TL;DR
A good brand photoshoot starts with a list of where your photos will be used, not with outfits or poses. Work out the places you need images for, the story you want them to tell, and the exact shots you need, then share that plan with your photographer. Use the shot list in this post as your starting point.
Key Takeaways
- List every place your photos will appear before you book, from your website to your LinkedIn banner.
- Decide on three or four words that describe how your brand should feel, and share them with your photographer.
- Plan a mix of shots: close portraits, working shots, wide images with space for text, and details.
- Pick a location that tells your story, whether that is a bright studio or your own workplace.
- Book a session long enough for the number of images you need.
Maybe you are building a new website and every page has a grey box where a photo should be. Or your social media has turned into a wall of stock images that could belong to anyone. Either way, you know you need real photos of you and your business, but you are not sure where to start. A little planning makes the difference between a folder of nice photos and a set of images you actually use.
In this post, you’ll learn how to plan a brand photoshoot step by step, what to include on your shot list, and how to choose between the studio and your own workplace.
Step 1: Work out where your photos will be used
Start with a simple list of every place your business shows its face. For most small businesses in Auckland, that includes your website home page, about page and services pages, your LinkedIn profile photo and banner, Instagram and Facebook, your Google Business Profile, email newsletters, proposals and quotes, and any speaker bios or media features.
Each of these needs a different shape of photo. A website banner usually needs a wide, landscape image with empty space on one side for text. Instagram favours square and tall images. A LinkedIn profile photo is a tight crop of your face, while the LinkedIn banner is very wide and shallow. If you know this before the shoot, your photographer can frame shots to suit, so you are not stuck cropping your head off later.
Step 2: Decide what story your photos should tell
Next, think about how you want people to feel when they see your business. Pick three or four words. A financial adviser might choose calm, trustworthy and approachable. A hair stylist might choose creative, fun and bold. A builder might choose practical, reliable and hands-on.
These words guide everything else: the location, the colours you wear, the props you bring and the expressions in your photos. Share them with your photographer before the shoot day. At Milk Photography Studio, we always talk through what you need and how you want to come across before we pick up the camera, so the session has a clear direction.
Step 3: Build your shot list
A shot list is simply a list of the photos you want to come away with. It keeps the session focused and makes sure nothing important gets forgotten. Here is a starting point you can adapt for your business:
- A classic headshot. Head and shoulders, looking at the camera, for LinkedIn, your email signature and speaker bios.
- A relaxed portrait. A warmer, more casual version for your about page and social media.
- You at work. At your desk, with a client, using your tools or serving a customer. These show what it is like to work with you.
- A wide image with space for text. You on one side of the frame and clear space on the other, for your website banner.
- Detail shots. Your hands, your products, your workspace, your logo on the door. These are great for breaking up blog posts and social media feeds.
- Your team. If you have staff, a group photo and matching individual photos for your website team page.
- Your space. The shopfront, the office or the restaurant, so people know what to expect when they visit.
You do not need every shot on this list. Pick the ones that match the places you listed in step 1, and put a star next to the three you need most. If time runs short on the day, those come first.
Step 4: Choose your location
Where you shoot shapes the whole feel of your images. A studio gives you clean, light-filled photos and a calm space with no distractions. Our studio in Kohimarama is bright and sunny, which works especially well for headshots and portraits.
Your own workplace is often the better choice when the setting is part of your story. A cafe owner behind the counter, a designer at their desk or a builder on site says far more than a plain background. We photograph on location around Auckland as well as in the studio, and many branding sessions use a mix of both. You can see examples of both styles in our corporate and branding portfolio.
If you choose your workplace, tidy it the day before. Clear clutter off desks and benches, check that signage is clean, and think about the time of day when the light is best.
Step 5: Plan your outfits and props
Choose clothes that you feel good in and that suit the way you work. If you would never wear a suit with your clients, do not wear one in your photos. Bring a second and third outfit so you can show different sides of your business, for example one smarter look and one more relaxed look. Solid colours that sit well with your brand colours usually photograph better than busy patterns.
Props help tell your story. Bring the things you use every day: your laptop, your tools, your products, your notebook, or a favourite mug. They give your hands something to do and make the photos feel natural rather than posed.
Step 6: Book the right length of session
The length of your session should match the number of images you need. At Milk Photography Studio, an Express Headshot is a 5-minute studio session with one edited image, from $350+gst. A Headshot Shoot is 20 minutes with 2 outfit changes and 2 images, from $550+gst in the studio or $650+gst on location. Our Personal Branding session runs for 45 to 60 minutes with 2 to 3 outfit changes and 5 images, for $1500+gst, and you can purchase additional images.
If your shot list has more than a couple of items on it, a personal branding session is usually the right fit. For a single LinkedIn photo, a headshot session will do the job. You can compare all the options on our headshots and personal branding page, and our guide to personal branding photography in Auckland explains each one in more detail.
Step 7: Relax and enjoy it
Most people feel nervous about having their photo taken, and that is completely normal. The best thing you can do is arrive with time to spare, well rested and with your plan in hand. A good photographer will direct you through each shot, so you never have to guess what to do with your hands. Then let the plan do the work.
Ready to plan your brand photoshoot?
If you would like help turning your plan into a set of photos you will actually use, we would love to hear from you. Call us on 0210 837 2306 or get in touch online to book your session at our Kohimarama studio or on location around Auckland.
