guide and checklist for branding photoshoot

If you are a small business owner and service provider, your branding photoshoot is nearly impossible to get around when establishing your business as a brand. It’s essential to have professional photography you can use on your marketing channels, social media and on our website with photos that help you to establish a strong online presence, build credibility, and make a lasting impression. Especially as a service provider, you will need to show your face to the world in an authentic way that resonates with others to make strong connections.

Are you a bit camera shy? I get it - not everyone loves to get all the attention. But think of it like this: You are putting yourself out there to connect and help others. You do this for a reason and will need to go through some discomfort to achieve the things you are aiming for. A personal branding photoshoot helps you to show yourself to others in the most authentic way and showcases your unique personality.

But before we start, let’s get clear what we actually mean with “personal branding photoshoot”

What is a Branding Photoshoot?

A personal branding photoshoot is a photoshoot session to capture professional and authentic images that reflect your personal brand. It goes beyond traditional headshots and focuses on showcasing your unique personality, style, and values. The goal is to create a collection of high-quality images that you can use across various platforms, such as your website, social media profiles, marketing materials, and professional networks.

During a personal branding photoshoot, a professional photographer works closely with you to understand your brand identity, target audience, and desired image aesthetics. They collaborate with you to plan the shoot, select locations, props, and outfits that align with your brand. The photographer guides you through various poses and expressions to capture your authentic self and create visually compelling images that tell your brand story.

The photoshoot typically includes a mix of headshots, lifestyle shots, and detail-oriented images that highlight your unique characteristics and skills. It's an opportunity to showcase your professionalism, authenticity, and personality, allowing your audience to connect with you on a deeper level.

When Should I Book a Branding Photoshoot?

There are several compelling reasons why it’s time to consider investing in a brand shoot.

Here are some common scenarios where a brand shoot can work wonders:

1. Building a new website: When it comes to launching a new website, custom photography is the way to go. Avoid the trap of using generic stock images or outdated headshots that fail to reflect your unique brand identity across your webpages. There is a unique magic in using your images and pictures of you on your website.

👉 Looking for a website designer? Check our services 🤓

2. Launching a new product or service: if you are you planning to introduce a new course, podcast, product line, or service, then a branding photoshoot will elevate your launch by providing captivating visuals that align with your brand and create a lasting impact.

3. Rebranding your business: If you're steering your business in a fresh direction, it's essential to have updated photos that mirror your new brand. Reflecting the evolution of your business through high-quality imagery will ensure consistency and resonate with your target audience. Branding is right down our alley - check it out.

4. Relocating to a new area: Moving to a new area brings exciting opportunities. Capture the essence of your new surroundings by updating your photos to reflect your current environment. Showcasing your connection to the local scene can enhance your brand's authenticity and appeal.

5. Ready to level up your business: When you're ready to take your business to new heights, booking a branding photoshoot is a powerful step. It demonstrates your commitment to growth, professionalism, and building a strong brand presence.

Step 1 - Embrace Your Unique Brand Identity

Let's get down to business: The key to a successful personal branding photoshoot lies in your brand strategy. Whether you're collaborating with a brand designer/strategist or taking the reins yourself, clarity is crucial for everyone involved in the shoot.

Here's what you need to have a handle on:

1. Define what your business does

My business offers these products/services and solutions:
This is how my business is different to my competition:

2. Articulate the core purpose behind your brand

Purpose: The reason I started my business is:
Vision: In the next ten years, my business will have achieved x for y to z
Mission: This is how my business will achieve this vision:

3. Identify your ideal client—the specific audience you want to connect with.

My clients/customers/audience is: (age, gender, interests, physical and psychological challenges)

👉 Learn more about how to develop your brand strategy 🤓

4. How would you describe your unique brand style

Does your brand feel warm, feminine and earthy? Or more bold and rebellious? Having an archetype for your brand will help you to define the unique identity for your brand.

5. Determine your brand colors that reflect your brand's personality

What’s your brand colours? If you have worked with a professional brand designer, then handing over the brand style guide of your brand is the easiest way. Providing your branding colors to your branding photographer will help them to understand which aesthetics you are aiming for with your photos. This is crucial, because nothing is more frustrating than playing a good chunk of money and having photos that don’t fit into the picture of your overall aesthetics. For example, if your brand colors are all quirky and shiny but your photographer tries to capture a maverick, dark style, then those themes entirely clash. Having your brand colors will also help the photographer to understand which props best to use for your photos and they will make sure the colors match well with yours.

👉 Learn more about how to match your brand personality with your branding colors. 🎨

Step 2 - Craft A Brand Photography Mood Board

Armed with this information, it's time to create a photography mood board that perfectly encapsulates your desired photography style. It’s a visual representation of the specific photography style that aligns with your brand and reflects the desired style, mood, and aesthetic of your brand. It helps set the tone for the photoshoot, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards a cohesive visual vision. By sharing your mood board with the photographer, you provide them with valuable insights into your brand's personality, preferences, and visual expectations.

For instance, if your brand exudes softness, femininity, positivity, and brightness, your mood board may feature photography styles that are vibrant, airy, and filled with light. This step will help you pinpoint a photography style that harmonizes with your brand identity.

Special tip: Take a look at brand photoshoot imagery on Pinterest and craft a board on Pinterest with photos that resonate with you and with you brand. Select different poses you like and props you find interesting. Once done, share the Pinterest board with you chosen photographer. Pictures speak more than thousand word and this will help your photographer immensely to craft the perfect photos for you.

Not quite sure how that can look like? Check out this Pinterest Board for ideas and inspiration.🦚

Step 3 - Find Your Perfect Photographer Match

ways to Find a business photoshoot photographer

There are tons of ways to find a great branding photoshoot expert near you. The easiest one is to actually ask Google for “branding photography near me” or “business photography near me for branding”. The “near me” is quite important, because you don’t want to drive hours and hours to get to your photographer nor pay an extra few hundreds of dollars for them to come to you. You can also put those search terms into Instragram. For example, “branding photographer in Sydney” and the search will give you the chance to look for accounts and check out their work.

How to choose the best photographer for your business

Check on their style and skills

When selecting a photographer, it's essential to ensure their portfolio resonates with the aesthetic you've chosen. Take a look at their website, Instagram feed, or even reach out to them directly. Share your photography mood board and discuss if they can deliver the style you're looking for. Their previous work should align with your vision, ensuring a successful collaboration.

Check if you “click” with them

Honestly, nothing is more annoying than having done all that work of finding someone and then choosing a photographer you simply don’t feel comfy with. Having you feel 100% safe, happy and good with the photographer of your choice is crucial on determining how your photos will eventually turn out. Imagine you don’t like them but have to keep smiling at them and their camera for an hour or two… ugh… nope. 👎 Not only will that be painful for you but make your photos look like that. We simply cannot hide our microexpressions, so make sure you like the photographer of your choice on a personal level.

Best practice tip: Find a way to talk to them in person before hiring them to ensure you like their personality and feel comfy with them. It makes all the magic. Most photographers offer free discovery calls - make use of this option and ask your photographer to meet with you virtually for 20 minutes before you make a decision of booking.

Step 4 - Choose The Right Location For Your Photoshoot

Your backdrop sets the stage for your personal brand story. Choosing the right one therefore is essential for the outcome of great branding photos.

For virtual service providers:

If you are a virtual service provider like a health coach or therapist who offers only online sessions, then you could stay inside for photography, which is much easier for lighting and helps you set the stage with beautiful props. For example, you could have a few images showing you how to work on your laptop or how to speak to someone in a virtual call. The colors of your seating and surrounding can match your branding colors - for example with flowers, image frames, a chair or couch that has your colors. Props for a health coach could be fruits, vegetables, yoga mats and so on. Basically, any tools you can think of in your daily life of work can and should be included in your photography session to help potential clients visualise how you would work with them. However, try not to have too many props as they should really just support the image but not take away from the focus points.

For on-site service providers:

If you engage with clients in person, it's a brilliant idea to have your brand photography captured at your workspace. If you are a restaurant or cafe, it goes without saying that you show pictures of your space where people will enjoy dining. If you a therapist who welcomes clients in their private practice, make sure to at least a good amount of brand photos in your therapy space. If you are a florist: Show them your flower paradise! If you are a personal trainer - take photos of how you work with your clients. I think you get the idea.

Dont take photos in a grass green area

Unless you are a florist or gardener, I highly recommend against that. Grass green and lots of vegetation around you will take away from the impact the photo can make. Lots of plants and flowers distract too much from you and rarely ever work well with any brand colors. If you simply cannot be without those photos: Make sure you buy or use a really good filter through adobe lightroom to keep the same aesthetic across your website and socials.

Step 5 - Prepare For Your Photoshoot

Whoopey - time to prep! Check the following things and items a day or two before you start your photoshoot:

Clothes that match your brand colors

A few days before your photoshoot, check on your clothes: Which of your clothes match your brand colors? Match them with neutrals like black, white and greys to add some neutrality. If you don’t have any clothes that match your brand colors, wearing black and white or a white shirt with jeans is always an option. However, if jeans don’t necessarily work well with your brand aesthetics, its a good idea to start shopping clothes with your brand colors.

Did you notice none of those people in the picture below wear any red or neon colors but all soft pastels in pink to blue? They all fit perfectly together and create a very nice and cohesive image of a yoga class.

Decide on Makeup and hairdressing

Makeup and hairdressingare powerful tools in enhancing your appearance, boosting your confidence, and capturing the essence of your brand.

Makeup allows you to highlight your best features and create a polished look that aligns with your brand identity. Whether you prefer a natural and effortless look or a bold and glamorous style, a skilled makeup artist can work their magic to ensure you radiate confidence and authenticity in front of the camera. From flawless complexion to accentuated eyes and perfectly defined lips, makeup enhances your overall presence, leaving a lasting impression on your audience.

Hairdressing adds an extra layer of sophistication and style to your brand photoshoot. The right hairstyle can convey your personality, complement your outfit choices, and create a cohesive visual narrative. Whether you opt for sleek and professional, voluminous and glamorous, or effortlessly tousled, a professional hairstylist can craft a look that perfectly aligns with your brand image and amplifies your overall visual impact.

prepare your Props

Props serve as visual cues that communicate your brand's story, values, and unique offerings. They have the power to create a specific atmosphere, evoke emotions, and highlight key elements of your brand identity. By carefully selecting and incorporating props into your photoshoot, you can reinforce your brand message and create a cohesive visual narrative.

The choice of props depends on your brand's personality, industry, and target audience. For example, if you're a food blogger, incorporating props such as fresh ingredients, cooking utensils, or rustic tableware can help showcase your culinary expertise and create a mouthwatering visual experience. If you're a fitness influencer, incorporating exercise equipment, workout accessories, or motivational signage can convey your commitment to health and wellness.

The key is to select props that align with your brand's style, values, and purpose. Consider the colors, textures, and overall aesthetic that best represent your brand. Whether it's minimalist and sleek, vibrant and whimsical, or rustic and vintage, choose props that complement and enhance your desired brand image.

Remember, props should enhance your story without overpowering it. They should support and accentuate your brand's message, rather than distract from it. Be mindful of keeping the focus on your brand and its unique qualities.

Working with a professional photographer and stylist can help you select the perfect props that will elevate your brand photoshoot. They can guide you in choosing props that align with your brand identity and ensure they are integrated seamlessly into the visual composition.

ASK VOLUNTEERS IF YOU NEED PEOPLE TO SHOW AS “CLIENTS”

If you are a fitness coach, you might want to show photos that capture the image of you giving a class or improving someone’s posture. Ask friends to volunteer for your branding photoshoot and talk to them about matching your brand style with clothes if necessary. This can really help to make your images look real and still aesthetically pleasing.

bring your photography mood board to show examples

In addition to sharing your photography mood board before the photoshoot, it is also a good idea to bring it along to the photoshoot. When you bring your photography mood board to the brand photoshoot, it fosters collaboration and allows the photographer to understand your creative vision better. It opens up a dialogue where you can discuss specific elements, poses, or details that you want to incorporate into the images. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone is working together towards achieving the desired outcome.

Step 5 - Pose Like A Pro - Make It Look Like YOU

Strike a pose, darling! There is a vast range of poses you can use to embody your brand: Maybe you are showing some of your fitness poses as a private fitness coach, you are practicing yoga as a yoga instructor or simply smiling at the camera holding your precious laptop in your hand. The really important part of those poses is the attitude you have when doing the poses. If your brand is approachable and warm, having a softness to them with a smile will work all the magic. If you are a strong, powerful brand, your facial expressions should mirror this. Discuss the vibe of your brand prior to your shooting with your brand photographer to ensure they help you with the right facial expressions during the photoshoot.

Don’t take your photos too seriously

Your brand photoshoot is not for your CV or to apply at a corporate job. Have fun, smile and enjoy. Show the camera who you are and try to be as natural as possible.

Congratulations, you've absorbed all the wisdom, tips, and quirky charm from this ultimate personal branding photoshoot guide and checklist. Now, armed with your newfound knowledge, it's time to unleash your authentic self and conquer the world of personal branding photography. Remember, you are extraordinary, and your personal brand deserves to shine like the supernova you are! So, go out there, find your perfect style, strike those fierce poses, and let your vibrant personality ignite the hearts and minds of your audience. The world is ready to embrace your unique personal brand!

P.S. Don't forget to flash that radiant smile and show the world how truly extraordinary you are!

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Ultimate Guide and Checklist for Your Branding Photoshoot

What is a Branding Photoshoot?

When Should I Book a Branding Photoshoot?