How To Make the Most of Your Brand Photoshoot
I work with a lot of small, personal brands that need a variety of content to post across social media channels and their websites. People who do anything from freelance graphic design work to hairstylists, to real estate agents, to online educators, to Etsy shop owners, and health coaches. The thing all these business owners have in common is needing a variety of brand imagery over a short period of time and on a budget. So how do you get that? By planning ahead of time with your brand photographer for a carefully curated brand photoshoot! Here are my top 5 tips for you to make the most of your brand photoshoot as you plan ahead!
Start with an inspiration board
My favorite place to do this is Pinterest, but you can make one by using Instagram bookmarks, a screenshot album on your phone, put together a pdf yourself, or hey, you could even grab a good old fashioned bulletin board and start clipping magazines! The point is to find images that speak to you and start saving them in one place.
Plan a versatile location
Finding a great location is key to a great photoshoot. If you’re shooting in a home, make sure there are several rooms staged with bright, natural light and maybe even an outdoor space that looks nice too. If you’re shooting in a studio, plan several vignettes to switch up the scene (ie. office set with desk and living room set with couch).
Plan several outfits
Even doing a quick top swap can help give you variety in imagery, but consider bringing several outfit changes depending on the length of your photo session. If you have a shorter time frame with no time for a full change, bring a jacket or sweater to layer over for a quick different look. And don’t forget about the power of accessories too! A hat or bold jewelry piece can totally change a look without adding any extra time too.
Make a shot list
Making a comprehensive shot list ahead of time ensures that you don’t spend too much time shooting a single scene. Don’t forget to make notes about where each shot will take place, what you will wear, and any props needed for the shot.
Bring plenty of props
Speaking of props, make sure you have appropriate props for each vignette you want to create. A variety of props on hand helps to create different feelings for different scenes. Plan them out ahead of time, add them to your shot list, and create a checklist so you don’t forget anything on the day of the shoot!
I hope these tips help you as you plan out your brand photoshoot! If it feels like a lot to plan, don’t worry, if you hire me as your brand photographer I’ll help you out every step of the way! I really consider it a collaborative effort to gain a vision for your imagery and plan out all of the nitty-gritty details. Leave me a comment if one of these tips sticks out to you or if you have another one to share!
P. S. All of the images I shared in this blog post were created during the same shoot in one location (three separate rooms in my home). I hope this gives you a good visual example of what type of variety is possible during a brand photoshoot!