How to Plan Your Content/Branding Photoshoot
Plan Your Business Photo Shoots
Planning business photo shoots to create content for your business is not an easy feat—especially when you aren’t quite sure what to expect. I have got you covered. Whether you are getting fresh headshots or creating content with your business photo shoots, it’s best to have a plan.
Buuuutttt, how on earth do you create your plan?? I am covering everything you should consider before the day finally arrives. Consider this an ultimate guide to planning a brand photoshoot. From planning to perfecting, start to finish!!
Steps for Planning the Perfect Content/Branding Photoshoot
CREATE YOUR VISION
As a creative, I think it’s great to create a visual representation of what you want from your business and content shoots. I find myself browsing Pinterest to get inspired. So many talented photographers have created content for other businesses, we can use that to help narrow down what you want from your shoot.
It’s important to remember that we aren’t copying here. It isn’t about finding the exact shots that you want to get. Remind yourself to seek inspiration—not to copy. You want your photos to be yours. Find photos that give off the energy that you want to bring to your website or social media! From outfits to color tones to prop ideas—create a vision board for your brand! We can take the vision and mold it into what fits your brand and visually represents what you bring to the table for your clients.
Send your Pinterest boards or screenshots of any inspo my way before our shoot and we will bring your vision to life!
CREATE A SHOT LIST
This is an important one! Take some time to sit down and think about what you want and need from a business photo shoot. Take a look at your website. Do you need to update your photos? Do you have an exciting announcement coming up? Are your headshots WAY outdated? Is your Instagram grid needing a refresh? Do you have a PDF guide that needs some updated photos? Ask yourself all of those questions!! We can create exactly the content that you will need. Knowing what shots you may need will help us to determine what needs the most attention for your shoot!
Every business has different wants and needs from a brand photoshoot. Creating and sharing a shot list will help me to make sure that we absolutely nail the shots that you NEED and grab all those that you want too. I thrive in my role during a brand photoshoot when I am organized and have a plan for the content we need to create!
OUTFIT & LOCATION PLANNING
Most of my clients ask for my help with this! It can be difficult to narrow down the options when you have alllllllll the options staring you down.
I always recommend 2-3 outfits if it’s just a one person content session. This will give us variety in your photos. What you wear can really set the tone for your photos. You may want to put together one outfit that is more professional with another that communicates your personality. Whatever the moods, having distinct tones will allow you to have a greater variety of photos!
Of course, it’s always best to choose outfits that make you feel confident. What makes you comfortable will shine through into confidence and it will make a world of a difference. There’s no need to make yourself uncomfortable! Wear what feels like you.
If you can, I always suggest wearing colors that fit in with your brand and that you enjoy wearing! It will make your photos that much more personal. I love when my clients send me photos for help! I am always a few taps away if you can’t decide which outfits are right!
Most of my content and branding clients use my studio space in Lacon, IL. It’s got natural light, simple backdrops, chairs, and boho decor if needed. My seamless paper backgrounds are the fan favorite and really show off you (or your products!!!!)!
Depending on your business, it may make sense to take photos at an event or at your brick and mortar or office! I am absolutely willing to come to you if that best fits your unique needs.
PLANNING PROPS
Props are a great way to show off the services or products that you offer. Anything that we can do to represent what you do will be so incredibly helpful in creating photos that support your messaging. Plus, sometimes it’s just really nice to have something to do with your hands (LOL). Bringing relevant props will also allow us to get a larger variety of photos! Think about the things that you use in your job everyday.
Some great prop ideas:
cameras
computer
phone with website or social media on screen
confetti or champagne for announcement photos
journal/notebook
props more specific to your business (money, flowers, hair tools, real estate sign)
Day of the Photo Shoot!
DAY OF YOUR SHOOT
Grab your coffee, it’s time to create some magic! Take some time before the shoot for yourself if you can. Get in some pampering, do some journaling, whatever will allow you to get in a great headspace for the day! Your photos are going to be at their best when you are!
A small check list to make sure you are ready to go:
Double check you have all your outfits + props
If you have flat lays, make sure they are all organized and ready to be shot
If we are shooting at your business - make sure it’s clean and photo ready
Get ready to hear me say “perfect!!” so many times in a row
Relax!! We are going to have so much fun.
FINAL GALLERY REVIEW
The most wonderful day is here! You received your final gallery… now what!? It truly makes my day when my clients respond to their gallery with a review/thoughts. I thrive off of feedback. I would absolutely love if you would share your thoughts!! Scroll through them, find your favorites and get to using those babies!!
POSTING YOUR CONTENT
The moment you have been waiting and waiting for, showing off those sweet new content photos for your audience! With each gallery I will send download instructions to follow so the photos are posted properly and don’t look compressed or blurry when you upload them online! Trust me, they are going to be worth it.
It makes my heart SO happy to see my clients’ Instagram grids looking absolutely bomb or their websites refreshed with their new headshots and product photos! I want those photos used to market your business to the absolute fullest—because you & your biz deserve to FLOURISH!
Results
I have had loads of clients gain SO much from updated photos. From finding more success in their business to finally feeling proud of their online presence, Adding these new photos to your social media, websites, marketing materials, products and wherever else is going to feel like such an exciting relief.
If you are looking to book a photo shoot for your business, check out my content session guide! There are so many AMAZING businesses in the Central IL area, and I can’t wait to give yours a photo upgrade! I’m usually booked a few months out, so if you are in a time crunch reach out ASAP! I can’t tell you how many clients have told me that people are constantly saying nice things about their websites or IG feeds. I can almost see the weight of content creation being lifted off their shoulders! Check out more examples and see what past clients have to say!
Are you the Photographer???
Grab your guide to posing at branding sessions! Future you will thank you.
