It’s important to have a plan when it comes to a strategic personal brand shoot. You don’t want to show up not knowing what you want to do. That’s a waste of everyone’s time.
Think about your personal brand content plan
Content planners are not just for bloggers or influencers. As creative entrepreneurs and small business owners, we all need to plan our content. No matter what kind of content you’re planning, a content planner is actually a powerful tool.
Planning your visual content every month removes the stress on you. In about an hour a month, you can plan what you’ll be posting instead of scrambling to figure it out at the last minute. You’ll be ready to share about your business every day without stressing.
An easy way to start planning with your visual content calendar is to begin with what you know and work backwards. Consider what holidays, vacation, or travel days you have coming up and mark those on the calendar. Then, jot down any events or collaborations you have coming up. Last, decide what topics or information you want to share with your audience to fill in the gaps.
When you have a plan in place, the strategy for the shoot falls into place. I can shoot your content quickly and easily, saving you time, stress, and frustration.
Shoot for your brand vibe
You are your brand. As a creative entrepreneur, you represent what you do. Clients and customers learn to recognize your brand aesthetic and vibe over time. When you’re planning your content, it’s important to tie in your brand vibe wherever you can.
The easiest ways to do this are with your outfits, props, and locations. Think about your brand’s color palette when choosing what to wear. Choose items that not only match in color but also match in style.
For example, if your brand has a chic, refined aesthetic, you might wear a tailored pantsuit. But if your brand has a casual approachable vibe, you’d wear something different, such as jeans and a cozy sweater. Make sure your outfits reflect your brand look.
The same rule applies to props. Think style and color. You also need to think about what makes sense for your business. Who doesn’t love a gorgeous desktop flat lay with gold scissors, luscious florals and a cup of coffee? But if it doesn’t match our brand, it’s off the table. Instead, think about your business and brainstorm ways to bring it to life in photos.
Another great way to tie in your brand’s vibe is with your location. If you’re planning to shoot outside of your home or workplace, you’ll want to do some research. Search for places that work well with your brand aesthetic.
Like when you’re choosing outfits, select locations that support your overall style. A coffee shop might be great for the entrepreneur with a cozy brand, skinny jeans, and a chunky sweater. But for a sophisticated and glam brand, a chic hotel lobby or lounge would be more ideal.
Make the most out of your strategic personal brand shoot
My favorite thing about a strategic personal brand shoot is the ability to create a huge variety of images in one shoot. With a solid plan in place, you’ll have a stress-free and time-maximizing shoot. In a matter of a few hours, you can yield a whole quarter’s worth of content.
For my Signature Brand Shoot, I recommend you have several outfits on hand to change into. You don’t want all your images to have the same outfit and vibe — you’re not one-dimensional! You’re a dynamic business owner.
I also recommend that you have your hair and makeup professionally done for your brand shoot. There’s something special about that extra touch of pampering that will give your confidence a boost. You’ll see it in your photos!
You’ll also want to be strategic in the locations you choose. Be sure to choose locations that are close enough together. You don’t want to waste time traveling between locations, especially during rush hour!
Plan your filler images
We’ve all been that place where we didn’t have time to plan, or tired with social media. (It happens to the best of us!)
We stare at our phone knowing we need to post something but don’t have a clue what it’s going to be. I’ll admit, this happens to me more than I’d like to admit!
Usually, this is when we “fall off the wagon”. You’re out of visual content. You’ve got more important things to do in your business. And let’s be honest, it’s kind of annoying to have to show up every day on social media. Am I right?
These feelings are inevitable in the life of an entrepreneur. We know those days will come, so make a plan for it. During your strategic personal brand shoot, be sure to incorporate what I like to call “filler” images. These are pretty images that match your brand that can fill in the gaps when you’re not “feeling it.” These photos match your brand aesthetic, so you won’t have to worry about ruining your visual consistency.
Ready to plan a strategic personal brand shoot?
Check out these resources:
How to Prep for a Brand Photography Shoot
5 Benefits of Personal Brand Photos for Creative Entrepreneurs
Download Personal Branding Photography Checklist
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