What are the best locations for branding sessions

When planning a personal branding session, there are many things to consider but most important is the location for your session. You want to find a location where the client is comfortable, that works with their overall brand and of course, has great natural light. Here are a few options to consider:

Local coffee shops or restaurants are some of my favourite locations.

Previous to COVID, it wasn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to set up and work at a local coffee shop or restaurant. So why not take photos there? It is an easy spot to move around to create a variety of different shots. Also, local establishments often have unique decor and layouts. This can provide an awesome backdrop for your photos. However, it is important to make sure that the decor works with your brand. Bonus - it’s a great way to promote your favourite local spot!

Don’t overlook your home.

Most branding clients are uncomfortable with getting their photo taken, so what’s more comfortable than being at your own home? Many people these days work out of their homes - especially right now. Which means, their houses likely have a perfect set up. This will help create very authentic photos as it may be a reflection of every day life. In addition, they have access to all their personal items. This makes it easy for them to change their look and add personal touches into their photos. As a result, creating a large variety of photos in a short period of time.

A great spot is your company office.

If available, the company’s office or business space can be a great spot for branding photos. It is often readily available and decluttered. If you are photographing multiple employees, it will help create a cohesive look creating a strong corporate brand in addition to the personal ones. On location shoots are perfect for businesses such as gyms, salons, stores etc who’s brand is built around their company’s physical location. It’s a great way to also incorporate some action shots with real clients or customers.

Local photography studios.

Lots of new co-working spaces have been opening up as entrepreneurs and working remotely have started to take over. Most of these new spaces include photography studios. These studios are great for branding sessions. They have multiple props available to use and provide lots of space to set up a backdrop if needed. Most importantly, they have optimal natural light. This helps make the session flow easier. If the right indoor space isn’t available, I highly recommend looking into local studios.

This session was shot at Hive Local in Whitby, ON - hivelocal.ca