I’ve been a professional photographer for over 20 years. And the most important thing I’ve learned in two decades of business has nothing to do with lighting, lenses, or posing.
It’s this: people follow people they believe are real.
When I launched my headshot brand, UnCorporate Headshot®, the whole idea was built on a rebellion against the stiff, corporate portrait. I wanted to capture people as they actually are, not some polished version of themselves standing in front of a gray backdrop. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was building a philosophy about leadership, not just photography.
Authenticity isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy.
I run several online community groups for local parents with over 10,000 members combined. I didn’t grow those communities with a marketing plan or a content calendar. I grew them by showing up consistently, being honest about my own experiences, and creating space for other people to do the same. That’s leadership. It just doesn’t always look like a boardroom.
The same principle applies in business. Whether you’re managing a sales team, running a department, or building a client base, the people around you can tell when you’re performing versus when you’re present. And they respond to presence every single time.
Storytelling is the bridge.
One of the most underrated skills in business leadership is the ability to tell a story. A real-deal story about who you are, what you’ve learned, and why it matters. When you can articulate your “why” in a way that resonates, you are connecting. And connection is where trust lives.
I’ve seen this play out in my own work over and over again. The headshot clients who are willing to let their personality come through? They book more business. The community leaders who share their own struggles? Their groups thrive. The business owners who tell the truth about their journey? People want to work with them.
Three things to try this week:
- Tell someone on your team a real story about a lesson you learned the hard way. Not a highlight reel moment. A growth moment.
- Look at how you present yourself online or in person. Does it feel like you, or like a version of you that’s been sanded down for public consumption?
- Pay attention to the leaders you admire most. Chances are, they’re the ones who seem the most human.
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the courage to show up as yourself and inviting others to do the same.
Mary Kate Battles is a photographer, community builder, and small business owner based in Frederick, Maryland. She is the founder of Mary Kate McKenna Photography and UnCorporate Headshot®.
