Brand Advantage

Your Brand Should Feel As Established As Your Expertise

At Obsidian + Blush, we create brand photography built around how people experience your business before they ever speak to you.

Every image is planned with intention: website placement, audience psychology, emotional tone, launch strategy, press visibility, and conversion.

This is for owners, educators, creatives, and service providers whose business has evolved and needs visuals that reflect the level they already operate at.

We’re Michi Lafary and Nico Nordström

Our background began in fashion, beauty, and commercial photography, with published work through brands and publications including L'Oréal, Wella, Aveda, CHI, Neiman Marcus, and Vogue Italia.

Over time, our focus shifted toward portraiture and branding.

We approach branding photography through the lens of psychology, leadership, perception, emotional resonance, and visual storytelling. 

Our clients usually come to us during a season of expansion:

  • raising prices

  • entering speaking or education spaces

  • refining their niche

  • preparing launches

  • stepping into greater visibility

  • building a more established public presence

Imagery needs to support that evolution clearly and convincingly.

  • Aesthetics

  • Wellness

  • Chefs

  • Real Estate

  • Podcasting

  • Fitness

  • Modeling/Pagent

  • Beauty Brands

  • Fashion

  • Consultants

Your audience decides how trustworthy, established, and aligned your brand feels within seconds of landing on your website or social presence.

Our Process

01 — Strategy & Brand Audit

We begin with a discovery conversation centered around your business direction, audience perception, goals, and current brand alignment. 

02 — Design Consultation

We plan wardrobe, visual tone, shot categories, website needs, content goals, and emotional direction before the session takes place. 

03 — Guided Production

Every shoot is fully directed with posing, movement guidance, environmental planning, lighting strategy, and intentional visual pacing.

04 — Asset Integration

Your final images are selected with real usage in mind: homepage banners, launch assets, speaking materials, About pages, press kits, social campaigns, and client funnels.

Client Experiences

Working with Obsidian & Blush was more than a photoshoot—it was a pivotal shift in how I visually communicate my work.

In aesthetics, imagery isn’t optional—it’s everything. It’s the bridge between “this looks good” and “I trust her with my face.” My work has evolved from simply providing treatments to designing curated, long-term beauty plans based on how my clients want to be perceived. I needed my brand to reflect that level of intention.

Obsidian & Blush understood that immediately.

They didn’t just capture images—they translated my expertise into visual language. The result was a body of work that conveys authority, confidence, and trust without me having to say a word.

Since updating my branding:

My audience has grown by over 200 followers in six months

Profile views have increased by 100%

Non-follower engagement has increased by 50%

More importantly, I’m now attracting the right clients—those who value a curated, elevated approach and are ready to invest in long-term results.

Alison Kothmann RN, BSN, CANS

I used to underestimate how much a professional image could shape the way people perceive you especially as a chef and creative. For years, my photos were either quick snapshots in the kitchen or cropped from everyday moments. They captured pieces of what I do, but not the intention, care, and creativity I bring to the experiences I create for others.

That changed when I decided to invest in branding images.

The difference was immediate. These weren’t just polished photos, they told a story. The lighting, the setting, the way I carried myself; it all reflected the energy I bring into the kitchen and the experiences I design. As a chef, my work has always been about more than food. It’s about creating moments, atmosphere, and connection. For the first time, my images actually communicated that.

After updating my profiles, I noticed a shift. More people were reaching out not just for meals, but for experiences. The conversations felt more aligned with my vision. Clients seemed to understand my style before we even spoke. It was as if the photos were doing part of the storytelling for me.

What surprised me most was how it changed me internally. Seeing myself represented in a way that matched my creativity and passion gave me a deeper sense of confidence. I started showing up more fully as someone who curates and crafts meaningful experiences for others.

Looking back, investing in branding images wasn’t just about upgrading my image. It was about honoring my craft and the way I serve people through it. In a field where so much of what we do is felt, not just seen, having visuals that reflect that intention can make all the difference.

Chef Mercedes

FAQs

What kinds of brands do you work with?

1

Service providers, educators, founders, consultants, product lines, creatives, speakers, authors, agencies, entertainers, and established personal brands.

Do you help with planning?

2

Yes. Strategy, wardrobe direction, shot planning, image usage, visual consistency, and placement guidance are all part of the process.

Is this only for large businesses?

3

No. Most clients are in a transition point where the business is growing and visibility needs to catch up with it.

Do you travel?

4

Yes. We photograph both in-studio in Austin and on location for destination or commercial projects.

Booking your appointment is simple, and our team is ready to provide the attention, care, and expertise you deserve. Let’s get started—pick a time that works for you.

Book A 30 Min Call