Are You Ready for a Brand Photoshoot? And How I Prepared for Mine.
Getting brand photos taken is super fun and probably at the top of your to-do list as a new business owner. But honestly? Bump it down to the bottom. Don’t get me wrong—brand photos are a must-have. But are you really ready for them? Read this post to find out.
I’ve noticed that new business owners tend to skip straight to design. And who am I to judge?! I did that too! Why? Because design is fun. It makes it feel like your business is legit.
But you know what actually makes your business legit? Income. Learn from my (many) mistakes. Before you put down a lot of cash to get a logo or pics, make sure you’re making a profit first.
Why? Well, other than saving you a lot of money (and saving you from having to redesign everything all over again in just a few months), having your business’s foundation ironed out before making design decisions will ensure that those decisions are strategic. It’s not enough for things to be pretty. They need to turn a profit.
In this blog post, I share how I prepared for my most recent (and most successful) brand photoshoot. But I want to be sure you know that most of the work was done well before I hired the photographer.
Before I booked my shoot, I took about six months to redesign my offers. I also rewrote all of my website copy before a single picture was taken. This is so important, and I can’t emphasize it enough:
Your products, services, and ideal client inform your visual brand, not the other way around.
These things set the overall vibe of your photoshoot—everything from outfits, to scenes, to poses.
If you’re still ironing out the essential pieces of your business, let me help you. We’ll get you photoshoot ready in no time.
Finding the Right Photographer
I used to think that anyone who knew how to work a camera was fine for my photoshoot—not anymore! These days, eleven years into business, it’s a top priority that my photographer be rooted in strategy.
I didn't want just random pictures of me. I wanted strategic images that would help me sell my services. What I loved about my photographer was that we actually had an in-person strategy meeting. We spent an hour clarifying the purpose of the photoshoot.
Astrological side note: I found out later that my photographer is also a Virgo. So apparently, my Virgo self needed someone who was just as organized.
It was also a priority that the photographer have their own studio. I’ve done photoshoots in my house before and…they were not fun. Needless to say, I’m no longer using those pictures.
Don’t get me wrong, I live a clean and tidy place, but it’s not photoshoot-worthy. And I really don’t want my microwave featured in the background of my headshots.
Pose and Outfit Inspiration
Thanks to my strategy session with my photographer, I knew I wanted four main “storylines” in my shoot:
Working shots/desk shots
Cozy, work-from-home shots
Fun personality shots
Detail shots of my tools
This made planning my outfits and poses a breeze. I knew I needed a business casual outfit, a comfy outfit, and a fun/statement outfit.
The first place I went to for outfit and pose inspiration was Pinterest. I think I literally searched “brand photoshoot inspiration”, and voila. I made a private board of poses I liked and shared it with my photographer.
Incorporating Your Brand Colors
I think it’s also really important to note that I knew my brand colors before I bought any clothing. My friend Miranda from Moonstone Creative selected my brand colors (based on my astrology chart!) for me many months ago, which made shopping much more focused. I simply looked for my colors on the rack.
If you want your pictures to jive and play nice with your website (which you do), incorporating your brand colors into your outfits is a must. You also want to know which colors are dominant and which are accents, so that you use them in the right proportions.
I incorporated my brand colors into my clothing, but also into my props. For example, I didn’t wear any lemon clothing (one of my accent colors), but I featured it in a journal as well as in some flowers.
Picking an Optimal Photoshoot Date
As an astrologer, let me tell you, picking an optimal date for your photoshoot is key. Don’t skip this part! I knew I wanted a date that was infused with visibility, beauty, smooth logistics, and high energy.
To do this, I chose a day where the Moon was waxing. This correlates with higher energy and visibility (aka feeling comfortable being in front of a camera). It just so happened that the Moon was also in a Fire sign, which is great for anything visual.
I also chose a date where I was having a nice transit from Venus. Venus is the planet of style and beauty, and since I wanted to feel beautiful in my pictures, I made sure Venus was featured positively in the date of the shoot.
I also just wanted everything to run smoothly, so I chose a date where Mercury (the planet of details and logistics) was receiving a nice boost from Jupiter.
And finally, I chose a date where I was in the early follicular phase of my menstrual cycle, which tends to correlate with me feeling more energetic.
My Photoshoot Timeline
Two Weeks Prior
Two weeks prior to the shoot, I had the strategy session with my photographer, and I also ordered the clothing that I knew I couldn’t find locally. Then, I went shopping! (Fashion is actually a major insecurity for me, so in hindsight, I wish I would’ve started outfit shopping a few more weeks in advance.)
One Week Prior
One week before the shoot, I did all the beauty appointments. I got my brows shaped and all that good stuff. I did this a week before in case I had any skin reactions. I also did round two of shopping. At this point, I was stressing! But it all worked out.
Two Days Prior
Two days before the shoot, I tried on all of my outfits for the final time and ran them by a fashion-minded friend. I sent her a bunch of selfies for approval. It was super vulnerable, but I’m so glad I did this. It was a real confidence booster.
One Day Prior
The day before my photoshoot, I got a manicure and pedicure. A pedicure may not be necessary for you, but since I have some barefoot shots, I made sure to spruce up my winter feet. I decided on a polish color that’s actually the dark background color of my website.
The night before, I ironed all of my outfits. (Note to self: buy a steamer!) And I also gathered all of my props in a laundry basket. Now, I already had a list of what props I needed to bring thanks to my strategy session. So, I wasn't running around frantic, I was just casually gathering things from my desk and my bookshelf.
The Morning of the Photoshoot
The morning of the photoshoot I did some future-self journaling. I wrote as if the photoshoot had already happened and in the most ideal way.
For example, something like…
It’s the evening of January 14th, and I’m relaxing on the couch after my epic photoshoot. I feel…[insert ideal outcome here]
Future-self journaling is a fun way to get your nervous system on board with the way you’d like to feel.
I also did my own hair and makeup that morning. In the future, I’d prefer to outsource this to a professional. But for budgeting purposes, and also because my shoot was early in the morning, it didn't work out this time.
After the Photoshoot
Afterward, I was so exhausted! This took me by surprise. If you’re planning on a brand photoshoot, I recommend blocking off the rest of the day. No appointments, no heavy work—just relax!
(I'm also very sensitive to scent, so I think part of my exhaustion was the fact that I had hairspray in my hair and it was poisoning me.)
Instead of getting straight back to work, my husband and I went out for lunch and to a chocolatier for truffles and espresso. Once I got home, it was time for Netflix!
My Top Brand Photoshoot Tips
1. Know your brand inside and out before you invest.
Photoshoots aren’t cheap, so be sure you’re ready. Know exactly what you’re selling and who you’re here to serve before investing in in a photoshoot. All of these things will inform your visual design.
If you're in that in-between state and you want a brand photoshoot but aren’t sure if you're ready, come work with me. We’ll get the foundation of your business ironed out.
2. Wear what’s authentic to you (just up a couple notches).
If you’re not going to wear a blazer in real life, don’t wear one in your photoshoot! If you wear something that you wouldn’t normally wear in your photographs, you’re less likely to use them. Wear what you would normally wear, just up a couple of notches in elegance.
3. Give yourself more time than you think you need.
Give yourself way more time than you think you need to prepare for your photoshoot. Be sure you have ample time to outfit shop and run those outfits by a trusted friend. Take the time to be strategic about your scenes and poses so that these photos can serve you for years to come!