The Number One Secret to Having a Successful Brand Shoot
During my career as a brand photographer, I have had the privilege of photographing hundreds of brands and business owners. Over the years I’ve noticed that there is a super important part of preparing for a brand shoot that often tends to go unnoticed. Want to know what it is?
AHEM… having specific goals for your photos.
Seriously. So many people show up for a brand shoot like, “okay, I’m here – let’s take the photos.” Which makes sense. If you’ve never had brand photos taken you might feel nervous.. self conscious..or just all around awkward (which is all totally normal). But making sure you have the RIGHT images from your shoot makes a big difference in your outcome! You need images that actually help you talk about yourself or your brand online.
Do Your Homework for the Best Brand Photo Results!
Here is the honest truth – beautiful images are important, but just because you look the part, doesn’t mean the photo is going to help you share the point you’re trying to get across. Even if your hair looks great, you feel fabulous in your outfit…we still haven’t answered the question... does your image encourage a potential client to read the caption instead of scrolling past?
I highly encourage my clients to do their homework and pay attention to what they are talking about (on social media, in newsletters, or whatever platform they use to talk to their audience) in the weeks or months before their session..
Here are some great starter questions to ask yourself to prepare for a brand photoshoot:
What do I wish I was sharing more with my online audience?
What topics are easy and fun for me to talk about?
What types of photos would help me share what I’m trying to say?
What locations or poses make the most sense for sharing that message?
What types of photos help me feel more comfortable showing up or showing my face online?
What everyday actions (big and small) do I do inside my business or personal life?
What kind of images stop me in my tracks when I’m scrolling online?
Do I need more horizontal or vertical shots?
Do I need shots with blank space for text?
These specific questions will help you think of super specific answers to share with your photographer. Try communicating your goals before your next brand shoot and see if you get back photos you can use strategically once you have your images back… I bet you do!
Brand photo shoots aren’t cheap, and they take time out of your busy schedule. Make sure you take it seriously and do all of the pre-work ahead of time to feel better about your brand shoot and the outcome.
Oh! Are you looking for the right photographer to capture fun, authentic brand photos that work FOR you? Let’s connect – I would love to help you showcase your amazing, unique personality… and make more sales, obviously. What are you waiting on? Click the contact tab asap!