Considering a Brand Photo Session? Read this First!
Branding sessions are most successful when some planning is done first. Showing up and winging it is a surefire way to miss the mark in terms of getting those Instagram/About Us Page/Pinterest worthy shots!
If you are ready to get the most out of your brand or headshot photo session, and want to make sure you get those perfect photos for your brand, read on for my FIVE most recommended steps to prepare for your brand photo shoot.
Step 1: Your Brand’s Identity
We want your brand or headshot photos to match your brand in terms of style, colors and voice. If your brand colors are turquoise and pastels, using bold and bright colors in your brand shoot may not be the best idea! Let’s say your brand style is more modern, using vintage items in the background of your photos is something to be avoided.
Photos also need to speak to your ideal client. Who are your customers? Who is your audience? One of the main purposes of these photos is to connect with your audience. To do so, the photos need to be relatable.
Step 2 Identify your Why
Why are you in need of personal brand photos or headshots? Do you need to fill your website? Will you be using these for social media? Are you looking to tell your brand’s story in order to connect with your audience, or do you just need headshots?
I can help you work through some of these questions to see what kind of brand photography package would be the best option for you.
Step 3: Location
Location plays a huge role in the overall aesthetic of your brand photos. We want something to match your brand’s vibe and give us enough options to fill your gallery especially if you are booking an extended brand photo package! I will work with you to determine the best location for your brand.
Some options to consider are:
- Your own home (if it matches your brand’s look and you get a lot of natural light)
- Your place of business
- My Bridgewater NJ studio – see sample gallery here! It is a small studio, so set up options are awesome but limited.
- AirBNB or Home from homestudiolist.com
- Rentable space like from PeerSpace
- Another large local photography studio like this one or this one
- A friend or family member’s home
- Coworking space
- Cafe
- Outdoor
Step 4: Props
The key here is to overpack and not overthink. If an item is even remotely related to what you do, bring it. The props that you include in your brand photos help tell your brand story to your audience. Some of my favorite props to include are coffee mugs, pretty planners and pens, laptops, PLANTS (my personal fave!), notebook, cell phone, brand products or marketing collateral, trendy hat, etc. Fortunately, a prop checklist is included in the Shoot Prep Guide I will provide you as part of my onboarding process.
Step 5: Wardrobe
Your clothes help tell your business’s story so pick your wardrobe accordingly. If you’re a lifestyle blogger, trendy yet casual outfits are your best bet. If you’re a business person, more formal attire would be appropriate. If you are a health coach you might be the luckiest of all since workout clothes are what you want to be including! And if you can pick clothes that match your brand’s color palette – bonus points to you! Luckily, wardrobe recommendations are included in the Shoot Prep Guide!
My Shoot Planning Process
To make preparation as easy as possible for my clients, I provide a Shoot Prep Guide as part of my onboarding process with every one of my NJ Brand Photo Session and headshot packages! In addition to the items mentioned above like location, props and wardrobe, it also includes one of the KEY COMPONENTS of a brand shoot that I totally take off your plate and that is:
THE SHOT LIST!
During brand photo sessions, we shoot with intention. We want every set up and pose to be contributing to the overall brand message to be conveyed in these photos. I help determine the brand stories you want to tell in these images and then I pair them with an exact shot list so you know what we will be doing and why. Pinterest plays a large role in helping shape the shot list so through Pinterest, you can easily share your ideas and must-haves with me.
Now that you know how the process works, it’s time to determine if a NJ Brand Photo Session is right for you and reach out to me to get on the books!!
