How to plan for your Brand Photo Session
I know oh too well how overwhelming and somewhat stressful is to get behind the camera for a brand photoshoot. It can be nerve-wracking to put it all together but don't YOU worry, I'm here to help!
We all know that saying “a photo is worth a thousand words”. So, it’s no surprise with the online presence businesses have these days, that your branding photos are worth a whole lot more! That’s why I want to help guide you on how to prepare for your brand photoshoot!
I want you to feel confident and stand out with amazing brand photos that are going to speak to the quality of your work. You’ll start to connect with your dream clients through these photos and the thought and care you put into them. Brand photos matter!
#1 Define your Brand, Create a mood board, and Pick your Photographer
First things first, you must define what your brand is and your brand strategy. Whether you are working with a brand designer/mentor on this or planning this for yourself, it’s important that everyone involved with the photo shoot is clear of the following:
What does your business do
Your mission & vision (your why)
Your brand colors and brand tone words (describing the mood & overall aesthetic of your brand)
Who is your ideal client
With all of this information, it’s time to create your mood board. This is the time when you get specific about that “mood” darling! For example, if your brand is soft, feminine, positive, and bright, then your mood board might consist of photography styles that are brighter, lighter, and airier. This will help you drill down a photography style that suits your brand best.
When choosing a photographer, you want to make sure that the photographer’s portfolio is similar to the aesthetic that you have chosen. Check out their website, their Instagram feed or even reach out to them and send them your mood board to see if that is something that they can achieve.
#2 Plan your outfits
My best advice is to get on Pinterest and start pinning away the outfits and clothing pieces that tug at your heartstrings!
Keep your brand aesthetic in mind and pick a variety of outfits that showcase your personality. For example, choose an outfit for each of these scenarios: A badie boss, a casual day out, your professional work-from-home outfit, and maybe even something a bit dressier.
If you book a photography studio, you’ll most likely pay by the hour, so it’s important to maximize your time by having all of your outfits planned out in advance. It can also get quite chaotic on shoot day if you’re hoping to get multiple outfits in, so choose them all in advance and list them out so you know exactly which outfits will go first to last.
I chose one outfit for every 30-45 minutes but keep in mind that photoshoots tend to take longer than expected, so prepare accordingly.
Try on all your outfits beforehand at home so you know which will fit the aesthetic the most, whether anything needs tailoring or if you’re missing any pieces. Take photos of each of them and upload them to your Notion board so you know which pieces to use for which part of the photoshoot. Remember to include any accessories like belts, hats, shoes and jewelry in these photos.
Tip: Group your outfits by the undergarment you’re wearing for each so you don’t need to constantly change everything.
#3 Put together a photography shot list
Before you put together your shot list, make a list of what you actually need your photos for.
Are you using them for your website, for Instagram posts or Instastories, for blog posts or GIFs. Each of these requires different types and formats of photography and your photographer needs to know all this before your shoot day.
Then compile your shot list! Here are some examples:
Celebrating a launch
Professional headshot
Working on my laptop
Texting or answering emails on your phone
Talking on a zoom call
#4 Compile a checklist
Start a checklist with everything you may need for the shoot. Whether that’s your clothes, notebooks, pens, laptop, or tripod. List it all out to make sure you grab everything you need but most importantly, bring everything back home with you! Here are a couple of things I suggest to bring for your shoot":
Lipbalm
A hand mirror (to check your makeup)
Fashion tape
A tide/bleach pen
Pins for clothes
Water & light snacks
#5 Find a location
Jorden is a Realtor in Palm Beach County and she chose one of her listings for her location.
For my clients, I like putting together a location guide that covers cute coffee shops, photo studios, or AirBnb’s to rent out for their shoot. For example, Jorden (pictured above) chose one of her luxurious listings (with consent from the seller!) and it the results were amazing!
#6 Hair & Makeup
The makeup & hairstyle you choose can directly impact how well your photographs turn out. Like with your clothing, you want your styling to work with your skin tones & body shape. For women, well-applied makeup can give a massive confidence boost & really help you to look good on camera.
A makeup artist & hairstylist will help you bring all these elements together so that your photos portray you in the best possible light.
Wearing the right makeup & applying it well will go a long way to achieving great photographs.
If you choose not to have your hair & makeup done professionally ahead of your photoshoot, here are a few tips for doing your own styling;
Avoid make-up with a gloss or shimmer to it, especially foundation. Use a matt base to keep your skin looking smooth, even & shine-free & finish with a translucent powder to remove the shine on your forehead, nose & chin. Makeup doesn’t just apply to women. Men can often have very shiny faces & foreheads, a little makeup or powder on the face can eliminate this problem.
Using makeup is a great way to emphasise your features. Define your bone structure by contouring with blush or bronzer to make your cheeks look less flat.
Make eyes appear larger & brighter with eyeliner. Add a little mascara & they will pop!
Choose bright colours for gorgeous luscious lips as darker shades can make lips look smaller than they are whilst nudes can make your lips disappear.
If your hands are likely to be in the shot, don’t forget to trim & paint your nails.
Remember to bring your hairbrush & makeup to your shoot in case you need to retouch during the session.
#7 Models, aka 'Clients'
Do you require any additional people in your photos? For example, do you need clients in any images? These could be real-life clients or you may ask friends or colleagues to step in & model for you. Ensure that anyone you ask to model for you fits your target client profile & demographic.
Who are you going to ask to model for you?
Top Tip: Remember to ask anyone who models for you to sign a release giving you permission to use the photos on your website & social media.
3 lessons I learned preparing for my brand photoshoot:
Wear your favorite outfits first! My photoshoot ended up taking longer than expected and because I left my favorite outfits to last, I didn’t actually get to wear them!
Bring fashion tape! You want to feel relaxed on your shoot, so don’t let a fashion malfunction make you feel uncomfortable.
Have fun and be relaxed! Make a fun playlist to help you relax and enjoy the day so you can bring across the vibe you’re going for in your photos.