Here’s 4 essential steps on how to plan for your brand photoshoot and get the best out of your session.

STEP 1:  CREATE A MOOD BOARD ON PINTEREST

Think about the story you want your brand to tell and how can you convey those ideas through photography?  When searching for inspiration ask yourself these three questions:

• What do I want to communicate with these images? (reliable, fun, professional, etc.) 
• What is the goal of this shoot? 
• And where will these images be used? (website, social media, sales landing page, print collateral, etc.) 

TIP:  Need help finding the right images on Pinterest?  No problem, click HERE to access my branding session inspiration board.

STEP 2:  TIMING IS EVERYTHING!

The best time to get professional photography is after you have a clear strategy planned. Ensure you have the look, feel and content ready to support your vision. Without the supporting framework, you won’t be able to communicate exactly what you need to your photographer (which means ending up with images that don’t quite fit your brand).

STEP 3:  THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER

Finding an experienced photographer will prepare you to have the best experience possible.  Look for a photographer that has the following qualities:

• Does their shooting and editing style match the look of your brand, website and the Pinterest inspiration board you created?
• Do they know and specialize in brand photography?  It’s a completely different skill set than family or wedding photography.  Most dedicated branding photographers have education in visual marketing and the psychology behind it.
• Are they responsive to your initial inquiry?  You can learn a lot through just communicating with them after completing the contact form or sending them a quick IG message. You want to find someone you connect with so that you can build a relationship – communication is everything!
• Location is everything! When shooting for your website and marketing materials, you’ll images with a clean background that won’t interfere with text when laid on top of the images. So consider a photographer with a studio or find a controlled environment with nice, even light and take photos in front of white or solid colored background. Too many distractions in the frame will make it hard to read any words you place on top of the image and clutter your website and social feeds.  

STEP 4:  WARDROBE AND PROPS 

Wardrobe will make a huge difference as you implement the photos into your website and social media platforms.  The results will be an online brand presence that is polished and a notch above the rest, so don’t skip this part! For each scene on your vision board, plan what you’ll be wearing. Keep your branding and your brand color palette in mind when selecting your wardrobe to create cohesiveness in all of your images.  (I talk about this in more detail in the branding session wardrobe guide here).  

Bring variety of props and change it up during the shoot. Having more props gives a variety and something to hold on/do during the photoshoot. (Check out my Prop Ideas article here).

STEP 5.  PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP AND HAIR STYLING

The makeup & hairstyle you choose for your photoshoot can directly impact how your photographs turn out. You want your styling to work with your skin tones, body shape & clothing. A makeup artist will help you bring all these elements together so that your photos portray you in the best possible light.

Plus, it will give you extra that boost of confidence in front of the camera.  

Make-up doesn’t just apply to women. Men can often have very shiny faces & foreheads, a little make-up or powder on the face can eliminate this problem.

TIP:  Ask your makeup artist if they are familiar with “camera ready” or “studio” makeup application.  They will know how to contour the face to assist with how the camera registers the highlights and low lights on the skin.

With the right prep, your brand photoshoot will help elevate your brand and free you up to focus on growing your business.

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