How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot

I’m teamed up with professional brand photographer, Amanda Press, of Front Room Studios to share with you her best tips for how to plan a brand photoshoot for your website or social media.

Brand photography is one of the most economical ways for small to medium-sized businesses to grow their reach and increase brand awareness. However, we find that many businesses aren’t exactly sure how it works, what they need, and how it can impact their website presence.

Remember, people buy from people they know, like, and trust. There have been many studies that show that positive associations and trustworthiness for a company are built by repetition and being able to see the faces of the business. You are, quite literally, the face of your brand!

By appearing in your marketing on your website and social media, your potential clients are able to establish an emotional connection with you before ever meeting with you. Faces, like recognizable brands, build trust.

So, now that we’ve convinced you that getting you in front of our cameras is important, how do you plan a brand photoshoot? Amanda is here to share all her best advice for how to make the most out of your brand photoshoot session.

Here are the six key things to consider when planning your brand photoshoot

1. How will the photos be used after the brand photoshoot?

• Popular uses for brand photos are for your business website and social media.
• Your brand photos are an extension of your brand as a whole. When planning out your shoot, think about the colors, aesthetic, and personality of your brand and website so everything looks cohesive.
• If you’re going to use these photos on your website, share with your photographer the spaces you are looking to fill on the site. This ensures that your photographer is taking photos with the appropriate cropping to fit the space (horizontal, vertical, square, etc.).
• Front Room (and most photographers) love for you to share photo inspiration prior to your shoot. Places to look for inspiration include Pinterest, Google, and stock photo sites such as iStock. Giving your photographer detailed notes on what you like about those photos ensures that you get exactly what you want.

 

2. Location:

Give the location of your shoot some serious thought – it will greatly set the tone for your photos.

• The location should make sense for your brand and business. If you have a brick-and-mortar location, you may want to take photos there to capture your work setting and maybe some ‘behind the scenes’. If you work remotely as a freelancer, it might make sense to take your photos at a local coffee shop.
• Location can be a fun way to incorporate your personality. Maybe at your favorite park, thrift store, or ice cream shop.
• Consider the seasons if you are doing outdoor photos. Celebrating the current season can be awesome for social media, but since websites aren’t updated as often, it’s probably best to go season-neutral for those.
• If you are doing an on-location shoot, keep in mind you may need to ask permission or get permits from the building/owner. Be sure to talk this over with your photographer in advance.
• An in-studio session with Front Room is sometimes a more budget-friendly and convenient place for your photo shoot. This may be the best option if you have team members and want all the headshots to match as your team grows and changes over time.
• Front Room has a huge selection of backdrops to choose from that best fit your aesthetic. They can also create stylized studio sets with furniture, props, and decor that add dimension and character to your photos.

 

3. Makeup and Hair:

• Right before a photo shoot is not the time to try a new hair or makeup look.
• Amanda suggests your hair and makeup be a “slightly elevated you”. A little more than every day, but not super glammed up. This means something different for everyone – as long as you feel good about how you look, that’s what matters.
• Consider working with a makeup artist/hairstylist. Doing a trial run before shoot day is a great idea. Amanda says the most common reason people redo their photos is that they didn’t like how their hair looked. Seriously – do a trial run!

4. Clothes:

• Wear clothes that are comfortable, fit you well and define your waistline.
• Dress as you typically would for an important business meeting. More dressed up than every day, but not overdressed.
• You may want to wear a piece of clothing that incorporates your brand colors. However, only if those colors also work well with your skin tone.
• You may want to avoid season-specific looks like sweaters if you are planning to primarily use these photos for your website. However, if you’re planning to shoot a year’s worth of social media content, bringing one outfit for each season might be ideal.
• Utilize layers (scarves, hats, jackets) for a quick way to change up your look and make the most of your shoot time.
• Avoid distracting patterns and colors for clothes and accessories.
• Be sure to wear nude (not white) undergarments so they don’t show through your clothes.

5. Poses:

• The way you pose should make sense for what you do and the service or process you are featuring. If you’re a personal trainer you could hold an exercise ball or weights. If you spend your days at a computer, you could be sitting and typing, or taking notes.
• Amanda’s rule is to never take seated photos in a suit.
• All the photographers at Front Room do a fantastic job of guiding you through poses that make you look natural and comfortable. A certain pose may feel unnatural to you at the moment, but trust that what they are seeing behind the lens is you looking your best.

6. Props:

• Props are a great way to reinforce your brand, and they give your hands something to do in the photos.
• Bring practical props that support your brand or your job (laptops, pens, notebooks).
• ‘Just for fun’ props add depth and personality to your photos! Maybe it’s a signature color included in a bouquet, your favorite pen, or a glass of wine you favor.
• Bringing examples of past work can be great for background shots and supporting images, if applicable.

 

 

Using consistent, beautiful branded images will set you apart from your competitors and establish trust in you and your business.

If you are in Southeast Wisconsin, contact Front Room Studios for your next brand photoshoot!

 

Okay, are you ready to plan your brand photoshoot!?

I’ve got the perfect planning tool for you – the Ultimate Brand Photoshoot Planner! This planner will help you keep track of ALL the details of planning your photoshoot (I know, it’s a lot!) and share all your inspiration with your photographer. Let’s get those ideas organized!

Download the photoshoot planner