Do what you love, love what you do

“Choose a job you like and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Since I started my own business, this is how I feel about what I do. By turning something negative, a serious back injury, into something positive, choosing the job I really like, I made one of the best decisions of my life.

After completing my Bachelor Business Administration I started working as an Office and Account Manager at Cava Barcelona, where I sold Spanish wine and beer to restaurants and bars in Amsterdam. At that time they were working with a very talented graphic designer and web designer to get the new website live. This was my first introduction with the design process and I already felt I had my own ideas to do it better or at least different.

After coping with a serious back injury I chose to start doing what I thought was best for me. Not the safest decision for my career, but definitely the one that made me happy at that time. And it still does.

I started an additional study, web design, and I started with my own business: Kirpunt Webdesign, a wordplay, which means ‘turning point’.

From the moment I officially started I felt like my plan was working out. It appeared I had a good network, which brought me a lot of work right from the beginning. Of course it helps that a lot of people start working for themselves, and they all need a website. These clients are the most special to me, ‘cause for them it is a very exciting time. When their website goes live that’s the starting point of their new journey. I love it that I can contribute to this moment. I know how exciting but also scary it is to start your own business and I like to take the client by the hand and advise them where I can.

I don’t see myself as a hardcore ‘coder’. The aspects I love the most of my job are the combination of design and coding, communication with my clients, meeting new and inspiring people from all over the world who are following their dreams. Nothing makes me happier than having a satisfied client who is full of positive energy to start their new journey with a website he or she is proud of.

Even though we live in a time where everything is digital, some people still underestimate the importance of having a digital presence. A website that is responsive and user friendly is important. This is the showpiece of your business and often the first thing that people will see of you. If you do not have a modern and professional website you will lose your customers in the blink of a click.

There are some obvious steps when choosing a web designer, like looking at their previous work, are there any hidden/additional costs, can you update content yourself, will the website be responsive, is there support when needed? My other advice when choosing a web designer is to follow your gut feeling. Do you have a good connection? Do you feel he or she will really listen to your needs or do they just want to ‘take over’ your project? If you feel your communication is clear and effective than that’s the one you want to be working with!

“Nada grande se ha hecho en el mundo, sin una grande pasión.”

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Your Personal Brand Is Important

You are already a brand. Everyone is. Even if you don’t always feel it…

Whether you are a small business, a single professional, or a creative – your personal brand matters.

A professional portraiture session lets you steal the show, which in my eyes, is your show anyway. Casual photographs (like ‘selfies’) aren’t right in many places nowadays, and to move onto the next level, you might need something that captures you naturally, professionally, with your best side on show for all to see.

How?

You and I direct the scene, we capture the public face, and we get to work in a relaxed, fun place that lets the inner you shine. This is an experience that will show off whatever we choose, and may just get you earning the million dollars you feel during the shoot.

First, let me dispel some myths:

• Professional shots can still be good-looking natural photographs.
• You can use a photo that captures your energy, as if a friend were taking the photo, on a bright sunny day.
• Your personal brand does matter, even if you’re just starting out. It gives you that edge.

More about the Cristina Stoian personal branding shoot experience

Once we’ve met and you’re ready for a shoot, it’s the chance for us to plan everything – it can be as creative or straightforward as you’d like. This is not a place where you need to feel scared of a having ‘bad photo’, but rather somewhere you feel comfortable with everything, partly because you have planned it with me.

As a portrait photographer, it’s my role to capture that inner winning brand inside of all of us. You could call it your true essence. You don’t have to do anything except just be who you were meant to. Through fun, relaxation and coaching from me we let the magic happen, until we end with a photo that says, ‘successful, winning,’ or simply ‘hire me’.

Social media has made all of us aware that we have to show a certain side to people – why would you be so careful on Facebook and not on your own personal websites or social media channels? It’s a question more people should ask. Good photography on a site, Linkedin profile or even Twitter page definitely ups your saleability and shows that you are a professional with a determination to succeed.

What is included the personal branding shoot experience with Cristina Stoian?

• Full hair, make-up and style consultation session
• A studio location that best showcases our shoot idea
• A collection of stunning and sassy photos that show off your success to the world

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Marianne Williamson

If you’re still reading this and are feeling apprehensive, then I have one last thing to tell you. I’ve worked with many different women whose fears are basically the same:

I’m not good enough

I don’t look good on camera

I need to lose weight before you take photos of me

I HATE having my photo taken

I look old nowadays…

The list could go on and on. Let me reassure you that these fears and more have been dispelled with a set of amazing photographs that most definitely do show your best side off (professionally and otherwise) to the world.

Thanks for reading this. Now let’s get even more successful together, and send me that email.

The full personal branding shoot experience with Cristina

What’s included:

• A day-long Personal Branding Photography Experience personally designed to visually represent YOU & your brand
• Personal styling and clothing direction
• The best professional hair & makeup services
• Relaxation techniques and coaching around how to look and feel your best in front of the camera
• Recommendations for how best to use your personal brand photographs on your channels
• Photos that are finished “money shots” to use on your channels