How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot (+ Shot List)

Wondering how to plan a brand photoshoot – or why you even need one?

Brand photography is THE most underrated way to get the most out of your website design and social media.

Hear me out here.

Whether you use a template or custom-designed website (and same for social media templates), the only part of your brand visuals that can't be easily replicated is you.

Brand photography is THE easiest way to make sure:

• Your content can't be replicated easily.
• Your readers or followers are developing a connection to YOU.
• Your website has the potential to rank on Google (seriously – it'll be 53% more likely).
• People stay on your website long enough to read it. The first impression of a website is formed in about 0.05 seconds (it's an entirely design-related decision), and striking brand photography is the best way to grab immediate attention.

Buttttt, planning a brand photoshoot for yourself can be daunting at best (even if you've been in front of the camera for things like family or wedding photos before). It's an entirely different ballgame – but one you've gotta play if you want the best return on investment possible on your website.

So, let's talk about how to plan a brand photoshoot that ensures your website can get you results.

How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot – Start With Inspiration

Shocker – she's recommending starting on Pinterest.

Like all projects with any degree of visuals, I recommend starting by pinning inspiration to a brand photoshoot Pinterest board. You can search for “brand photography,” “brand photography inspiration,” or “brand photos,” any of your brand keywords, or pin websites you're already eyeing for inspiration.

How to Sift Through Brand Photography Inspiration

After you've created a huge Pinterest board (pin first, cull later), you'll want to go through it and think about the answers to these questions before you get the actual planning underway.

Questions to get you started:

• Are there any poses or types of photos I'm drawn to? (Sitting, standing, looking at the camera, looking away, with props, etc)
• What are the vibes of the photos I'm pinning? Are they light and airy? Dark and moody? Crisp? Soft? This will help you hire your photographer (that's the next step)!
• Are the photos I like typically outside or indoors? In a studio? In a home?
• Are there any outfits (or accessories, or props) that come up as a theme?

Hire Your Brand Photographer

now that you've gathered at The Vibes for your brand photos, it's time to hire the right photographer for you. I have had the best luck searching on Google, Instagram, and in Facebook groups for my own brand photographers and when helping my clients.

The two main things to look for:

1. Does this photographer provide brand photography or have experience with it? Photographers who only shoot brand photography are harder to find than family and wedding photographers, but many photographers offer brand photos. You'll just want to make sure that your photographer has experience with shooting brand photos, as it's a completely different experience than capturing posed in candid shots for an event (like a wedding).
2. Is their style in line with my brand's? One of the fastest ways to be disappointed in your brand photos is to choose a photographer whose style doesn't match your vision. Like brand and website designers, each photographer has their own style and you'll want to make sure that their portfolio looks similar to the inspiration you pinned.

Questions to Ask a Brand Photographer:

1. What's the typical turnaround time for receiving my photos? Will I receive any as a preview before all of the files are ready?
2. will you help me with things like planning my shot list, props, and styling?
3. Is there a limit on how many outfit changes I can make, or can I change as many times as I want during our scheduled session?
4. Do you have any recommended locations I should reserve or rent for photos?
5. If you're feeling nervous, I also like to ask how the photographer can help put me at ease and make me feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Choose a Location

Your photographer should be able to help you find options for photoshoot venues in your area, ranging from free/public spaces to studios to rent.

Here are some tools to help you find a location for brand photos:

• Peerspace – like AirBnb, but for photoshoots
• AirBnb
• Google “photography studios near me” – some venues are dedicated to this purpose and don't list on websites like the above, but do their own marketing (like 20th Street Studios in St. Louis)

While your photographer's shooting and editing style is the first thing to consider when setting the vibes for your photos, the location is the next part of making sure you get the look you want.

If you want a lighter, more airy vibe – you'll want to rent a space with light (white) walls, light furniture, etc. For a darker or editorial vibe, you may choose a cozy coffee shop or a dark studio.

How to Choose Outfits for Brand Photos

My go-to resource for finding outfits for brand photos? Clothing rentals.

I've used Nuuly for several photoshoots now (family photos and branding) and it has yet to disappoint.

Use this link for $30 off your first Nuuly! (affiliate link)

I recommend looking for themes in your Pinterest board in terms of style, and pulling in your brand and/or website designer for input as well on what will look great on camera and on your website (I offer this for all of my clients!).

My biggest tips for choosing outfits?

• Choose styles that are on-brand. If you have a luxury brand or higher-end vibe, you'll want to match that with your clothing. More casual brand? You can work in things like jeans + cute sneakers.
• If you're not planning on doing regular brand photo shoots, I like to bring at least one warm-weather outfit and one cold-weather outfit (like a sweater) so that I have seasonal options for content year-round.
• Bring in your brand colors! I recommend staying away from matchy-matchy (not everything has to be the same tone or shade) but coordinating with your brand colors gives your website a completely cohesive, professional look.

If it's something you would enjoy (or is on-brand for your, well, brand), I also recommend hiring help with your hair and makeup. Makeup artists are used to applying makeup to look good in photos (it's a different approach and more makeup than you'd expect, even for a natural look) and can help you really look and feel your best.

How to Choose Props for Brand Photos

Now, for my favorite part: PROPS! If you want to know how to plan a brand photoshoot that's exactly what you want, props are the finishing touch you NEED.

A few guidelines I give my clients when it comes to prop selection:

• Think outside the box. The traditional “typing on a laptop” and “smiling a mug” photos are great for giving you something to do with your hands, but often feel overdone.
• Consider items that are part of your process – whether that's writing, designing, counseling, coaching, or none of the above, showcasing how you work can help build a sense of trust with your website readers.
• Small items to scatter about can be super fun – I've used inspiration photos (see below) for my own brand + website design studio, and recommended things like baby bottles + pump parts (for a lactation consultant), printed (and cute, styled) reports (for a bookkeeeper), and favorite snacks (for a dietitian).

Create a Shot List

Your photographer and website designer may be able to help you with this, but planning out the photos you NEED (and the ones you want) ahead of time ensures your investment is maxed out.

Here are the photos I recommend my clients shoot (at a bare minimum):

• Posed & smiling at the camera, up close
• Posed & smiling at the camera, from a distance
• Casual, candid smiles looking off-camera or aside
• At least a few photos without your face (hands working, walking, etc)

How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot: Best Bonus Tricks

Do NOT skip these tips – they make a huge difference!

Get There Before Your Photographer (if possible)

One of my favorite ways to get comfortable in front of the camera is to get to the location before my photographer and get comfy. I put on music, dance around, set up for outfit changes, and start scouting good corners to pose in.

Set Up A Phone Tripod (Or Hire a Videographer)

FAVORITE trick: either hire someone to shoot video, or set up your phone to take some B-roll for future content. It's such a fun way to add dimension to your brand imagery and make content creation so much easier.

(I recommend literally just clearing out space on your camera roll, and letting your phone record for a few minutes at time, changing its location throughout. You can make edits like speeding up or slowing down later.)

Play Music

Bring a playlist or turn on a radio station (are those still a thing?) you vibe with to get comfy. I usually pack a tiny speaker to make it easier (and louder, duh).

Pull Up Your Pinterest Board

I like to either print my board or bring my iPad to have everything on display (this can be more helpful than verbally describing the vibes or poses).

Now that you know *exactly* how to plan a brand photoshoot, you'll need a killer website to put your new photos on.

It's a real “if you give a mouse a cookie” situation, right? Mouse, meet cookie.