Tips to help prepare for your lifestyle branding photoshoot!
Committing to a branding photoshoot is a big investment - in both money and time. So you want to make sure you’re prepared going into it. The more prepared you are going in, the more you can get out of the whole experience. It’s important to remember that these photos will be used to promote your business and YOU.
The first tip is to plan your outfits ahead of time.
When it comes to any photoshoot, choosing what to wear is one of the hardest parts. For branding sessions, it’s even harder as you want to make sure you have a couple different looks to work with. This is why I suggest planning out what you are going to wear a couple weeks before. I always suggest 1-3 outfits total. To keep things simple, you can layer with sweaters and jackets. This gives you different looks without having to completely change your outfit. Another thing, your outfits should create a variety of looks. For example, one should be more professional or dressy and the other more casual and fun.
Bring a variety of props to your photoshoot.
Props are extremely important when it comes to branding photos. They help you tell you story and express your personality. They add the perfect touch to individual shots but also the main focus for many detailed shots. There are three different types of props you can bring to a session. First, props specific to your business. For example, if you are a fitness trainer you should bring weights or maybe a yoga mat. The next type are general props. What I mean by this are things like a computer, coffee mug, cell phone etc. Things that people use on a regular basis during a business day. Lastly there are personalized props. In my opinion, these are the most important because they show off your personality and give your clients a better understanding of who you are. Things like a mug with a funny saying, maybe candles or crystals, or champagne in your favourite colour. It’s important to be creative with these ones.
Think about how you want to use your branding photos.
Whether you sit down with your photographer beforehand or discuss before the photoshoot starts, you should have a plan before starting the session. What I mean is, you should know exactly what you want to use these photos for. Are they for social media? Do you want to use a couple for a business card? Are you updating your website? Once your photographer has this information, they can know which shots they need from the different poses. It also makes the session flow much smoother. This should be one of the first things you plan as it will help guide you on what type of outfits you will wear and what props are needed as well.
