In industries like photography, videography, and event management, brand visibility demands a lot of investment. And that kind of visibility mostly comes from the team itself. Clients of these businesses don’t just judge the work but also the crew and their interactions. Everything about the team matters – their looks, how they act, their vibes while working, and so on. Because a disorganized, mismatched team is seen as amateurish even if the portfolio is great. The crew’s presentation and the brand’s bottom line are connected.
But do you know something else that matters just as much?
Brand Consistency
A consistent visual identity is most certainly the money in the bank. But you could say that there is a financial angle also to this. A study on the state of brand consistency by Lucidpress in 2021 found that if a brand is consistent, its revenue would increase by 10-20%.
If a crew can be easily recognized and associated with a brand, the brand’s journey becomes a lot easier. Like the photography crew at major sports networks – you spot them immediately because their coordination and appearance are locked down tight.
So how can an event management or a photography business brand themselves to be memorable enough?
A few habits can make all the difference.
Seven Brand Habits That Can Make A Difference
- Making team introductions count
Many crews botch this basic step. The idea is to train everyone to introduce themselves with their name, role, and the company name so it becomes a habit. “Hi, I’m Alex, lead videographer with Awesometastic Creatives.” This habit can plant the brand name in clients’ minds rather easily. It can be really successful if the presentation is creative too.
- Dress code
The crew should look intentional. This doesn’t mean identical outfits every day (though sometimes that works). There should be a flexible guideline, ideally, to maintain brand consistency without neglecting individual style. For instance, a uniform polo shirt with jeans works for casual shoots of a videography team. But for more formal events, they may need to switch to branded woven shirts instead. The idea is to convey that everyone clearly belongs to the same team. If done right, the dress itself becomes a key brand identifier.
- Visual signatures with the gear
Matching equipment tote bags and accessories, or branded caps become instant visual signatures. This kind of gear makes your team look buttoned-up even during chaotic setups. Small investments here yield big perception payoffs.
- Brand lingo
Many brands have their own specific terms or “code words” for common situations. The whole crew should be using these words. This lingo or inside language is a pretty awesome strategy that not only creates cohesion within the crew but also impresses clients. Wouldn’t you be intrigued when you hear an event crew say “We’re going into golden hour mode” at a wedding? That sounds better than saying “Let’s hurry up before the light gets bad”. It will work as long as it’s consistent but does take some time. It should be part of the brand’s culture.
- Guidelines for social interactions
Create guidelines for how team members interact with clients on social platforms. Who tags what? Which hashtags are mandatory? What client interactions deserve immediate responses? The guidelines could help the brand avoid awkward brand disconnects online. One mess-up on digital platforms can be costly for the brand.
- Guidelines to manage hiccups
Develop responses for common hiccups. When everyone knows exactly what to say when equipment fails or timelines shift, the brand appears unflappable. But this won’t work unless the crew practices these scenarios regularly. This habit should be second nature.
- Work on team communication
There could be situations where a team member wants to communicate something urgently to a colleague but can’t with the client being present there. It could get more awkward. To bypass such situations, the team can have coordination signals that only they recognize. Pretty much like the lingo we covered earlier. Hand gestures, code words, or even specific positioning can help the crew communicate better without interrupting client interactions. These coordination moves can impress clients too.
Making Habits Stick
Changing team behavior isn’t easy, but these approaches work:
- Blending habits into routines: New branding habits can be mixed with existing routines. For example, a simple equipment check routine can also verify dress code.
- Recognition rewards: Reward team members who contribute to branding. Public praise works better than criticism.
- Visual reminders: Create pocket checklists with key branding reminders.
- Feedback: Ask clients which team behaviors impressed them most, then encourage those specific habits.
The Payoff
Crews with strong branding habits can do a lot of good for the brand. It helps improve client trust when the team functions cohesively. It also discourages clients from micromanaging everything. Ultimately the crew gets more creative freedom. Another benefit is word-of-mouth. Great branding creates mental shortcuts for referrals. “You need the crew with the black and gold gear who never miss a deadline” or something just as specific is what any brand would want.
Additionally, teams that look, act, and communicate at a high level can charge accordingly. The professionalism justifies higher rates because clients see the value first.
You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Begin with one branding habit and move forward from there. Like code words on month one, matching accessories on the next. Small, consistent changes end up building a solid brand presence that clients remember and trust. And it all contributes to creating an experience so distinctive that clients can’t imagine hiring anyone else.