So, you’ve scheduled your first brand photography session, and you’re wondering how the heck to prepare for it. Have no fear: We’re going to make sure you’re all set up!
After working with a variety of businesses and brands, we’ve seen how people prepare for their own sessions and what they do to make the most of their time in front of the camera.
We’ve highlighted four key steps you can take to get both figuratively and literally prepared.
DRESS THE PART
One of the focal pieces of any brand photography session is going to be you (duh!). But don’t let this psyche you out—because we’re always here to guide you along the way, and there’s a lot you can control. For instance, the fashion!
We highly recommend getting 3-5 outfits together that you can change in and out of to mix up the look of your photos. This way, you truly are getting the most out of the photography session, and you can circulate a variety of pictures that come from just one photoshoot.
When you’re assembling your looks, think about the color schemes associated with your business and how you can naturally incorporate them through your outfit choices. It may be a good idea to stick with neutral tones, like white and black, and then add in specific pops of color through different layering pieces.
BRING ALONG YOUR TEAM
Use your brand photography session as a natural way to include your team members into some of the specific brand work. It’s a great way to bond more deeply with everyone, and you’ll have more people to contribute to the overall content.
We love to capture both staged and candid moments of each business’s team because the combination of these photos truly helps your brand shine. There’s something so gently authentic about a sweet candid moment, and when you involve your team, you’re more likely to feel relaxed and laugh together.
Plus, as an added perk, you can always share the photographs with your whole team so they can use them for their LinkedIn profiles or elsewhere. Who doesn’t love a little complimentary headshot upgrade?
INVITE YOUR CLIENTS
Inviting your clients to join in the fun of your brand photography session is wonderful for so many reasons. Firstly, it gives you a casually intimate setting to get to know them on a more personal level—and it’s great networking for them, too! The bonding experience will be one to remember for years to come.
Secondly, showing interaction with your clients is a natural way to make your brand seem more accessible and relatable to your wider audience. Smiling, laughing, and even posing together for pictures is going to portray a side of your business that feels more human. And, really, that humanity is what will form a connection between you and all your potential clients. Capturing these moments on camera is one of our specialties!
INCORPORATE YOUR EVERYDAY TOOLS
Maybe you’re a chef, web developer, or real estate agent—no matter who you are or what you do, there’s probably a handful of certain tools you use on a daily basis. Think about what gets you through a typical working day and if you could bring it along for your brand photography session!
If you WFH, are you on your laptop a lot? Do you have specific printed documents you refer to? Is there a brochure or handbook you offer your own clients? These can all be potential props! We’ll use them for styled images or as something you’re interacting with in a photo. The more everyday tools you can think to include in your session, the more relevant and evergreen content you’ll walk away with.
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed natural in front of the camera or a bit more reserved, the important thing to remember is that there’s plenty you can do to prepare for your brand photography session.
We encourage you to use all the tips above, but if they don’t all fit, then definitely stick to the ones that feel most natural to you. A little preparation goes a long way, and we can guarantee some planning will help you make the most out of your session with us.
