Business portraits for storyteller Vikki

Vikki Kirby is Director of Storytelling at Vibrato Consulting. She got in contact for some business portraits to accompany her branding and website overhaul.

Stories are in our DNA. For millennia, stories have been passed down verbally through each generation, giving immortality to the lives of our ancestors and cementing the shared values and beliefs of our tribe.

We still tell and listen to stories every day, but they’re so embedded in our lives that you might not even notice them. The gossiping about a friend, colleague or neighbour: that’s storytelling. The opening narrative in an important speech that’s intended to grip your attention with one hand on your head and the other on your heart? Storytelling.

And my decision to buy Hotel Chocolat’s award-winning carrot cake chocolates, rather than the cheaper (and easier to buy) snack bars in the supermarket? It’s all down to the story the brand tells me about the origins, quality and taste of their products. Those are values I buy into, so out comes my husband’s wallet (“Happy wife, easy life,” he says!).

When Steve Jobs launched the Apple iPod he could’ve focused on the product’s features: the MB, bit rates and Hz. Instead, he spoke of having ‘1,000 songs in your pocket’. This five-word story helped to make the benefits of the new technology clear, compelling and memorable.

Airbnb targets travellers who are looking for a more authentic travel experience featuring local hospitality and community. Instead of focusing on the decor and facilities of the properties listed on their site, the company’s marketing team shares stories of connection, emotion and discovery.

Google’s Year in Search videos take a visual tour through the top search trends of the year. There’s no graphs, charts or spreadsheets, just tens of short stories threaded together into an emotive, positive over-arching narrative.

Business storytelling isn’t just for big brands, either. A powerful, emotive story can make all the difference for a local independent store. It’s often much more convenient to buy your bread at the supermarket, but a local baker can tell a superior story: locally-sourced grains, artisan flavours and sponsorship of a local community woodland ideal for picnics with their bread, for example.

It’s the story we buy into when we make decisions about how to spend our time and money. Am I the sort of person who eats this, who does that? Do I buy the cheapest option (because I like saving money) or do I go for the premium version (because I value quality)?

Every touchpoint with your business is another opportunity to tell your story. The more consistent and powerful the story, the more it will resonate with your target audience. That’s why it’s worth considering every element of your brand, from the weight of your business cards, to the tone of voice of your emails, to the visuals (and business headshots!) on your website.

The stories that appeal to us are the ones that match up with our inner values. And to tell the right story, in the most powerful way, you need a storytelling expert.

Vikki’s skills and knowledge are founded on many years’ experience helping UK-based and international blue chip brands in retail, oil, travel, automotive, logistics and financial services to plan and execute effective communications. Visit www.vibratoconsulting.com to find out more or connect with Vikki on LinkedIn to see how she can help uncover the story at the heart of your brand.

After our shoot, Vikki said:

“Sarah is a lovely person. She helped me prepare for my photo shoot in advance (there’s a lot to think about!) and welcomed me to it with enthusiasm. I relaxed very quickly and had a lot of fun – I can’t believe how fast the time went. It goes without saying Sarah is a brilliant photographer, and I am delighted with the results.”

Vikki, corporate headshots client from Buckingham, Buckinghamshire

If you’re looking for professional headshots, and you’re based in the Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire area, please get in contact:

I am an author, photographer and film-maker based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and the Master Photographers Association Newborn Photographer of the Year 2019 for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire).