Not all brand photos are created equal. The beauty of creating images specific to your brand and your business is that they are customized to your needs and the marketing and advertising needs of your business.
Remember that hiring a brand photographer can be a big investment for your small business. It’s important that you view it as a commercial investment, not a glamour shoot. Yes, you need to look and feel your most beautiful, but the real goal of your images is to market and sell your brand and business.
Below I have outlined a few things that your personal brand photography session must have, no matter what kind of business you’re in.
CLEAR GOALS
Before you even hire a photographer, it’s important to know how and where your images will be used. A great time to hire a photographer is during your web design process because your web developer can help guide you on the types of images that will work best with your website layout.
SHOT LIST
Regardless of whether your photo session comes with 10 or 100 images, having a shot list of must-have images will insure the best results. You may shoot more than you need, and receive more than you know what to do with, but if all your must-have images are covered you can be sure that your investment was money well spent.
LOCATION THAT MATCHES YOUR BRAND STYLE
Think about your brand style and the lifestyle of your clientele. Have locations in mind that resonate with your brand and appeal to your ideal client. A boho brand is not going to want its brand photos in a hotel lobby. Ask your photographer what’s possible and create a brand session that tells your story.
PROPS THAT DIFFERENTIATE YOU FROM THE CROWD
As a photographer, my white walls and white desk are the canvas for my client to bring their shoot to life. To stand out from the crowd I ask my clients to think about the story each object can tell and how they might use them in their photos. Highlight your products, tools of your trade, or interests and hobbies that allow you to tell your story.
WARDROBE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LOOK AND FEEL YOUR BEST
Almost every client I have ever photographed has asked me what to wear to their photoshoot, and I always tell them the same thing, where something that you feel gorgeous in. Style is so subjective and I am a jeans and t-shirt girl 90% of the time, but I do know that wearing clothes that make you feel great translates in your session. Try to stick to your brand palette and stay away from small prints.
