Personal Branding Session: Solo Trip to Banff

Calgary and Banff Personal Branding Photographer

Fabi is a Side Hustle Coach. She is super insightful so I’ve taken this opportunity to ask her a few questions. Keep reading to find out more about who she is, her why and how our personal branding session in Banff became one of the most memorable shoots of my career as a branding photographer.

When I Knew It Was Going to Be a Memorable One

When I opened Fabi’s email, the answer instantly became just say when and where and I’ll be there!

From the first words she sent me, I felt inspired. I was already creating in my head, dreaming up locations, and just getting really pumped up about her branding. Our visions and our whys are completely in line and I knew that together we would create something memorable.

We wanted a big variety of shots for her website updates and social media platforms so we planned an indoor-outdoor shoot with three locations and multiple outfits. We started inside to get lifestyle branding images of her work space. Because when you do what she does, your work space follows you all around the world. In this case, it was at Maclab Bistro in Banff.

When the Rain Came

There’s nothing like a good rainfall during a shoot — when you’re with someone who is as keen as you are to roll with it and get soaked!

We were out there for roughly five minutes when the sky opened up and it just dumped on us.

And I mean DUMPED. So she jumped. She cheered. She laughed. She danced. And I was basically shouting: “This is amazing. Wow we’re getting soaked. Hope you don’t mind messy hair!” Because I don’t mind messy hair and I love rain and pure joy.

I feel like that one minute captured the essence of who she is, her joy for life, her sense of adventure and the reason why she does what she does.

Why did you decide to book a branding shoot while you were visiting Banff?

“Just like my ideal customer, I’m totally into travelling — it’s when I feel at peace, when I feel free. I’m a Side Hustle Coach, and my gig is helping aspiring entrepreneurs break free from the corporate grind and transform their passions into income. My brand is all about fostering freedom — freedom from location, freedom for your family, and the freedom to live life your way. So when I planned a solo trip to Banff, one day, this brilliant idea hit me – why not have a branding shoot while I’m on vacation? It’s all about capturing that untamed feeling of freedom and the electric buzz of truly feeling alive.”

When the Wind Got Out of Control

Sometimes after the storm, comes the calm.

And apparently, sometimes after the storm in the mountains, comes out of control wind.

So like I said, a VERY memorable personal branding shoot. And Fabi was THE BEST person to take everything that was thrown at us and turn it into absolutely epic and on point personal branding photos!

What would you say to others who are planning a solo trip in the Canadian Rockies?

“Bring a journal, go on tons of walks in nature (without listening to a podcast), and book some dinners at restaurants. Solo trips are uncomfortable at first. Picture yourself in a great restaurant, sitting by the bar all by yourself. It sucks at first, but it’s also a fantastic way to step out of your comfort zone. As an entrepreneur, that’s a key muscle to exercise, so I LOVE going on solo trips once a year. Because, once you overcome the uncomfortable feeling of being alone and realize that you’re enough, the solo trip becomes more and more fun. When we’re at home, we have so many things to do, so many hats to wear, that we forget to pause. This is why I’ve set a goal to do a ‘Mecay’ (aka a vacation just by myself) once a year — to be okay with being alone, to spend quality time in nature, and to reflect on what’s working and what’s not. I always tell my aspiring entrepreneurs in my community: Mecays are the world’s best-kept productivity hack.”

Do you feel like your personal branding shoot captured you and the essence of your brand?

“It absolutely did!

Working with Val was an absolute game-changer for my personal brand. From the moment we started planning the shoot, it was clear that she truly understood my vision and brand identity. Her attention to detail and creativity were outstanding – Val turned simple moments into captivating visual stories.

During the shoot, she made me feel completely at ease, and her direction was on point. Val knew how to capture the essence of who I am and what my brand represents. The final images blew me away! Each photo radiated authenticity and professionalism, and she perfectly conveyed the message I wanted to send to my audience.

If you’re looking for someone to take your personal brand visuals to the next level, Val is the one to choose.”

“What sets Val apart is not just her technical skill, but also her ability to connect and create a comfortable atmosphere. She goes the extra mile to ensure your experience is exceptional. It’s like working with a friend who happens to be a brilliant photographer.”
Fabienne Hansen