How To Plan a Brand Photoshoot (And Find the Perfect Photographer!)

Are you looking to seek out some professional images to promote your brand online, but want something a little more elevated than your typical selfie? 🤳

Do you want to stand out among the crowd and have consistency across:

👉 Your social media
👉 Your website
👉 All of your content channels 

The answer, my friends, is a professional BRAND PHOTOSHOOT. 📸🤩

I highly recommend getting at least one brand photoshoot a year as a business owner.

In this blog, I want to share with you how to effectively prepare for your brand photoshoot so you can get the best out of the experience. You’ll also get some tips and tricks from a former photographer’s perspective (and as someone who does 4 brand photoshoots a year!) 😉

How Do You Find a Photographer You Want to Work With?

First, I want you to start thinking about factors that are important to you.

What are you looking for in a photographer and collaborator?

Some things that were very important to me were:

🧡 I wanted someone who offered some kind of program for repeat customers and was open to a partnership

🧡 I wanted to look for a photographer that had a very similar mission and values to me

🧡 I wanted to find somebody who could take not only beautiful images but also had an editing style that would match my business

This last point was especially important to me. ☝️

Did you know it's not always professional courtesy for photographers to alter their images afterward or lay filters over the top?

Some photographers allow it and some just DON’T.

Be respectful towards that photographer’s artistic ability and editing style.

For me as a busy small business owner, it is SO convenient to just be able to quickly throw the photos up on your social channels or website without having to do any extra work.

So finding someone who edited the brand photos to match my aesthetic was KEY. 🔑

Another important factor was that I also wanted to find a photographer who believed in diversity and inclusion through imagery. I considered this in my search because I wanted to align with my photographer and connect over shared values. 

Once you start to figure out *exactly* what you’re looking for, then you can start to tap into your network. 

I found my photographer through a networking group that I'm in and she came highly recommended.

Look through their body of work and their testimonials so you have a clear idea of the kind of work they’re producing. 

You're going to need to find somebody in your area so explore your local network. If that doesn't work, use Instagram, and if you STILL can't find anything... 

Head on over to the Google machine! 👩🏻‍💻

How Do You Prepare for a Brand Photo Shoot? 

One of the best ways to prepare for your shoot is to talk to your photographer and see if they have any resources for you. You're going to want to start thinking about:

• The poses that you want to do 
• The kind of scenery and background
• The setup, locations, and outfits 

There's A LOT that goes into a brand photoshoot. 

And if you just show up on the day without preparing, you're not going to get the most out of your brand photoshoot. ❌

I like to keep things very clean so I tend to not use a lot of props. 

The only things I really bring to my photo sessions are my laptop, my phone, and maybe a coffee cup. That's about it!

Think about your business and what you do every day. 

If you're a photographer, bring your camera.
If you're a hairstylist, bring a cool hair setup.
If you’re a writer, bring your publications. 

⚡ TOP TIP: Go into Pinterest and start a Pinterest board for brand photography inspiration!

My photographer and I share some Pinterest boards that we use for photoshoot ideas, inspiration, and poses.

Think about what’s coming up in your business, too. 

Do you have a promotion in-store and need a website banner? Or do you need white space to fit in text for social media?

When you consider all of this and put in some upfront legwork, you’ll come out of your shoot with TONS of beautiful on-brand images you can use (instead of only one or two to use as a new profile picture!)

How Can You Make The Most of Your Brand Photos? 

For most business owners, these photos are going to give you a beautiful, branded cohesive look across your social media channels. 

But I want you to think about how you can take your photos FURTHER.

• Maybe you're going to use them on your about page?
• Or across your sales pages? 
• Maybe a presentation’s coming up?

Start thinking of how to use these images in different, creative ways. 

For me, not only do I use them for social media, but I also use them for YouTube thumbnails or when I have a speaking presentation that needs visual interest. 

If you’re prepared, you can have content for WEEKS AND MONTHS IN ADVANCE. 

Say you get 10 to 20 images that you love from your brand photoshoot. That’s 10 to 20 different Instagram posts! 🤯

Sounds incredible, right?

By starting to use these images across your channels, people can start to associate your business with your face. You’re able to build a strong and authentic brand and increase your like, know and trust factor with potential clients and followers.

As part of my package with my photographer, Christina Jones, who’s based in Tampa, Florida, she gives me access to her Color Joy Stock website. 

This website contains a HUGE array of on-brand stock photos that I use to supplement my brand photoshoots. She offers two levels of membership - one for business owners and one for social media managers to use across the board for your clients. Pretty AMAZING, right?! 😍 

If you’re interested in checking it out, then check out her gorgeous stock photos here.

I hope this has helped you find the perfect photographer to elevate your branding and feel a little more confident going into your next brand photoshoot! 

Until next time,

Xo,

Amber

WATCH THE YOUTUBE VIDEO 🎥