Planning your Personal Branding Photoshoot
Booking a personal branding shoot can be daunting, especially if you aren’t used to being in front of the camera! However this is the first step to becoming more visible in your business! Branding shoots are a great way to build a bank of professional imagery which you can use to tell your customers all about the story and the person behind the business. Having a professional, consistent style throughout your imagery on your website, social media and blog will really elevate your brand whilst showcasing your services and making your business more approachable.
I have put together a basic guide of tips and ideas to hopefully help you feel more comfortable and confident in booking your shoot, and make you feel more prepared on the day!
Your Brand
Before you go ahead with your shoot it is important you have a clear idea of your brand identity; it is all about the look and feel of your brand and what impression you want to give. Remember that these images will give people an insight behind the scenes, to learn more about the who and why behind the business and in turn helps your customers to build trust in you, your services or your products. Once you have a clear idea of these points in your head, your will have a much clearer goal for your shoot.
Your images
Think about what you will be using your images for. This is really important for your photographer to know so that we know what orientation and aspect ratio you require, if text will be added and therefore you need empty space around the main subject, whether they will be used for print or just online… make a list of where and how you wish to use the images, eg social media banners, profile pictures, large website imagery, thumbnails, headshots or anything else you can think of. If you are using a website designer it may be useful to put them in touch too to make sure we cover all bases! If you know how you will be using the images, we will be able to make sure you have a bank of professional photos for all your marketing, advertising and social media needs.
Most photographers will create a collaborative shot list and mood board for you, however it is always useful for you to put one together too. Your shot list can simply be written in a note or on a word document, or you can put it together with your mood board on a Canva template. Your shot list should combine all aspects of the shoot, so think about certain locations for certain shots, props, poses, uses (social media banners/website/print etc), composition (eg blank space to the left for text to be added), whether you want customers/models/business partners involved, close ups of products/your planner/diary/laptop etc. For creating your mood board… have a browse through Instagram, Pinterest, your photographers portfolio any of your competitors websites and save any images you like the style of. and can take inspiration from. You can do this on a shared Pinterest board, an Instagram saved folder, or on Canva. Remember to share these with your photographer during the planning stage to make sure you are both on the same page and everything goes smoothly on the day. Click here to access my free Shot List Guide.
Props
Props can make a big difference to the overall look and feel of your shoot. If you already have brand colours decided then I would suggest finding props in those colours or in complimentary colours to help make your brand really show through. You can use any props you like… mugs/coffee cups, glasses, books, magazines, your daily planner/organiser/diary, notebooks, flowers, the list is endless. Have a walk around your home and pick out any props that you think may compliment your products or your services. You may want to think about your hobbies outside of work; whether thats yoga, baking, reading… feel free to bring along any items relating to your life outside of work to give your customers a bit more of a glimpse into your personality. Props don’t only have to be objects, if pets or other people are a big part of your business then feel free to get them involved too!
Your Style
How you dress, how you do your hair and your makeup on the day is completely up to you! Some people like to take the opportunity for a bit of self-care beforehand to boost their confidence; to have their hair done and hire a makeup artist. However other people prefer to do it for themselves and stick to what they know. It is completely down to personal preference, just make sure you choose whatever will make you feel the most comfortable and confident on the day. When you are investing your time and money into a branding shoot you want to make sure you are happy with how you look and can therefore make the most out of your images! This comes down to your outfit too - choose outfits you are the most confident in; clothes that fit well and suit you, comfortable shoes, nothing too revealing or too old/worn. Solid colours are best so as not distract the viewers point of focus, however subtle patterns/prints are fine. Bring along multiple outfits and accessories, that way not only will you have more variety in your images, you can also switch things up if we feel a particular outfit isn’t working. Think about the different outfit styles you want to include in your shoot - casual, smart, workwear, sportswear, formal outfits… you can dress however you would like! Try to remember to be yourself though, if you aren’t usually one for heavy makeup and formal outfits, then feel free to keep it more natural!
Locations
Depending on the length of your branding shoot, you will get a choice of between 2 and 4 different locations. You may want the main focus of your shoot to be in your workspace/office/studio, you may also want to mix it up with some outdoor shots in a local park/garden, walking along the river, by a local landmark etc. Other places you may want to consider using as a location for your shoot are local cafes, bars, libraries, a hotel, or even just walking around the streets. Have a chat with your photographer before the day so that you can work together to discuss ideas and research potential locations that may perfectly fit your brand, and choose exactly where your shoot will take place. However if that isn’t something you are keen on, don’t feel pressured to shoot out in public, your home or workplace could work just as well for your session! If you don’t think your home or workspace are suitable and would like to look into renting a space to use, just let your photographer know, most photographers will know local holiday homes or venues that are willing to rent out their space for this purpose.
Prep
By the time your shoot is all booked you should have already completed a brand questionnaire, so now it’s time to think about what needs to be done in the lead up to the day. A few weeks prior to your shoot date, if you haven’t already, is the time to start gathering together images on your shared Pinterest board, Instagram or Canva, to begin sharing with your photographer. Plan your outfits in advance incase a shopping trip is required, as well as your hair and makeup - have a practice run to make sure you are happy! If you need a haircut/colour or want to have your hair styled on the day, don’t forget to book this in advance!
A few days before your shoot, start sorting out your props; organising anything you want to use in the shoot - buy fresh flowers to brighten the room if you are shooting at home, dig out any books, magazines, diaries, planners etc. If necessary, tidy and clean any rooms/workspaces you’ve decided to use. Pack any extra outfits you want to bring along if you are having a location shoot, including accessories and gadgets.
On the day, make sure you have plenty of time to get ready in the morning so you don’t end up rushing. Double check you have all your outfits, accessories, props etc if you are meeting your photographer away from home. Don’t forget to bring some makeup as you may want to freshen up throughout the day! If you are feeling nervous about being in front of the camera, start the shoot looking away - look out the window, at your laptop, at your phone, or have someone else in the room with you to look at/talk to/make you laugh! This should make you feel more comfortable and then you can slowly ease yourself in to looking directly at the camera.
The more planning we do beforehand, the more you’ll enjoy your shoot and the happier you’ll be with the outcome! If you’d like to have a chat or get a photoshoot booked in, contact me here or get a head start on the planning process by filling out my Branding Questionnaire.