Brand Building: Living The Whole Picture with Jama Pantel
Brand Building: Living the Whole Picture is the go-to podcast for ambitious women ready to elevate their visibility, build authentic confidence, and become the face of their brand.
Hosted by luxury portrait photographer, author, educator, and former influencer Jama Pantel, this podcast delivers actionable strategies on personal branding, photography, and business growth—so you can step into the spotlight with clarity and purpose.
If you've ever felt unseen in your industry, struggled with confidence on camera, or hesitated to show up boldly, this is your roadmap to build a powerful presence that gets you noticed and respected.
Join Jama as she helps you build a brand that stands out, master your presence in photos and video, and turn your expertise into a magnetic business.
It’s time to stop playing small and start showing up like the leader you were meant to be.
Brand Building: Living The Whole Picture with Jama Pantel
Why Personal Branding is Important and Essential to Career Growth and Online Success
Why Personal Branding Is Important for Career Growth & Online Success
- 00:07 – Intro: Jama welcomes you to Living the Whole Picture and introduces the importance of personal branding.
- 01:26 – Defining Personal Branding: What it is—a blend of your skills, personality, and values—and why authenticity is key.
- 03:01 – Early Social Media Journey: Jama shares how focusing solely on finished work wasn’t enough and the shift to sharing real-life moments.
- 03:43 – The COVID Catalyst: How COVID forced Jama to step in front of the camera, share educational content, and boost her confidence.
- 04:40 – Becoming a Run Influencer: Embracing behind-the-scenes moments to build trust and connect with her audience.
- 06:03 – Career Catalyst: How a strong personal brand opened doors to collaborations, speaking gigs, and industry recognition.
- 07:13 – Boosting Your Online Presence: The power of consistent storytelling across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and podcasts.
- 07:48 – Building Your Brand: Practical strategies—start with your story, define your values, be consistent, share your process, engage authentically, and invest in your growth.
- 09:27 – Celebrating Wins: The importance of sharing achievements (even small ones) to build credibility and community.
- 10:57 – Final Thoughts: Your personal brand is your superpower—your unique journey sets you apart.
- 18:57 – Conclusion & CTA: Reflecting on the impact of personal branding and inviting you to join the community.
Key Takeaways:
- Authenticity is Everything: Your true story, values, and unique perspective are the foundation of your brand.
- Vulnerability Builds Trust: Sharing both your struggles and victories creates genuine connections with your audience.
- Consistency Matters: A cohesive online presence helps you stand out in today’s crowded digital space.
- Invest in Your Growth: Continuous self-improvement and embracing new experiences evolve your brand over time.
- Opportunities Abound: A strong personal brand opens doors to collaborations, partnerships, and career advancement.
Call to Action (CTA):
If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe to Living the Whole Picture on your favorite podcast platform, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people discover the show. For more inspiration, behind-the-scenes content, and practical tips on photography and personal branding, follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamapantel/ or visit www.jamapantel.com. Keep sharing your authentic story and building your brand with heart! If you'd like to download my free e-book, you can do so here: https://jamapantel.myflodesk.com/ebook
Hey y'all, welcome back to Living the Whole Picture, the podcast where photography, business and inspiration collide. I'm your host, Jama Pantel, a luxury portrait photographer turned educator, author, influencer and dream chaser. Each week, we dive into topics that help you shine in front of the camera, build confidence in your brand and take bold steps toward your biggest goals. Whether you're here to improve your photography skills, grow your business or find the courage to show up authentically in life or your brand, you're in the right place. Let's get started as we work on living the whole picture together. Today, I want to talk about something that has been a game changer for my career and my life personal branding. But before we dive into why it's so important, let's define what personal branding actually is At its core. The way you present yourself to the world is what personal branding is all about. It's the unique blend of your skills, personality and values that you share with the world and your audience. It's not just about a logo or a catchy tagline. It's about being authentic and showing up authentically as who you truly are. It's about the story behind your work, the passion that drives you to do what you do and the unique perspective that only you can offer.
Jama Pantel:When I first decided to join social media, I decided to pick a few topics that were core to me. Clearly, photography was one of those things, but also my love for running and how that built the resilience it takes to build a business, plus a few other things like my love of travel and my attempt at being a travel photographer, although probably not a very good one. When I first started out as a photographer, I didn't really think about personal branding. I was focused on learning my craft and working on my skills. I assumed that if my photos were good enough, people would naturally be drawn to me and my work. But as time went on, I realized that great work alone isn't enough. You have to create personal connections somehow, and those connections start with your brand, your stories, your values and the way you communicate to the world who you are. Now, why is this so important? Let me break it down for you. In today's fast-paced digital world, there's so much noise out there. Every day we're bombarded with images and messages and information from all sides. It's so easy to get lost in the crowd and noise. Personal branding is what sets you apart. It's what makes your voice heard and your work recognized. I love getting messages from people when I post something and as soon as I do, I get a message from them saying you know? As soon as I saw the picture and it popped up in my feed, I knew immediately that it was your work. That my friends is a personal brand, so for me, personal branding has truly been the cornerstone of my career growth.
Jama Pantel:During COVID on day one actually I was forced to step away from being solely behind the camera. I realized that if I didn't start putting my face and my story and my expertise and my knowledge out in the world, my business wouldn't survive. I learned this on day one and I recorded a quick video and put it up on YouTube. After that first YouTube post, I began sharing more educational content on my YouTube channel and on my social media and little by little I grew more comfortable and confident in front of the camera. That initial leap led to invitations to speak and educate over Zoom and eventually I found myself teaching photography education in person.
Jama Pantel:Once things opened back up but I'm going to be honest with you the biggest shift came when I became an online run influencer. I started pushing myself further than I ever had before, sharing not just my work and what I knew about photography, but also the personal behind-the-scenes moments of my day-to-day life personal behind-the-scenes moments of my day-to-day life. I'll always say it's easier to promote a brand that the world already knows, likes and trusts than it is to promote yourself. Yet there's so much value in finding the confidence to put yourself out. There, too, I started sharing my authentic self, my struggles, my victories and everything in between in a way that allowed people to truly get to know me. That vulnerability, that willingness to share my true self is what resonated with my audience, and that's the power of personal branding. It creates trust and builds a community around who you are.
Jama Pantel:Personal branding isn't just about making a name for yourself. It's a catalyst for career growth. When you have a strong personal brand, you open doors. Opportunities start coming your way, whether they're collaborations, speaking engagements or even the chance to work with other people and brands. Take, for example, my journey as a run influencer for a billion-dollar run company. That opportunity didn't just happen because I was good at running. It happened because I had built a brand that reflected my values, my passion for photography and my authentic lifestyle that included running and working out. By sharing my journey, I was able to connect with people on a new level. This connection turned into trust, and that trust is what allowed me to expand my reach and grow my business. Eventually, and honestly, that experience is what gave me the confidence to show up more on camera than I ever had before. I dabbled in it prior, but this really helped me get out of my comfort zone and put myself in front of the camera. I've also seen how personal branding has helped me secure partnerships and recognition in the photography world. Being named best portrait photographer in Austin or having the New York Times interview me and publish my work wasn't just about the quality of my work. It was about the reputation I had built by constantly showing up and sharing my work with the world.
Jama Pantel:When people know who you are and what you stand for, they're more likely to support you and invest in what you do, and that, in turn, propels you forward in your career. So let's talk about how personal branding impacts your online presence. We all know that in today's digital age, your online presence is often the first impression people have of you. People are already Googling you, I promise. So personal branding is crucial in this day and age. It's how you show up and share yourself and your story online, in social media, through your website, and even on platforms like this, my podcast. I remember the early days of Instagram. When I first started posting my work, I was so focused on sharing the perfect shot and never telling a story behind it. It wasn't until I began sharing more personal insights about my creative process or my struggles as a business owner or, of course, yes, my wins that my engagement started to increase. People started connecting with me more on a personal level, not just as a photographer, but as a human being with a story.
Jama Pantel:When you build a personal brand online, you're not just showcasing your work. You're creating a narrative that people can follow and relate to. It helps you build an audience that is loyal and invested in your journey, and that audience becomes your tribe, a group of people who not only appreciate what you do, but also help spread your message. So now let's talk about some strategies and tips to help you build your personal brand. So how do you build a personal brand that's both authentic and effective? Here are some strategies that I've used throughout what I've been doing.
Jama Pantel:Start with your story, your why and I repeat this often and you'll probably hear it a lot more your personal story is the foundation of your brand. Reflect on your journey. What has shaped you, why you're even showing up and what lessons you've learned along the way. I often share how the death of my grandmother, my senior year of high school and my resilience as a runner has shaped so much of my life, including my photography business and all my entrepreneurial endeavors. Your story doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be you and real.
Jama Pantel:Number two is to define your values. What do you stand for? What are the core principles that guide your decisions and your actions and everything you do? For me, integrity is huge. Also, showing up authentically and empowering others to do the same those are at the heart of everything I do. Once you define your values, make sure every aspect of your brand reflects those, from the content you share to the way you interact with your audience. Number three be consistent. Consistency is key when it comes to building a personal brand and showing up. This doesn't mean that you have to post every day, but your message and visual style should all be cohesive across all platforms, whether it's your website, social media, ebook or podcast. Make sure people see the same authentic you no matter where they encounter you or your work. Some of the greatest compliments I've ever received are other people telling me wow, you're exactly how you are in real life, the way you show up online. That is huge.
Jama Pantel:Number four share your process. Don't just showcase the finished product. Share the journey along the way. Whether you're working on a new photo shoot, launching a new course or even struggling with creative block, let your audience in on the process. I've found that people love behind the scenes glimpses. It makes you more relatable and helps build trust. Number five engage authentically. Personal branding isn't a one-way street. It's about building relationships. That's what business and life is building relationships. Engage with your audience by responding to comments, asking for feedback and even sharing user-generated content if they share something that they tagged you in or resonated with your brand. The more genuine interactions you have, the more your brand will resonate with other people. And number six invest in your growth. I really started seeing huge changes in my business when I started investing in myself. Your brand does evolve over time, as do you, so don't be afraid to invest in your personal development, whether that's through education, mentorship or simply stepping out of your comfort zone. Find somebody who will be invested in you and will help you get there. Every new skill you learn and every experience you have adds depth to your brand. Now I want to share a few personal stories and lessons I've learned along the way that truly illustrate why personal branding has been a game changer for me in my journey.
Jama Pantel:I think I've mentioned this, but when I first joined social media, I really thought that simply sharing my finished work would be enough to draw people in. I posted my best photos, expecting my art to speak for itself. While I did develop a loyal following doing that, my page never really took off. These were all family and friends and people who knew me and other photographers. It wasn't until I started sharing more of my real life, the behind the scenes while on a photo session or my running or my run travels or my passion for travel photography, along with the finished work and the beautiful albums and wall art I offered my clients. Things began to really change when I started doing that. I realized that people didn't just want to see the polished final product. They wanted to get to know the person behind it.
Jama Pantel:I remember in the early days when I ventured into the social media world, I wasn't a fan of posting what I was doing all the time. It often felt like I was showing off a bit. If I shared, you know, a travel or a good run or something like that. Then one day I just decided to say screw it and took what felt like a huge risk to me. I shared a video of me setting up the studio for a client and some behind the scenes pictures of me taking pictures of that client. The response was huge and so positive and so much more of a response than anything I was used to. It wasn't just about the image or the story itself. It was that people could see me, the real me, doing the work that I loved and seeing how much work actually went into a photo session. I think that was the number one comment I got. No wonder you work out. There's a lot of work there. So they cared about my journey and all the things. Who knew. Like I said, this was just an experiment for me, but that experience taught me that vulnerability and showing doesn't have to make you full of yourself. It's at the very heart of an authentic personal brand.
Jama Pantel:Another pivotal moment was during the process of working on educational content that I was trying to put out into the world. Of course, I battled constant self-doubt, wondering if I had anything valuable to offer that other people weren't saying. Even though I knew that I know my stuff when it comes to all things portrait photography and lighting and posing and all the things I still questioned whether my perspective was worth sharing and if my experiences would resonate with anybody. But I began to share snippets of my creative process and celebrate even the smallest victories along the way, and I discovered something powerful my unique experiences and the way I said things were exactly what people needed and wanted to hear. It wasn't about presenting a flawless, perfect story. It was about being authentic. That authenticity not only helped me eventually write an ebook, which I'll share the link to in the notes below, but it also opened the door to further opportunities like speaking engagements, collaborations and even the launch of this podcast.
Jama Pantel:I also learned that celebrating accomplishments, even those that seem so small or unimportant to me, was essential. I used to downplay the milestones, like being named Best Portrait Photographer of Austin or having my work published in the New York Times. They often felt really trivial to me and sharing that because I hated talking about my achievements. But when I finally started to talk about those moments, mostly because one of my friends told me to put that information out there everywhere in the world, and I listened to her. Linda is never wrong.
Jama Pantel:Along with the struggles it took to get there, people began to take notice. They saw that behind every accomplishment was a journey filled with hard work, vulnerability and perseverance. And let's be real, y'all Putting yourself out there isn't easy, especially if you're an introvert like me. I know the fear of judgment all too well, but here's the thing People are going to judge you no matter what, so we might as well give them a show. I learned that by sharing more of my true self, including my love for running and even the parts of my day-to-day life that I once thought were too ordinary, I was opening up new opportunities. If I hadn't shared my passion for running, I would have missed out on becoming a run influencer and all the incredible experiences that came along with that. And if I had never shared my photography knowledge and the way I started to do it, and sharing why portrait photography was so important, the opportunities like teaching and educating others on my love for this would have never come my way.
Jama Pantel:In the end, building my personal brand has been about more than just promoting my work. It's been about creating a genuine connection with people. It's about inviting others into your journey the ups, the downs and everything in between and letting them see that if I can do it because, trust me, I was a little girl who had big dreams, but the way life always lived I didn't know if I could. So I want to be that inspiration for others, to let them see that if I can do it, they can do it too. That's the power of personal branding it builds trust, it creates community and community is key and it opens doors to opportunities you might have never imagined. So let's get a bit more practical here. I love being practical.
Jama Pantel:Personal branding is not just a feel-good exercise. It's a tangible impact on your career and growth, and here's what I mean by that. First of all, it increases visibility. A well-crafted personal brand makes you more noticeable in your industry, whether you're posting on Instagram or speaking at events or networking. A strong brand helps people remember who you are. When I consistently share my story and my work, it not only builds trust, but also attracts potential clients or collaborators. And so that takes me to the opportunities for collaboration. When your personal brand resonates, people want to work with you. I've had collaborations come my way simply because my audience saw my genuine passion and trusted my expertise. That trust is invaluable and it opens doors that might have remained closed otherwise.
Jama Pantel:Authority and credibility. So a clear, authentic personal brand positions you as an expert in your field. This credibility isn't built overnight. It comes from consistently showing up, sharing your insights and demonstrating your passion. Being recognized as a thought leader has allowed me to branch out into teaching and writing, and even hosting this podcast and being interviewed by others on other podcasts. So networking and community building. Your personal brand helps you connect with like-minded individuals. It creates a community of people who share your values and vision. These connections can lead to mentorships, partnerships and lifelong friendships that enrich both you and your personal life and professional life. Connection is key y'all and, of course, financial growth. Ultimately, a strong personal brand can lead to increased income. When people trust you and recognize your expertise, they're more likely to invest in your services or products. Whether it's booking a photography session, purchasing a course, buying a book or whatever, your brand directly influences your bottom line.
Jama Pantel:I know this episode has been a little longer than usual, but that's how important this topic is to me and how much it means to me. So, as I wrap up today's episode, I want to leave you with a final thought. Your personal brand is a story you choose to tell the world. It's not about trying to be someone else you're not. It's about showcasing your true self, the experiences that have shaped you, the passions that drive you and the values you hold dear to your heart.
Jama Pantel:For me, embracing my personal brand has been a journey of self-discovery and growth. It's helped me turn doubts into opportunities, connect with some incredible people and build a career that I'm truly proud of, and I believe it can do the same for you. Thank you so much for joining me on today's episode of Living the Whole Picture. I hope this conversation has inspired you to invest in your personal brand and see it as a powerful tool for career growth and personal fulfillment. If you found this episode valuable, please consider subscribing, sharing it with a friend and leaving a review. It really helps more people discover the podcast. It really helps more people discover the podcast and, as always, you can connect with me over on my website or social media at www. jamapantel. com for more resources and behind the scenes content. Until next time, keep sharing your authentic story, building your brand with heart and living, the whole picture.
