4 ways to prepare for a personal branding session

4 ways to prepare for a personal branding session

 Trying to prepare for your first personal branding session? It can feel overwhelming! Here are 4 simple steps to ensure you’re ready to clearly communicate your brand and business in your content photoshoot.

It’s really important that you thoroughly prepare for your personal branding session so you can make the most of the shoot! 

If you’ve never had a content photoshoot before, I’ve put together four ways to make sure you’re totally prepared to have the best personal branding session ever! Keep scrolling to learn exactly how to get ready for every aspect of the photoshoot.

Note: the pictures used for this blog post were from my branding session with The Daughters On Fire Team

1-How to Dress for Your Personal Branding Session

My best advice? Hire a personal stylist!

I know that sounds bougie and expensive, but stylists are much more affordable than you may think. You should also think of a content photoshoot as an investment for your brand. Choosing the right clothes – color, texture, silhouette, etc. – goes a long way toward elevating your brand and ensuring your photos communicate your brand’s personality and vibe.

A professional stylist can also help save you money by putting together outfits from the clothes you already have! They’ll show you which outfit looks best in each location (if you’re having a multi-location shoot) and help you keep all your looks cohesive and on-brand.

There’s often a misconception that your branding session photographer will serve as your stylist. While I’ve created a super helpful style guide that I send to all my personal brand photoshoot clients, my job is to take beautiful photos that capture your business’s vibe and personality. Hiring a stylist will help you express yourself best in flattering, well-fitted outfits that bring your brand and business to life.

I even wrote an entire blog post about the power of hiring a personal stylist; you can read it here. 

2-Hair and Makeup for Your Personal Branding Session

If you don’t love the way you do your own hair and makeup on a regular day, you’re really not going to like it in your branding images. Just like a stylist can help you feel your most confident and choose the best outfits for your brand, a professional hair and makeup artist can help you look and feel your best.

Having a professional handle your hair and makeup will help you relax instead of stressing out about getting ready before your content photoshoot. They will ask specific questions to help you understand the look you’re going for and ensure it’s flawless. There’s an art to applying makeup that will photograph well, so going with a pro is always a good idea!

I include the option to add a hair and makeup team when you work with me, so you can confidently prepare for your personal branding session. 

3-Choose the Right Location

If finding the perfect spot is on your list of things to do to prepare for your personal branding session, you’ll want to consider booking an Airbnb. You can find some really unique and chic homes that will give you the perfect vibe and backdrops.

If you choose a public location, make sure you research whether you need a permit to shoot there. Nothing ruins a content photoshoot quicker than getting kicked out of a specific venue!

You should always talk to your photographer about the type of location you’re looking for. They can usually offer good suggestions for nearby places that meet your needs. 

And if you decide to photograph at home, be sure to add personal elements of your brand to your shoot so you can use those images as stock for your social media!

4-Communicate Clearly with Your Photographer

Don’t wait until the last minute to discuss your goals and expectations with your photographer. As you prepare for your personal branding session, make sure to let your photographer know how you plan to use the photos and what look you’re going for.

I send a pretty extensive questionnaire to all of my personal branding clients, but make sure you over-communicate everything with your photographer so there are no disappointments or last-minute surprises.

It’s super important that you choose a photographer whose style matches your brand’s look and vibe. If you have a moody brand, you’re not going to want to work with a light-and-airy photographer (and vice versa). Overall, you will feel #winning when you can clearly communicate your brand through your photos (and the first step is to communicate your expectations to your photographer). 

How to Know When You Need Brand Photography

If you’re not sure whether it’s the right time to invest in your branding photography, consider your upcoming goals. My previous clients have used their business photo sessions to launch new services, update their websites, create more social media content, and more! 

Branding photography is also essential if you’re looking to uplevel your business this year. Professional photos of you will lend more credibility and personality–helping you stand out! With a library of photos to choose from, you can ensure your marketing is more consistent and cohesive. 

Use a Business Photo Session to Grow Your Business

If you know you are ready for your own branding photography session and own your own business, I’d love to work on your branding photography! 

My photography package starts with a conversation about you and your business so I can better understand the story we can tell with your photos. From there, I’ll work with you to strategically map out your session, including the types of photos I’ll capture. 

When the photo session is approaching, I’ll provide you with a list of everything you should bring so you’re prepared. I’ll also send a reminder to schedule your beauty appointments beforehand. On the day of, all you need to do is be yourself! I’ll capture all of the photos you need and make sure you’re as comfortable as possible so we can let you and your business shine. 

If you’re ready to get started, contact me today!

Summary

A well-styled, well-shot, and well-planned shoot can elevate your brand profile, attract new leads, and boost your profits. In short, you are investing in your business’s future success by planning a strategic photo session.

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