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
Leveraging Social Media – Building an Authentic Digital Presence
Ever wonder why some people thrive in building a personal brand while others struggle—despite all the effort? It’s not about having a perfectly curated Instagram feed. It’s about something much deeper: authenticity.
In this episode of Living the Whole Picture, I break down how to leverage social media to build an authentic digital presence that opens doors for your brand and business. I share my own journey—how I shifted from showcasing only polished work to embracing behind-the-scenes moments—and how this shift transformed my engagement and opportunities.
Plus, I’ll walk you through six powerful strategies you can start implementing today to create an online presence that truly reflects who you are. If you’re ready to stop blending into the digital noise and start standing out, this episode is for you.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Welcome! Why social media success isn’t about perfection
[01:43] How I discovered the power of authenticity in personal branding
[02:12] My early mistakes: Only sharing polished, perfect work
[04:11] 6 actionable strategies to build an authentic online presence
[06:28] The ripple effect: How authenticity brings unexpected opportunities
[07:31] Special offer: Confidence on Camera Replay—watch the session now!
[08:05] Final thoughts: The key to making social media work for you
Key Takeaways:
✔ Show Your Process – Behind-the-scenes moments and raw insights resonate more than perfection.
✔ Engage Genuinely – Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and create meaningful conversations.
✔ Be Consistent – A recognizable brand voice builds trust and authority.
✔ Share Your Full Journey – The highs and the struggles make you more relatable.
✔ Use Multiple Platforms – Leverage Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook strategically.
✔ Invest in Your Growth – Ongoing learning keeps your content fresh and engaging.
Resources & Links:
📌 Get the "Confidence on Camera" Replay: Or: https://www.jamapantel.com/resources/
📌 Follow me on Instagram: @jamapantel
📌 Visit my website for more: jamaPantel.com
Call to Action:
If this episode resonated with you, subscribe to the podcast and leave a review! Better yet, share it with a friend who needs to hear this message. Your support helps more women build confidence in their personal brand and business.
Let me ask you something have you ever stopped to think about the real reasons? Some people succeed in growing their personal brand on social media, while others seem to struggle, despite putting in all the work? What if I told you it's not about the perfect Instagram feed, but about something much deeper? Today, we're going to talk about leveraging social media for creative empowerment and how building an authentic digital presence can open doors you never imagined for your business. 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 towards 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, you're in the right place. Let's get started. As we work on living the whole picture together, are you tired of blending into the digital noise? What if your authentic story could set you apart and fuel your business growth? Today, I reveal how to transform your social media presence into a powerful tool for creative empowerment. But first let's talk about the importance of social media for authentic branding. Social media isn't just a tool anymore for us to play on. It's an extension of our personal brand, especially in today's digital age. Your online presence is often the first impression people get of you, and trust me when I tell you they are Googling you, so give them what you want them to see. This is a place where you share your story and how it's told and where authentic connections are made.
Jama Pantel:I learned early on that success isn't solely about polished images. It's about sharing the real journey behind them. When I first began, I focused solely on my finished work, but I quickly discovered that what truly resonated with people were the behind-the-scenes moments, some of the thoughts that went into my creative processes, my challenges and my victories. This authentic approach not only built my brand, but also opened doors. I never imagined so.
Jama Pantel:During my early days on social media, I believed that only perfect final images were worth sharing, and that's mostly what I did share. I was so cautious and focused on presenting this polished version of my work. I thought that by only showing these flawless photos, these finished photos, was the best way to grow my photography business. And boy was I wrong. When things aren't working out the way I want them to or the way I think they should, I give myself these silly little challenges. Should I give myself these silly little challenges? And so I challenged myself to show up in new and different ways, to be more of what I truly am and my unpolished self. So I began sharing more of these behind the scenes snapshots and candid moments from my photo sessions and even the struggles I encountered along the way as an entrepreneur. I started posting videos where I talked about practical tips like lighting and posing, and guess what y'all? The response was incredible. I received messages and comments from followers thanking me for sharing in a way that was simple to understand and follow, even for those who weren't photography experts themselves. They resonated with my honesty and appreciated the raw, real insights into my creative process and how I was able to do what I was doing. That experience taught me that being vulnerable online is a strength, not a weakness, and it is okay to share your true, unpolished self. Slowly but surely, I began sharing more content that reflected this true version of myself and the journey I was on. This genuine approach not only helped me connect with my audience on a deeper level, but also build a stronger, more loyal community in return. Next, I want to talk about strategies to build an authentic digital presence. So let's dive into some practical tips that you can use today to start building an authentic digital presence on social media.
Jama Pantel:Number one, and I can't stress this enough show your process. Share those behind the scenes content, whether it's a quick video of you editing or a candid photo during a session, like I. Share these moments. Allow your audience to see the real work behind the final product, because, as we all know, the real work is done behind the scenes, not what everybody sees as the finished product. So, number two engage genuinely. Instead of just broadcasting my wins oh, I won, I won, I did this interact with your followers, reply to comments, ask for feedback and participate in discussions. Genuine engagement builds trust and strengthens your network.
Jama Pantel:Number three be consistent with your message. Use a consistent tone and visual style across your platforms. This helps create a recognizable personal brand that reflects your core values, and for me, those core values are authenticity, sharing things in a simple way that people understand, and empowerment, because if I can do it, I promise you anybody can, and I want to encourage you to chase those dreams. Number four share your journey, not just your wins. Don't shy away from discussing the challenges you faced. When you share both the struggles and successes, you become far more relatable. This transparency invites others to connect with you on a much deeper level.
Jama Pantel:Number five leverage multiple platforms. Use Instagram, linkedin and Facebook to tell your story in different ways. Each platform has its own strengths. Instagram, for example, was heavily on visuals when it started and why I was drawn to it as a photographer. Linkedin for professional insights and what I use a lot more these days to share more on headshots and personal branding. And then, of course, facebook to continue to grow your community. Number six invest in your growth. Continuously learn and adapt, whether you're doing this through online courses, webinars or mentorships, investing in your personal development strengthens your brand and keeps your content fresh. My replay of confidence on camera is actually a great place to start.
Jama Pantel:I'll share more details in the show notes below and talk about it again as we wrap up, but next I want to talk about the ripple effect of authentic social media presence. When you build an authentic digital presence, the impact is far reaching. Over time, your genuine content attracts like-minded people. I have experienced this firsthand over and over again as I began sharing my personal journey and creative processes, opportunities started flowing in Collaborations, speaking engagements and even new client relationships were sparked by the authenticity of my online persona and the content I was sharing out in the digital world. It was game-changing for my business, to say the least. By connecting with my audience on a human level, I built a community that supports and uplifts one another, and that, ultimately, is the true power of social media. It's not just about broadcasting your work. It's about building a network that drives your business and personal growth and, in turn, your personal brand.
Jama Pantel:As we wrap up, I want to invite you to check out my recent Zoom live class that I did. I'm offering it as a replay. And we talk about confidence on camera and we do a deep dive into all of the strategies that I've mentioned in this episode. And we talk about confidence on camera and we do a deep dive into all of the strategies that I've mentioned in this episode, and I work together with those who showed up live to build a powerful, authentic digital presence. In the interactive session, I shared hands-on techniques and ways to connect with your community in relaxed and powerful ways, and so, if you go to my website, jamapantel. com, under photo resources, you can get more details and sign up for that there.
Jama Pantel:And so, for my final thoughts on today's episode, I want to remind you that social media offers a unique opportunity to build your brand authentically. That truly reflects who you are, and this is something that is so new to us and in this day and age, and it's something we all must leverage. Like I shared already, people are Googling you. Make sure they see the story you want to share. By sharing your journey, engaging with your community and embracing both your successes and challenges, you create a powerful, lasting connection with your audience. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of Living the Whole Picture. If you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, share it with a friend who might benefit from these insights, or leave a review to help more people discover our community. For more behind the scenes content and tips on photography, personal branding or business growth, follow me on Instagram @jamapantel, or visit my website, jamapantel. com. Until next time, keep showing up authentically and living the whole picture.
