How to Prepare for a Branding Photo Shoot

Want to know how you prepare for your personal branding photo shoot?

Preparing for a personal branding photo shoot is very different than preparing for a headshot session or preparing for a family photo shoot. Personal branding photo shoots take a lot of time and effort to prepare for, but it is well worth it in the end when you have a photo bank of images that serve a variety of purposes for your business.

Here are 7 ways that you can prepare for your personal branding photo shoot with the help of your branding photographer.

1) Think about the reason why you are doing a branding photo shoot in the first place. Is it because you’re images are lacking in the beautiful department? Maybe the last time you had photos taken of yourself was 10 years ago and you look completely different now. Are you writing a blog post or sending out an email campaign? Or perhaps you want to improve your social media presence. Whatever it is, thinking about your reason will help you figure out what you want to get out of this experience and make the most out of the investment.

2) Write down ideas for a shot list. A shot list is important because it creates a task list that needs to be completed and gives the photo shoot more of a structure/purpose. Don’t let this step intimidate you! If you are feeling stuck on the types of photos that you need, go back to #1 above: why are you doing a branding photo shoot in the first place? Create a list of at least 15 photo ideas to allow variety for your future photo bank. Your photographer should be able to help you out with this and guide you. For my clients, I create a preliminary shot list for them to review based on what their needs are, and then it goes through a few iterations before finalized.

3) Gather a collage of images that represent the mood and style you want to portray in your images. You can even create a secret Pinterest board. This will help your photographer understand the look you are going for and how you want your audience to feel when they see your brand.

4) Create a list of tools and props that you use everyday in your business. I will use a realtor as an example for this one. Tools and props that a realtor might use in her/his everyday might be: a house key, a laptop, cell phone, “For Sale” and “Open House” signs, business card, lock box, a folder with listings, you get the idea.

5) Try on various outfits and accessories. Every detail matters here! Make sure you decide on a few outfits at least 1 week prior to your personal branding photo shoot. The reason for this is that you don’t want to realize 1 day before your photo shoot that your shirt is too tight or you don’t like the way that your pants fit you. And don’t forget about shoes and jewelry. Be very intentional with what you want to wear and think about how you want to be perceived in the images.

6) Look into hiring a hair and makeup artist. It might seem daunting to invest in hair and makeup after you’ve spent money on hiring a branding photographer, but it can be well-worth it. You want to look your best on photo shoot day. What’s the point in doing a branding photo shoot when you find out that you don’t like the way you look in the final images? Your branding photographer may work with a hair and makeup artist and can provide you with references if you don’t want to look on your own.

7) Make sure to get plenty of rest the night before! This one may seem obvious, but many people forget that this very important. Get plenty of rest before your photo shoot so that you are feeling good and are on top of your game! It will all be worth it in the end.

And there you have it: 7 ways that you can prepare for your personal branding photo shoot with the help of your branding photographer. Did reading this blog post inspire you to hire a branding photographer? Look no further!