How to have an amazing brand photo shoot for your website

Not only will this post help you plan for your brand shoot but you’ll be one of your photographer’s best clients! We created a downloadable checklist for you!

First off, a professional brand shoot is worth the investment! Having professional photos on your website makes a huge difference in how your audience perceives your brand, and it's one of the best ways to elevate your brand. It’s also a major confidence boost! When you feel confident you’re more likely to put yourself out into the world. 

The thought of a photo shoot is probably either exciting or nervous. Maybe it’s both! Either way the key to a successful photo shoot is planning. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of having new photos but you’ll want to make sure that the photos work well with your website content. 

So let’s get you prepared for your photo shoot session.

Find your photographer

Photographers book up quickly especially closer to the end of the year with the holidays. Plus while you’re waiting to hear back about prices and availability you can be planning your shoot. There are a few ways to search for a photographer. You can do a search in Facebook for “photographers near me” and you’ll get a list of photographers in your area. You can also do a Facebook search for “brand photographers” and join photography groups to post a job opportunity. Make sure to read the rules and they allow job posts. Lastly, you can do a google search. Search “brand photographer in [city name]. 

On a budget but still want to look professional? Look for a photographer that offers a mini session. Mini sessions are usually less than an hour, one outfit and cap at around 10 photos. It’s a great way to get quick professional photos. 

Questions to ask your photographer:

• How long is the photo session?

• How many final edited photos are included?

• Do I get access to all the photos including non edited photos? If not, what is the fee to purchase more photos not included in the package?

• Are the final photos high resolution enough for print or are they only for web usage?

• Do you offer sessions indoor or outdoor? If indoor, does the cost include that indoor facility be it a studio or rented space?

• If outdoors, what kind of setting/area are we looking at? 

• How many outfits can I have?

• After the photo session, how long until I receive the edits?

Plan your website

It’s best to outline your website and expect to have at least 3-4 photos per page. Having an outline of your website pages will give you an idea of what kind of photos you’ll need for each page.

Keeping in mind that website banners are horizontal, ask your photographer to not only have photos of you zoomed in but also photos zoomed out. Ask to utilize the background. Have some photos with you in the center and some with you positioned to the right or left to leave room for content. Have a mixture of quarter shots (from your knees up), full-body shots, and headshots. Having a variety in orientation and type will maximize the different ways you can use the photos. You’ll be able to not only use them for your website but for social media and other outlets as well.

Create a Pinterest board

Now that you have your website outlined let’s get to the fun part of planning. One of the biggest concerns we get is not knowing what to do, as in how to pose. You’ll want to keep in mind your business and target audience to help you determine what kind of photo session you want to have. 

Knowing that Pinterest is a search engine, you’ll want to do searches for things like “professional brand photo shoot”. Doing a search for your business type is also helpful. We recommend doing searches for each of the categories we are breaking down below, location, props, wardrobe and poses.

Poses

Not knowing what to do is probably the concern that comes up the most. Pinning ideas on Pinterest will help by giving you ideas. Notice the vibe you get from certain poses. Some poses are more friendly and inviting, for example a head tilt. Other poses are more powerful, notice the angles.

You know what helps? Practicing in front of the mirror! Practice poses and facial expressions. You can even grab your phone, prop it and practice poses. Have fun doing this!

Location

Will you have your photoshoot indoor or outdoor?

Indoor settings can give you a bit more control as you can set the stage to your liking. Indoor settings can be a home, studio, hotel suites, co-working spaces, Airbnb apartments, restaurants. We love renting curated spaces through Peerspace. 

Outdoor shoots are fun and easy, you just need to plan a bit more. If you are in a place that has seasons, you’ll want to keep in mind that shooting in a specific season might make your photos feel, for lack of a better word, seasonal. You might find yourself wanting to schedule a new photo shoot in the near future. Thinking of where to shoot outside? Try an outdoor cafe, a nice park, open field, or a rooftop. 

Props

Adding props easily turns your photo session into lifestyle type of photos. What kind of props, you ask? Think of the tools that you use on a daily basis for your business. If you’re a podcaster, consider shooting with your microphone and possibly a headset in the background. If you’re an artist, pose with your artwork and brushes. If you’re a spiritual coach you can use your card decks and crystals. 

Wardrobe

When choosing your outfits, think about the overall look and feel of your brand. What kind of clients do you want to attract? It’s best to have 3 outfits prepared. 1). Business casual, something that feels like you. 2) Casual, something still polished but more of an everyday outfit. 3) Then a power outfit. A wow outfit. This can be a suit or a dress that really makes you stand out and feel good. Don’t forget accessories! It’s the little things that make a big difference. 

What color to wear is another common question. Choose outfit colors close to your brand colors. Otherwise, it’s safer to go with neutral shades that will compliment any brand color. Think black, white, and beige. You can add pops of colors in other ways, such as your props and accessories.  

We would love to know, which tip did you find the most helpful?

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