I am quaking from pure, unfiltered giddiness right now because I simply cannot WAIT to introduce you all to one of my most awe-inspiring clients and lifelong best friend, KELLY HAMILTON! I am not exaggerating folks, when I say “lifelong bff” I literally mean since the womb, thanks to our dads who were friends in high school. Kelly’s precious soul entered our chaotic world about two months after me, and she has been by my side through teething, training bras, and now, our tumultuous twenties. After graduating, Kelly went on to pursue her athletic endeavors and become the Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Queens University of Charlotte, but like so many other’s, 2020 changed all that for her. She was always a passionate baker — you could count on her to bring the best desserts to the holiday parties — but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided to take the leap and build her on blog/brand around baking. In just a year’s time she’s grown so much as a food photographer, blogger, and entrepreneur — to simply say I am proud of her, is an understatement. This time last year she came to me and asked for personal brand photos and I was honored she entrusted me with the responsibility of introducing the face behind Bake & Bacon. Read below to see my interview with Kelly and why she decided to have personal brand photos taken, even though she hates getting her picture taken:

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Interview with Kelly Hamilton, owner of Bake & Bacon

Please introduce your company/brand:

Bake and Bacon is a food blog that is committed to making easy, do-able recipes for delicious breakfasts and decadent desserts. B&B’s goal is to provide its readers with recipes they can try at home without fancy equipment or lots of experience!

When and why did you decide to create this brand?
I started B&B about a year ago now mostly because I had a ton of free time at the beginning of the pandemic. I’ve always secretly wanted to have a career in the food space because I love to bake, and food blogging was something I could start at home without much experience. 

Why did you decide to get personal branding photos taken? 
I needed a face to represent my brand on both my website and on social media posts and I knew an iPhone selfie wasn’t going to cut it. While I had nice headshots from previous jobs, I wanted photos that pertained to my brand specifically.

What was your biggest fear or hesitation when it came to getting personal brand photos? 
I am not someone who is naturally good at being in front of a camera so I was very nervous to actually get them done. I think the last time I had someone take posed pictures of me was when my mom would take our family to those family photo studios growing up, so it had been a minute. 

Did your personal brand photos help to achieve any of your goals? Or have you experienced any other positive influence as a direct result of having these personal brand photos? 
I think my photos have helped me place a face to B&B, it allows me to show my readers and followers that there is a human behind this blog! and those who visit my website get to see my lovely face as they scroll 🙂

What advice would you give someone contemplating whether they should get personal brand photos?
Stop contemplating and just do it! It’ll pay off in the long run by linking you to your brand and giving your consumers someone to connect to, which is what they want!

Do you believe in ghosts? 
I personally have never had any ghost experiences (boo) but many of my friends have, so yes!

What’s your current fav recipe on the blog? 
Breakfast: Meal Prep Breakfast Sandwiches
Dessert: Lemon Bars

Still contemplating whether personal branding photos are right for you? Drop me a message and let’s chat!