So you want to have a great branding photoshoot?

And as you’re exploring the idea of booking a brand photoshoot for your business, you may be wondering, what should a brand photoshoot include?

When you invest your time, money, and effort into planning a brand photoshoot, you want to make sure the photos turn out great, right?

5 Ingredients to a Great Branding Photoshoot

A great branding photoshoot should yield the photos and content that you need to promote your business. Before you brand shoot, you’ll talk to your photographer about the types of photos and content that you need for your website, marketing materials, social media content, and more. It really does very from person to person and business to business. However, there are five main types of photo content that you can expect from a brand photoshoot.

1. Headshots
2. Behind the Scenes & Client Work
3. Tools of Your Trade & Creation Mode
4. Layflat & Product Photos
5. Personality & Lifestyle

Your Personal Brand Matters to Potential Clients

So you may be wondering why any of this even matters. Well, believe it or not, your personal brand matters to your potential clients. Oftentimes, the differentiating factor between two businesses can be a personal brand. A personal touch.

A personal brand allows a potential customer to connect with the brand beyond the surface level. You’ll be able to meet your customers needs in a greater way when you incorporate your personal brand.

What does it mean to have a personal brand? Personal branding is the process of creating an identity for yourself as an individual or business. It’s the set of perceptions and impressions that others have of you and your business. Essentially, it’s how you and your business make your customer feel.

Imagine you had the choice between two tax preparers. Nobody likes taxes, right? But the person handling your taxes, you want to trust them, right? And imagine that you had two choices. Tax person A and Tax person B. All you have to go on is their websites.

Tax Person A: very professional website, X years experience, one formal headshot

Tax Person B: professional website, X years experience, includes photo of self and with family, includes blurb about family being important to them, share tips on family tax deductions

Who are you going to choose? All professional experience being equal, for me, since I have a family and family is important to me, I’d probably be more inclined to seek assistance from Tax Person B because I know that they can relate to the family aspect of my life.

If I didn’t have a family, then maybe Tax Person B’s website would have less of a connection with me, and I might choose Tax Person A.

But that’s the power of a little personal branding.

Who needs a brand photoshoot?

If you have a business, I’m going to say that you need a brand photoshoot. You can only “hide” behind your products and stock photos for so long before you outgrow them. If you want to grow and scale your business, you absolutely need to stand out.

You can stand out with strategic brand photos. These photos showcase your business and your brand. You can show what you stand for, what types of clients you love to serve, and how you work behind the scenes. If you’re a creative entrepreneur, then you likely have a website that needs a lot of photos showcasing YOU.

What should a great brand photoshoot include?

When searching for a brand photographer and looking to book a brand photoshoot, you should consider what is included. In most cases, a brand photographer will offer packages based on their time or based on a day rate. So that might look like:

Quarter Day – includes 2 hours time, 1 location, 3-4 outfit changes

Half Day – includes 3-4 hours time, 1-2 locations, 3-5 outfit changes

Full Day – includes 6-7 hours time, 2-3 locations, 6-8 outfit changes

Depending on your photographer, they may include a set number of photos that are included in the photoshoot package, or they may include a full gallery. It really depends on the photographer that you hire, your photo needs, and their offerings.

You’ll likely see a photographer’s time, number of locations, outfit changes, and a number of photos included in their brand photoshoot packages.

How much does brand photography cost?

While it’s going to vary depending on where you are located geographically, brand photography ranges in cost from anywhere from $1200 to $5000 and beyond. It’s hard to provide a “standard” pricing for brand photography as the genre is fairly new and the projects can range in scope.

However, if you’re planning for a brand photoshoot for your business there are a few things to keep in mind.

Brand photography is an investment in your business and brand. It is a business expense and can be deducted as part of your marketing/advertising expenses for the year. (Please consult with your accountant to properly take these deductions).

Brand photography is going to be more expensive than a regular portrait session. Brand photoshoots involve planning, strategy, and intention to creating photos that will speak to and connect with your ideal clients. A regular portrait session will yield beautiful photos of you, but generally speaking, there’s no target audience strategy behind it.

Depending on the size of your business, your content needs, and your streams of income will help determine how often you need brand photos. If you’re constantly creating content, with multiple products or services, you’ll need more photos than someone who has one main service or product.

How to have a great branding photoshoot

Preparation is absolutely key to having a great branding photoshoot. I recommend clients book their shoots at least one month, if not two to three months in advance to leave plenty of time for planning, sourcing, and booking any location rentals. I don’t recommend rushing through the process or leaving it all until the last minute. In order to have a great branding shoot, you and your photographer have to be on the same page and understand the overarching goals of your shoot.

Know your ideal client/customer. If you don’t know who your ideal customer is yet, then you are not ready for a brand photoshoot. You’re really not. Part of the goal of a brand shoot is to connect with more ideal clients, and if you don’t know who that is, photos cannot be curated to attract that client. It’s a whole big business “circle of life”. Being able to describe your ideal customer to your photographer will help them as they photograph your shoot.

Choose a location that fits your brand. While it’s great to choose a multi-purpose space or studio, if you can dial in a space that really fits your brand vibe, that will create a whole new layer of magic for your shoot. If you have all the Joanna Gaines vibes, then you might want to look into renting a home studio space that has farmhouse and Hearth & Hand feels. Know what I mean?

Personal grooming. If you’re planning to get a haircut, do so at least one week before your shoot so you can settle into your new cut. Get a manicure 24-48hrs prior to your shoot if you have time, and at the very least remove any chipped nail polish and apply a neutral color. A quick coat of nail polish can elevate any look. Hire a hair stylist & makeup artist so you don’t have to worry about doing your hair and makeup. Two less things to stress about!

Check out these posts for more ideas:

How to Be Confident During Your Photoshoot

How to Make Your Headshots More Fun

HELPFUL RESOURCES TO PREPARE FOR YOUR GREAT BRANDING PHOTOSHOOT

Personal Branding Photography – What You Should Know

When to Hire a Brand Photographer

Find the Right Brand Photographer for Your Business

How to Use Your Branding Photos

READY TO BOOK YOUR OWN BRANDING SHOOT?

Step 1. Get in Touch – click and contact today

Step 2. Discovery Call – we’ll chat about your business and your vision for brand photos

Step 3. Book your Shoot – if we’re a “match” let’s get you on the schedule and start planning