Pretend for a minute that you didn’t read the title of this blog post and had to guess what type of business we’re talking about solely based on the photos. A dermatologist’s office probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. That’s what’s so unique about Clara Dermatology in Cary, NC. Not only do they have the best team of doctors around, but the overall feel and design of their practice is intentional, warm, and approachable. Everything that a medical practice should be (but that most aren’t)! Check out my approach to small business branding photography for Clara below.
I initially referred my husband to Dr. Rebecca and Dr. Joanna and then became a patient myself after he had such a great experience. During my first appointment, I mentioned I was a local small business branding photographer. Not long after that, they reached out about doing a personal branding session for the practice. We love a full-circle moment.
They originally wanted to chat about a single personal branding session, but after an initial phone consult, I realized they were an ideal candidate for my Partnership program. I then pitched the details to them as an alternate option to the single personal branding session. They loved the concept, and shortly after that, we were off to the races. Check out the details of my Partnerships Package in my recent post about The Vision Studio.
Dr. Joanna Hooten and Dr. Rebecca Bialas, co-founders of Clara Dermatology, had such a thoughtful vision for Clara when they founded the practice in 2020.
“After treating patients in other office and hospital settings, we founded Clara Dermatology in 2020 to create a different kind of skincare experience. We combine high-quality, clinical treatments in a casual, cool space—where we love working and we know you’ll love visiting.”
Dr. Joanna Hooten and Dr. Rebecca Bialas
Their vision is immediately apparent from the moment you walk through the door; from the warm yet modern design choices to the stylish and contemporary upholstery, the interior is more akin to a luxury day spa. You’d be hard-pressed to find a medical office with equal attention to detail, let alone impeccable taste.
The Clara team had a few specific requests for their small business branding photography shot list:
The shot list for all sessions was tailored to images they needed directly for the brand and site redesign and filled in with images they could use to promote products and services on Clara Dermatology social media. (Let me know the last time you visited a doc that hopped on Instagram reel trends!)
For their first session, we paired lifestyle and product photography together. We did a model call for real people to stand in as clients in the images. The windows in the treatment rooms were already treated with frosted privacy films, which allowed for a little bit of light softening during our session. I used primarily natural light with some off-camera flash for the interior images. Interiors are typically shot at a higher aperture to ensure that the photos have proper depth of field and all elements are in focus. For many of these, I used a tripod so I could utilize a slower shutter speed and keep my ISO low, but for some of the more singular detail shots of the space, I opened my aperture and shot these hand-held.
Our goal throughout each of our sessions is to showcase how easy, enjoyable, and rewarding the process of going to a dermatologist can be at Clara. The space is bright and inviting, as are the doctors. Since they offer everything from cosmetic procedures to medical-grade skincare to dermatology procedures, it’s a great opportunity to have a seamless experience with one trusted provider.
Doctor Hooten and Bialas’ vision to create a “different kind of skincare experience” is best represented by the wide range of services they provide on top of their traditional dermatology expertise and procedures.
The fact that you can get med spa services and medical-grade skincare recommended by a board-certified dermatologist truly sets Clara apart in the industry.
Next time you’re looking for a dermatologist in the triangle, make sure to reach out to the Clara team. They make it so simple to book a consultation on their website, with upfront and transparent pricing from the start. Since our first session together, I’ve shot a handful of other personal branding and product photos for Clara Dermatology. Stay tuned as I publish the rest of their partnership sessions soon!
Whether you’re taking professional small business branding photography for the first time or you’re refreshing a brand that’s been around for decades, I’d love to partner with you. Storytelling through imagery that feels deeply personal yet carefully curated is not just my job; it’s my dream. I promise to put you and your team at ease and provide a seamless experience from start to finish. If your brand could benefit from luxury personal branding photography that resonates with your dream clients, let’s chat here. Check out more work from my brand and commercial portfolios here.