So you’re ready for a branding photoshoot? Here are my 6 tips to a successful branding photoshoot!

1. Define your brand personality

Who is your brand and what type of client do you want to attract? This is probably the biggest and most important question when it comes to planning for a successful branding photoshoot.

Who is your ideal client? Create a profile for your ideal client. Give him or her a name. What is their occupation? Where do they live? Are they a young professional, living up the single life? Are they a seasoned professional, newly married who loves going on luxurious vacations? Are they a working mom and wife of two kids who loves shopping at Nordstrom, but most frequently finds herself at Target?

These are just some considerations for building your ideal client profile. The more you know about your ideal client, the better we can target your photos to “speak” to your ideal client.

2. Prepare for your branding photoshoot

Preparation is key when it comes to your branding shoot. I often recommend my clients book their shoot with at least four weeks of lead time so that they can adequately prepare for this branding photoshoot.

A successful branding photoshoot requires preparation, planning, and a deep dive into you and your business. It’s not the type of shoot that you can just show up to and wing it. We need to know who your ideal client is, who you love working with, so that we can create images that attracts your ideal client. That doesn’t just happen magically.

3. Show behind the scenes

There’s something magical when you share your behind the scenes. It’s like pulling back the curtain on the magic. People love to see how things are made. Have you ever been entranced by a “How It’s Made?” video? I remember when I was a kid and being mesmerized by how crayons were made on a clip from Sesame Street.

The same holds true for your business. You may be thinking, “But my behind the scenes would be SO BORING!” They don’t have to be. If you’re a maker, there is so much that you could share. You don’t have to necessarily share your secret sauce, but maybe you show your preparation or a snippet of your process.

Everyone loves a good before and after, but what makes it even more powerful is a glimpse of how you get from A to B.

4. Use props & showcase products

You branding photoshoot doesn’t have to be just photos of you. Yes, you’ll want to be in a lot of your photos because this shoot is designed to elevate your personal brand.

However, I highly recommend using props that represent your brand and if you offer products, showcase those as well.

Side note if you’re in network marketing: this is the perfect time to create your own branded photos of your products. One of the mistakes I see network marketers make is using the stock photos from the company or reusing someone else’s photos. I know that when you’re starting out your business, having your own photos isn’t a priority, but once you start branding yourself, having branded photos of the products you sell is ideal.

5. Choose a location that represents you for your branding photoshoot

Sometimes, choosing a location can be the most challenging part of planning your branding photoshoot. You may feel like your home is not an option, and that’s totally okay. You may feel like you don’t have a viable office space, and that’s okay too.

Here are some considerations for choosing a location that represents you:

• Lighting
• Decor (if indoors)
• Environment (if outdoors)
• Geographical Location
• Rural/City

Co-working spaces are great options if you’d like to show an office type environment, but don’t have an office or studio of your own. AirBnB and VRBO rentals are an option if your home is not an ideal location for the shoot. Depending on your industry, choosing outdoor locations or on-location (such as a cafe or shop), can be a good option too.

It’s important that you present your photographer with your possible location options so that they have the opportunity to assess the lighting situation and offer any recommendations to make the most of your locations.

6. Show your hobbies

One thing that business owners often forget about is their life outside of their business. I know we’re all hustling 24/7 a lot of the time, but it’s important both for yourself and prospective customers and clients to see that you do other things besides work.

Self care and downtime is important for everyone, and especially if you are busy business owner. We all need some time to recharge and recalibrate so that we can serve our customers well.

Your branding photoshoot is a perfect time to show some of your hobbies. It may be as simple as reading books and as involved as building and furnishing dollhouses (may I recommend checking out @tinyhousecalls on Instagram?!)

Looking for more resources for a successful branding photoshoot?

Personal Branding Photography – What You Should Know

How to Prep for a Brand Photography Shoot

5 Important Spots to Use Branding Photos on Your Website