Why are branding photo shoots important?

First impressions are everything. EVERYTHING! Whether we like it or not, our first opinions of someone/a brand happen in under a second. Yes, 0.45 of a second to be precise.

Friends, we live in a visually inspired world. I mean, there are literally women on social media that I want to be friends with solely because of their content and how it inspires my own emotion and senses. I regularly go back to their accounts for inspiration, I am influenced by what they buy/sell, their name and company comes to mind when I hear or see something related to them, etc.

Because of all of this, I believe that having creative and consistent images is necessary to tell a brand’s story and ultimately set businesses apart.

Book your branding shoot

5 Steps to help you prepare for your session

This is not a shoot that you just show up to without a plan!

My goal is to create purposeful content specific to the goals and aesthetics of your brand. You will not only be investing your finances into this shoot, but also the time needed to organize your thoughts and ideas into a clear plan. Below, I have written out the following steps on how to prepare for your photoshoot: Determine your brand identity, create an inspiration board, choose your outfits, pull props, and create a shot list

So, go ahead and grab a cup of coffee and read ahead.

Step 1 - Determine what your brand and message is

Your brand
What do YOU do? Who do YOU serve?
Determine your overall brand style and color palette
Your message
What message do you want your photos to tell?
What makes YOU different from everyone else?
What goals are you able to accomplish with this photo shoot?
This can require a bit of time to figure out and is often outsourced to a brand/graphic designer. Once you have the look, feel, and brand clarity and message ready, you will be able to clearly communicate exactly what you need during your photo session.
Check out my branding session questionnaire to help you get started: Branding Questionnaire

Step 2 - Create an Inspiration Board

Visuals are incredibly necessary to me as I plan for your branding session! I work the best when I have an idea of the colors, mood, and overall aesthetic you are going for. I’d love to see flat lays, headshots and portraits, detail shots, product styling, etc. The more I can get into your head, the better.
You can send me a Pinterest board, a pdf with images in a categorized list, screenshots of Instagram images you love, anything that you think would help me know more about the direction you would like your images and content to take.

Step 3 - Outfits

When choosing outfits for your branding shoot, there are a couple of things to think about: What items can be both classic and modern and also appeal to your ideal client, Consider your brand colors and brand style, What helps you look elevated while remaining comfortable for your shoot, and What backdrop are you hoping to use of mine or of your own work?

Your photo shoot wardrobe is essential to your branding session, so I have written more detailed ideas and instructions for you to read through here: What Should I Wear for my Branding Shoot?

Step 4 - Pick Your Props

As a customer of SEVERAL brands and businesses (yes, I have been “influenced” quite a few times), I know that I am usually just as interested in the process as I am in the end result of the product. With this in mind, props and objects to interact with are key to humanizing and bringing familiarity to any company.

When choosing props to bring, consider the items involved in the following ways:

Props - How do you interact with your clients?

“Interact” with your clients during your shoot to make your process look approachable and take away any anxiety a client may have about the unknown
Do you meet them in person? Consider meeting/bringing a friend as a “prop” to show how you engage with another human, choose a location you use often to meet clients and we can photograph you there also
Online? Bring your laptop/ipad/phone and we can photograph you sitting at a desk and/or in a comfy chair, on the floor, anywhere that is a normal place for you to spend time interacting with your clients.

Props - Tools in your work

What are the tools of your trade? What do you use to get the job done?
Planners, flowers, magazines, paint and paintbrushes, pens and pencils, cameras, microphones, hammers and measuring tapes, cloth and sewing instruments, physical inspiration boards, regular glasses/hats/aprons/shoes/belts that you wear while working, etc.
What inspires you in your work?
Behind the scenes photos are a key to bringing humanity and story to your brand

Props - Your final product

Bring several of your final products to show off what comes after the process of your work.
I love to photograph the final product in the hands of the customer and/or with the maker.

Props - Milestones, Launches, Giveaways

You could bring the first dollar you made in your company, a calendar with an anniversary highlighted, confetti, champagne, balloons, signs, etc.

Props - What makes you YOU?

Find what makes you unique! Think about what inspires your time when you are away from work and do you share any of these things in common with your ideal client and audience?
What items are staples to your morning routine, do you have a hobby, are pets and family important to your personal life, do you support any local businesses, are there any parts of your hometown that you love to show off as a part of you, etc. ???

Step 5 - Create a Shot List

Now, let’s combine all of these things (brand identity, inspiration board, outfits, and props) into an organized shot list. This may seem a little Type A of me, because it is! A shot list is designed for both of us to feel as calm, confident, and organized as possible as we head into the shoot. Once I have the framework of your photo goals, then I feel the freedom to create within those parameters.
Gather your 3-6 outfits (the amount depends on the duration of the session) and lay them out
Gather all of your props and categorize them with the outfit they belong to
Snap a photo of each grouping for your reference
Fill out this shot list form for me.

Fill out your branding questionnaire and shot list

Now that you’ve read through these steps, it’s time to organize all of your thoughts and details.

Fill out this questionnaire about you, your brand, and your goals for this shoot.
Complete this shot list to help us stay organized and on task.

Need help relaxing before your shoot?

Prep and pack beforehand so you don’t feel frazzled or forget something the day of your shoot
Glance over your inspiration board and images to put your mind in the right place
Calm your nerves with exercising or stretching before, skip coffee if it makes you feel jittery, add in ONE glass of champagne/wine/beer
Get your hair and makeup done if you’d like to go the extra mile to not worry about how you look
Arrive a couple minutes early to give yourself the extra time to get settled in, unpack your props, and get into your first outfit