business branding
Rosie of Changing Lenses is a speaker, educator and podcaster for justice, equity, decolonization and inclusion, also known as JEDI. She launched her business and needed photos for marketing assets such as her website, social media, and profile photos for speaking engagements.
We discussed her outfits, the location, props, and the shot list. All of this planning is important to creating a smooth photoshoot.
The Sansa Interiors team needed business branding photos so we worked through my shoot planning process to make sure we get the most of our session.
This is a common question and I recommend starting a mood board. Gather inspiration for style, colour, location, outfits, etc. and put it into one place, whether it’s a Pinterest board, in Google Drive, or a Notion page.
Remember that this is for visual inspiration and the goal is NOT to replicate them. We want to create images that represent you and your unique brand and personality.
The location depends on the style you’re looking for. There are many studios you can book in the Greater Toronto Area now and some of them will often refresh the theme of their rooms based on the season.
For this branding session, we went to Mint Room Studios.
Here are some of the photos from our photoshoot:
What Are Business Branding Photos?
Heather came to me because she needed business branding photos to use on her website and social media. Businesses, especially small business owners, have to build their brand from scratch and one of the important steps is to take professional business branding photos. They want professional, genuine photos that represent who they are and what they do. That’s why I love working with them.
What If I’ve Never Had Professional Photos Taken Before?
One of the most common things that business owners tell me is that they’re nervous in front of the camera and I totally get it! Most of the people I work with don’t usually have their photos taken by a professional photographer so I thought I’d share 3 quick tips on how to create a successful business branding photoshoot:
1. Before The Shoot: Preparation Is Key
I can’t emphasize this enough. It’s so important to plan for the shoot. Experienced photographers do not just show up to a set without planning.
Once you’ve signed the contract, create a shoot brief with a mood board, shot list, prop list, shoot schedule, location and contact information, deliverables, etc. This will keep everyone on track and make sure that you get the shots you need.
2. Shoot Day
a) Arrive early. Not on time. But early. At least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time so you can settle in and start setting up. Every minute spent waiting for someone to arrive is time that is not being used productively and when you’re renting a space and hiring a photographer, it’s costing you time and money.
b) Communicate. Make sure to communicate with the team throughout the shoot. Don’t wait until the end to bring it up if you felt that something wasn’t working. Also, be ready for unexpected changes. As much as you prepare ahead, there are some things that may not go as planned and you have to roll with it and find a solution. Trust the team. When you choose a great group of people to work with, let them do what they’re good at.
c) Don’t overthink it. It’s ok to feel nervous, but don’t worry about how you “should” be posing. You’ll end up with stiff and unnatural photos. This goal isn’t to scrutinize every detail about a pose. It should be about showing your personality to attract the clients you want.
3. Post-Shoot Day
Now that you have your photos, use them! Don’t be afraid to post them (and re-post them!). With algorithms, it’s likely that your audience won’t see it the first time, or even the second and third time so get those photos out there :)
Another thing to note: It’s not emphasized enough but a key to creating a solid relationship with the team who’s helping you is to pay them on time. Your photographer, hair and makeup stylists are your team and you want to create a strong relationship of trust for the next time you need their help again.
I hope this helps! There’s a lot on this that we can talk about so if you have any more questions about this or other topics, feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch through Instagram or email.
Business branding portraits are a great tool for connecting with potential clients. You can use these images to promote your brand in an approachable way. They can also be used for your website, social media or other marketing assets.
Furry assistants are welcomed :)
Small business owners want professional-level photos that are more than just portraits. They want photos that show them in action to represent what they do.
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