So maybe you’ve been in a business for a while. Or you’re just getting started.

You may be wondering how to know when it’s time to hire a brand photographer.

Trying to DIY your photos sounds doable but kind of overwhelming. You’d like to hire a photographer. But is it the right time to hire a brand photographer?

Well, what if I told you that there’s a time and a place for both DIY photos and professional brand photos?

I hope this blog post can help you determine when you should be hiring a photographer and when you should be DIYing your photos.

When to DIY Photos vs. when to hire a brand photographer 

You might be surprised to know that I don’t automatically recommend a branding photoshoot to every business owner I talk to. In fact, as a general rule, if you’re in the beginning stages of your business, I don’t recommend getting a full branding shoot.

You can DIY your photos, ask a photographer friend if they’ll take some photos, or you could go with a something like a branding mini session.

A brand photoshoot involves planning, strategy, and full understanding the ideal client that you want to attract. So if you’re not sure who or how to describe your ideal customer, I recommend you have that figured out first. Because as they say, if you’re talking to everyone, you’re talking to no one.

When to hire a brand photographer

Hire a photographer for the big things:

• New products & offerings
• Rebrands & website redesigns
• Professional headshots for your website & social profiles
• Events and workshops that you host

You may also consider hiring a personal brand photographer about every 18-24 months if you use a lot of content. Some photographers even offer a quarterly subscription for businesses that are in need of constant content.

When to DIY your photos

I’ll be honest that with the cameras on smart phones, you can take nice photos that are clear, crisp, and professional “enough” if you know what you’re doing. So if you need photos in a pinch, or you’re just starting out, or you create A LOT of content all the time, DIY is a good route.

I often advise potential clients to not rush into a brand photoshoot. There are some key components that you need to have in place before investing in a shoot makes sense.

You should have the following things figured out in order to make the most of your photoshoot:

• Brand identity – your content should be cohesive, so I recommend clients work with a brand designer first (or in tandem) with a photoshoot for best results
• Ideal Client Avatar – who should the photos be “speaking” to
• Purpose for the photos – have a plan for where you intend to use the photos: website, sales page, online shop, banners, business cards, PDFs, Youtube covers, etc.

And as a brand photographer, I want you to make the most your investment of money, time, and effort.

Ready to book a brand session for your business? Read more about the Signature Brand Shoot Experience.

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