While I try to take care of almost everything for Brand Photography sessions, there are still a few key things you need to consider and manage in order to guarantee a successful result in the end. These are things I can’t actually do for you, although I can certainly provide advice based on my own experience and knowledge. The truth is, you are the expert when it comes to your brand, and the photo session needs to be a collaboration between us for best results.

In this Blog post, we’ll go over the 5 really important things you need to take care of in order to have a great Branding photoshoot!

KNOWING YOUR BRAND COLORS

First thing’s first, your brand should be defined before you do a photo session - and that includes what colors you use in your business. Knowing what colors we’re working with will help us style and plan your photoshoot from start to finish, since we’ll be selecting clothing and locations based on those factors. Tying everything together with color is really important and unfortunately not something we can do if you’re still unsure of the look & feel you want for your brand.

WHAT YOU WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO YOUR AUDIENCE

Every business is selling something, which means effectively communicating with your potential clients is absolutely essential. We need to know what kind of story you want to tell in order to craft your portraits around that narrative. Are you trying help busy Moms cook healthy recipes for their family? Or are you speaking to small business owners who struggle with organizing their schedule? Stories and scenes are the best way to communicate your message, and we’ll want to think really strategically when it comes to the images we’re creating so that each one can carry a meaning well beyond the visuals.

IDEAS FOR HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE YOUR IMAGES

Images that are going on your website require a different form factor than photos for Instagram (which are typically square). While we can certainly crop after the fact to create the different formats, a lot of the planning actually needs to be done before the image is ever taken.

For example, if you need all square images, I would need to make sure there’s enough room on the right and left to crop to a square without cutting off your feet. In reality, it’s almost impossible to create a square full-length portrait if we take a vertical shot (the only scenario where it is possible is in a Studio setting where the background can be digitally extended to create the square format). Likewise, wide banner images for websites have the opposite consideration, where you’ll want all the key elements on the same horizontal line so that they’re visible in that format.

So it only makes sense that in order to provide all the formats necessary, we’ll need to know ahead of time what’s actually needed.

ANY PROPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE

I strongly believe in using props and items that you already have in order to create a more personalized feel to your imagery (plus, it keeps the cost of the session down on your end). So if you have a favorite pen, a daily planner, books you love, personalized stationary, or anything else you think might help us tell your story, be sure to let me know so we can plan out your shots using those items. Once again, we’ll tie everything in with color and surround it by a cohesive story that conveys a personalized message to your audience.

NO DISTRACTIONS

On the day of the photoshoot, it’s imperative that we can work and focus without anything (or anyone) getting in the way. I like to work very quickly and do as many outfit changes as quickly as possible, in order to literally create a year’s worth of imagery in one day. So make sure to get the kids out of the house, tell your spouse to work somewhere else that day, and move any other appointments that might get in the way. If your children are involved in the shoot, it’s also good to have a second pair of hands around to take care of them when they’re not in the shot. Efficiency and having a streamlined process go a long way to getting a ton accomplished in a very short amount of time.

Small business brand photography sessions are some of my favorites. They require a lot of problem solving and putting various skills together (marketing, storytelling, documentary photography, lighting, and posing) in order to create stunning imagery that speaks volumes. And most people don’t realize how much work actually goes into creating those photographs. Not only that, but how much of the process is a holistic collaboration between photographer and business owner. Without that back and forth, communication, and planning, we simply wouldn’t get the same results.