and can create an itinerary just for you, ensuring you make the most of your precious time.

This overwhelming feeling often parallels what my clients experience when starting their journey toward building their personal brand.

At first, the idea seems exciting and straightforward, but once the excitement fades, they start to feel unsure of what activities to prioritise and end up doing nothing at all.

Does this sound familiar?

This is why I've created the Build My Personal Brand - Starter Package.

It's an 8 week program to help kickstart your personal brand and includes:
- Personal Brand Coaching
- Content Creation Strategy & Plan
- Visual Brand Identity Kit
- Personal Brand Photos
- Support and Guidance

If you're feeling stuck when it comes to building your personal brand and would love to work with someone who can guide you and provide you with your own custom itinerary then this program is for you!

Interested?

Head to the link in my comments to apply.

Only 4 places are available.

12/05/2023

One of the things I absolutely love about visual AI is being able to use it to develop ideas for photoshoots.

What once used to take a few days to conceptualise now only takes an hour or two. Depending on how much time you allow yourself to explore, of course.

I was never a fan of using Pinterest to collect reference images to communicate my ideas. They never quite hit the mark and it was impossible to show clients what I could 'see' in my mind's eye.

Now, with Midjourney that has all changed!

I love the ability to describe what I see and then have Midjourney respond with a set of images that reflect that.

Sometimes the results are a little off.

But by tweaking my prompts more times than not the results blow me away and are even better than what I had originally visualised.

It's a brilliant tool to help communicate visual ideas with commercial/brand clients for their photoshoots.

Because ultimately we no longer have to worry about the gap between concept and delivery.

We can present our ideas exactly as we'd like to create them.

Below are my Midjoureny results for an imagined photoshoot campaign for luxury golf wear.

10/05/2023

Aren't you just sick of all the information that's out there about how to grow your business?

Ugh.

I know I am.

Instead of taking action and doing the things that actually move the needle in our business, we waste countless hours researching, reading, and learning - all good things in their own right - but eventually, we need to choose a strategy and ACT.

Right????!!!!

Because what good is the information if it's not applied?🤔

How will you know if something works for you or not if you don't try it?🤔

Time is the most precious resource we have, so let's not waste another second!

For those of you who are with me on this, I've created a little somethin' somethin' to help our overwhelmed brains!

⭐️ Introducing my Build Your Personal Brand 30-Day Challenge!⭐️

Sign up and get 1 short and concise (2 minutes to read) email from me with 1 strategy and 3 action steps to help build your personal brand for the next 30 days!

I've collated all the info I've acquired from my own studies and experience and broken it up into bite-sized strategies with 3 actionable steps delivered daily over 30 days direct to your inbox saving you a bunch of time.⚡️

As I know some of you will be at different stages of your business, I suggest reading each email and only applying the strategies that resonate for you right now.😉

I also recommend creating a folder for these emails and saving them so you can refer back to them at a later date whenever you feel stuck or need some fresh ideas to get things flowing again.

The best thing about it is it's FREE - so what are you waiting for?

Remember time is ticking!

Head to the link in my comments to sign up and start building your personal brand like a boss TODAY.

Let's go!

08/05/2023

Today is World Ovarian Cancer Day.

Did you know that a woman dies every 8 hours from this disease?

It’s a heartbreaking statistic.

Made even more so by the fact that there is no early detection test.

Why?

Primarily, lack of funding 😭.

This is what I learned today after attending the Women of Influence Lunch hosted by Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (OCRF).

It’s upsetting and makes me think we can do so much more to turn things around to reduce (eliminate) the impact of this disease.

Raising awareness, talking about it, making donations and prioritising our own health as women is the first step.

I know that after today I’m definitely going to listen to my body more closely and if in doubt, go and see my doctor.

I’m also going to be wearing my Witchery white shirt a little differently knowing that my purchase will go towards fighting this disease and funding an early detection test.

Congrats Witchery on raising over $1mil so far 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.

Thank you to the speakers Leane Flynn, Jelena Dokic and Maria Thattil for sharing your stories and your truth 🤍.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Please.

23/04/2023

Heyyy! I'm back!

Well, I was never gone but you know, just taking time to hang with my peeps over the school holidays.

My girls are getting so big and even though they're not getting ready to move out tomorrow, I know how quickly time passes.

I don't want to miss these precious years with them to make memories and enjoy our time together as a family.

Here is a little pic of my crew taking in the beautiful ocean view on our walk to Fort Nepean. Can anyone spot Tassie? 😂

One of the biggest reasons I left law and started my own business was so I could have the flexibility to set my own hours and work around them.

I love working and it can be all too easy for me to let it take over.

I don't believe in 50/50 work-life balance but I do believe in work-life blending. And these ratios look different depending on what is happening at the time.

In the 6 years I've been in business applying this approach, I have never dropped the ball with any of my clients so I can wholeheartedly say work-life blending works for me!

Having well-oiled systems and processes in your business helps too.

Wishing all the working parents a great start to Term 2 tomorrow.

Let's do this 🙌🏼

_______

Hi there! I'm a personal branding photographer and strategist based in Melbourne, Australia.

I work with ambitious entrepreneurs who are ready to close the gap between where they are now and where they want to be by embracing their personal brand.

Sound like you?
Say hello or book a virtual coffee chat with me.

https://portal.melissamartin.co/public/appointment-scheduler/6201b47ec0b17c965e3d4b4d/schedule

😊
_______

09/04/2023

Happy Easter Beautiful Peeps!

I hope you're enjoying some downtime with your favourite people and the Easter Bunny has been eggstra generous this year! 🍫

In the quiet of the afternoon, once the guests have left, and with the sound of rain falling on the roof (as it is right now here in Melbourne 🌧️), I love to take a moment to sit and reflect and daydream.

It's a good time to review Q1 and then from a place of connection and gratitude, plan ahead to Q2.

Are you feeling this too?

The perfect pause to reset before we begin again.

Lean into it and be open to what is true for you.

😊

Ps as it's school holidays I'll be taking time to hang with my minis 👧🏼👧🏻.

I won't be on socials as much but will still be taking calls/bookings 📱

Plus I'm working behind the scenes on a VERY SPECIAL offer that I'm super excited to share with you all soooon!

Mel xx