Gemma Griffiths Photography

Name: Gemma Griffiths Photography
Address: Windlesham House, Cowbridge, CF717, GB
Telephone: +441656652272
Price range: ££££
Rating: 5

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Gemma Griffiths Photography

Personal Branding & Family Photographer based near Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan. Find out more at www.gemmagriffithsphotography.co.uk
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Based in South Wales, offering relaxed and informal location family photography sessions.

11/06/2026

🤩 Why a Great Headshot Matters More Than You Think

People make surprisingly quick decisions about who they trust. Before they’ve read your bio, visited your website, or heard you speak, they’ve already formed an impression from your photo.

If your current profile photo was taken at a wedding, cropped from a group shot, or dates back to an era when skinny jeans were first fashionable, it might be time for an update.

The psychology behind a great headshot isn’t about looking younger, thinner, or airbrushed into a completely different human. It’s about helping people feel like they know you before they’ve even met you.

Research shows that we’re naturally drawn to faces that appear approachable, confident and authentic. A genuine expression, good eye contact and relaxed body language all help create a sense of trust and connection.

That’s why the best headshots aren’t the ones where you’re holding an awkward smile for 17 minutes while wondering what your hands are doing. They’re the ones where your personality shines through.

Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer, creative or corporate professional, your headshot is often your first handshake. It should look like you on your best day, not a stranger who borrowed your clothes.

A great headshot says:
✨ “I’m professional.”
✨ “I’m approachable.”
✨ “You can trust me.”
✨ “And yes, I do know what to do with my hands.”

DM to book your shoot - I have packages that range from a 10 minute session through to 3 hours.

09/06/2026

🌈 Happy Pride Month! 🌈

Pride is a celebration of love, identity, community and the freedom to be yourself. As a photographer, one of the things I love most about my job is meeting people from all walks of life and capturing the connections, relationships and personalities that make each person unique.

Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and comfortable being exactly who they are — both in front of the camera and beyond it.

Wishing a very happy Pride Month to all my LGBTQ+ clients, friends and followers. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

04/06/2026

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 84 people can’t be wrong!

I’ve just noticed that I have 84 gorgeous and much appreciated reviews on Google! Wowsers, thanks everyone for taking the time to leave a message and to share your experience!

I always check Google reviews when booking a service or visiting a new place, do you?

03/06/2026

I was chatting to .jukes and at the masterclass yesterday and Crystal mentioned that I’d been in business for over 20 years and she’d love to know more about how I’ve managed to stay in business that long.

At first, I dismissed the thought of it being a real achievement but then I went for a run (my usual thinking time!) and it got me thinking about advice I could give other business owners, especially ones like me, who don’t fit the Dragon’s den CEO vibe.

Here are a few thoughts that might encourage you in your business, or even to start one.

You don’t need loads of confidence, money and a glamorous network (or a pencil skirt) to be a business owner. You just need passion, determination, hard work and consistency (plus good friends!). My story is not one of making 6 figures every month or winning awards, it’s about quietly getting on with what I love and doing it to the best of my ability.

Building a business around my kids, to make sure I had time to spend with them, was one of my most important goals and that is something that I’m very proud to have achieved. I’ve had every Summer holiday, half term break etc off with them and that to me, is priceless. They turn 18 and 21 later this year and although they will be adults, I still love having the flexibility to pop over and visit my daughter in Bristol for lunch or spend the day with my son.

It’s not always been easy, income has certainly fluctuated but not having a safety net (no grandparents around to look after kids, no huge savings pot to fall back on) has been motivation enough to just keep going.

I’ve built a business that I’m proud of and it all started 20 years ago with a decision to buy a new camera and to follow my passion.

Wherever you are in your business journey, if the passion is still there, keep moving forward, there is loads of help and advice out there. Don’t expect overnight success and don’t give up. 😍

28/05/2026

Let’s talk Photoshop

Clients images I’m going to either:
A) Deliver every image completely untouched
or
B) Turn them into a completely different human being.

The reality is somewhere in the middle 😅

Yes, I absolutely edit your images. That’s part of creating polished, professional brand photography.

So if you’ve got:
• A temporary spot that appeared the morning of the shoot
• Stray hairs doing their own thing in the wind
• Creased clothing
• An exit sign glowing aggressively in the background
• A rogue dog poo bin ruining an otherwise beautiful location
• Or a wrinkle that just needs softening slightly in certain lighting…
…then yes, I can help with all of that.

What I won’t do is edit you into a completely different person.

You should still look like you. Just the best, well-rested, polished version of you.

The goal of retouching is never perfection. It’s simply removing distractions so the focus stays on you and your brand.

And sadly, despite my best efforts, Photoshop cannot transform any of us into Julia Roberts circa Notting Hill.

If it could, I’d have started with myself!

26/05/2026

Your LinkedIn profile photo is often the first impression people have of you.

Before they’ve read your job title, looked at your website, or decided whether to connect… they’ve already made a judgement based on that tiny little circle photo.

No pressure then 🤩

The good news is, a strong LinkedIn photo doesn’t need to look overly corporate, painfully awkward, or like it was taken at a school photography day in 1985.

Here are a few simple ways to improve your profile photo

• Use a photo that actually looks like you
If your current profile picture was taken before lockdown, before children, or before your “I’m going to cut my own fringe” era… it might be time for an update.

• Don’t feel like you have to look super serious
You are allowed to smile on LinkedIn. I promise. The best profile photos usually feel approachable and confident, not like you’re applying to run a bank.

• Wear something that feels like you
If you never wear a suit in real life, you probably don’t need one for your profile photo either. Your image should feel aligned with your actual brand and personality.

• Lighting matters more than people realise
Good lighting can make the difference between “professional business owner” and “caught accidentally opening the front camera.”

• Keep the background simple
You want people focusing on you, not trying to work out what’s happening behind you.

• Invest in a professional image if you can
Your LinkedIn photo appears everywhere — networking events, emails, comments, speaking opportunities, websites. It quietly represents your business all day, every day.

The best LinkedIn photos aren’t the ones where someone looks the most corporate.

They’re the ones where someone looks comfortable, confident, and genuinely like the person you’d actually want to work with.

I love it when clients update their profile pictures with images from our shoots - have I taken your profile picture?

21/05/2026

➡️ One of the biggest misconceptions about brand photography is that you just need “a few nice photos.”

But often, the difference between images that simply fill space and images that genuinely elevate your brand comes down to avoiding a few very common mistakes.

Here are some I see regularly:

• Using outdated photos
If your business, appearance, team, or branding has evolved, your imagery should evolve too. Current, consistent visuals help build trust and make your brand feel active and professional.

• Relying on heavily cropped headshots for everything
A great brand gallery should include variety — portraits, lifestyle images, workspace details, action shots, and wider environmental images. This gives you far more flexibility across your website and marketing.

• Choosing style over authenticity
It’s easy to feel like you need to look overly corporate or overly polished in photos. But the strongest brand images are usually the ones that still feel like you. People connect with authenticity far more than perfection.

• Ignoring consistency
Different lighting styles, colours, editing styles, and image quality across platforms can make a brand feel disconnected. Cohesive visuals help create a stronger and more recognisable identity.

• Not thinking about where the images will actually be used
Good brand photography should work hard for your business — on your website, LinkedIn, social media, PR features, newsletters, and marketing materials. Planning ahead makes a huge difference.

The good news is that all of these are avoidable with the right planning and a clear understanding of your brand before the shoot even begins.

The goal isn’t just to create beautiful images. It’s to create visuals that support your business, communicate your value, and help people connect with your brand more confidently

20/05/2026

One of the questions I hear most before a branding shoot is:

“How do I make sure the photos actually feel like me?”

That’s one of the most important parts of the entire process!

The strongest brand photography isn’t about looking the most polished, the most corporate, or the most “camera ready.” It’s about capturing personality in a way that feels natural and believable.

Because people connect with people.

They want to see the person behind the business — your energy, your approach, your style, and the way you make them feel.

That’s why capturing true personality in photos starts long before the camera comes out.

When planning a shoot together we will consider:
• The locations that feel aligned with your brand
• Outfits that feel like you, not a costume
• Colours, props, and styling that reflect your personality
• Movement and natural interaction rather than stiff posing
• Creating an environment where you actually feel comfortable

And perhaps most importantly… understanding that you do not have to fit into one “professional” mould.

You can be calm and thoughtful. Bold and creative. Relaxed and approachable. Professional without looking overly corporate.

Some of the best images happen in the in-between moments — the laugh after a posed shot, the way you naturally interact with your workspace, the moments where you stop thinking about the camera altogether.

That’s where personality lives.

Great brand photography shouldn’t just show people what you look like.
It should give them a sense of who you are.

19/05/2026

Your visuals are often the first impression people have of your business — long before they speak to you, enquire, or buy from you.

And whether we realise it or not, people make decisions quickly based on how a brand looks.

Strong brand photography helps create trust, consistency, and recognition. It tells people who you are, what you stand for, and the level of professionalism they can expect from working with you.

But good brand imagery isn’t just about having a nice headshot.

It’s about creating a visual identity that feels aligned with your business. Images that show your personality, your process, your values, and the experience you offer your clients.

The businesses that stand out visually are often the ones that feel the most consistent and intentional across every platform — from their website and LinkedIn profile to social media, press features, and marketing materials.

Professional photography helps you:
• Build credibility and trust
• Create a recognisable brand
• Show the person behind the business
• Elevate your online presence
• Make your marketing feel more cohesive and professional

And perhaps most importantly, it helps people connect with you.

In a world where we’re constantly scrolling, strong visuals help your business become memorable.

Your brand deserves imagery that reflects the quality of what you do.

15/05/2026

A lovely vibrant shoot with the delightful Debbie Basden! Debbie’s gorgeous blue outfit looked fabulous with the greenery and of course the red door that is fast becoming a favourite backdrop!

Is it time to refresh your profile picture?

DM to join my waitlist for future minis.

Address

Windlesham House
Cowbridge
CF717

Telephone

+441656652272

Website

http://www.gemmagriffithsphotography.co.uk/

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