We are in the era of the personal brand which demands exceptional marketing photos that captures the true essence of your personality and your business. This is where brand photographers truly shine by bringing each clients vision to life with strategy and creativity.

But how do you set yourself up for success when it comes to creating beautiful brand photos? I have 5 tips from my experience working with small business owners around the Charlotte, North Carolina metro area, that will help you nail your next brand shoot.

5 Tips for a Successful Brand Photoshoot For Your Small Business

Plan Your Brand Shoot Way in Advance

This is number one for a reason! I highly recommend planning your brand photography shoot 3-6 weeks out so you have time to prepare. I stress this heavily with all of my inquiring clients.

A Collaborative Effort

Brand shoots are not passive. They require a lot of communication and collaboration. This means time is essential to iron out the vision and the fine details. There are outfits to plan, props to buy, locations to rent, makeup artists to book, etc. The list goes on. Time is really your best friend when it comes to having a great brand shoot.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

Last year I had an inquiring client reach out asking to do a full brand photoshoot the following week. Even though I would have LOVED to take her on as a client and work with her to create amazing brand photos, a week just wasn't enough time to give her the amazing client experience that she deserved. Most photographers are busy and already booked weeks or months out, so when you decide you are ready for a brand photoshoot for your business, contact your favorite brand photographer and get on their calendar as soon as possible.

Define Your Goals

Where will your photos be used?

This is the first question we ask every inquiring client. Think about where you will be using your new brand images. Do you need new headshots for LinkedIn or your business cards, a cover photo for Facebook, a horizontal banner image for a website, etc.

Usage rights also come into play here. If your photos are going to be published on a book cover or displayed on a huge billboard, your photographer might have a separate licensing fee for that than if you are just using your images for social media and web use.

What is the purpose of your brand photoshoot?

Are you a few years into your business and need a complete library of professional and polished images to use for your marketing on all platforms? This might require a longer session, maybe 3 hours or so with multiple outfits and locations. Or, are you launching a new product or service and just need a few specific type of images like updated headshots and some lifestyle images for your marketing? A shorter session with less images might be perfect for your needs.

Spend time reflecting on the reason for the shoot and the types of images you need, and communicate this with your brand photographer.

Choose The Right Locations

One of my mantras that I always preach in our brand photography business is: YOU CANNOT OUT-SHOOT A BAD LOCATION! I really stand by this statement.

Invest in a Space if Necessary

A location can make or break your brand photoshoot. That's why a stylish location rental is often (not always) recommend for our personal brand clients. Sometimes clients have great spaces that we can utilize on photoshoot day but sometimes a rental is necessary. This is an added photoshoot expense but one that is so worth the investment!

Avoid Clutter

For your brand shoot you want to make sure the space you choose is very minimalist: minimal decor, no clutter, and ideally a neutral color palette. That way you can incorporate your own brand colors into the space which will really elevate the final look and feel of the photos.

Don't Stress about Locations

Choosing a location can be a stressor for so many clients but, I assure you, it's not something to worry about. I'm here to help! There are perfect locations out there for every brand aesthetic and in every budget. I've scouted lots of beautiful spaces around the Charlotte metro area (and beyond) so I am always happy to share these ideas with my clients during the planning process. Check out Blew Me Away's Balloon branding shoot we did in Charlotte at a gorgeous modern home for some location inspiration.

Select Stylish Outfits and Meaningful Props

Choose outfits and props that represent your business and brand story to add authenticity and personality into your photos.

Pick Outfits You Feel Comfortable In

When it comes to outfits, I always suggest starting off in your closet at home choosing items that go with your brand color palette. Pick a variety of pieces you would normally wear in everyday life that you feel comfortable in. This isn't the time to go buy a stiff power suit if you never ever wear one. You wont be comfortable and it will show in the photos.

Mix and Match

Add jackets and accessories to give variety and interest to your photo. If you do need to buy a few new outfits, go to an actual mall and try on clothes in person. You can find great pieces at Belk's and Macy's. SouthPark Mall in Charlotte is such a fantastic shopping center with so many awesome stores for every style, size, and budget. Highly recommend starting there.

Purposeful Props Are Key

Props help showcase your personality and brand stories. During the planning process I help clients identify what props to include based on their business and what brand story themes they want to convey. One of my past clients is really big into champagne. She loves it and it's a huge part of her brand so we incorporated it into her shoot. We didn't just use an ordinary bottle from the store. She CUSTOM ordered a bottle wrapped with her logo and silver sequins. Bling! It was so cool. Check out her branding session here to see how we used her brand props! This is why planning your shoot in advance is so vital. It gives you TIME to source on-brand props that are unique to your personality and brand.

Work With The Right Branding Photographer

Photographers are a dime a dozen especially here in the Charlotte metro area. There are so many great artists to choose from but not all photographers in your area have experience doing brand photography.

Choose an Expert

An experienced brand photographer is someone who has a proven process in place that will help you create a custom photoshoot that reflects your unique personality and brand story.

A brand shoot is not like a family portrait session where you just show up and snap a few photos and you're on your way. Nope! Brand photography is strategic and requires a lot of pre-planning to get to the heart and soul of your brand. We have a 20-question brand questionnaire that we send to all of our booked clients that not only lets us understand the clients brand but it also helps the client to gain even more clarity on their business, target audience, aesthetic, and vision for their brand photos.

Good Vibes Only

Choose a brand photographer you really connect with and vibe with on a personal level. This is so very important because you will be communicating with your photographer for several weeks to a month leading up to your shoot so having a good report is vital for photoshoot success!

Being in front of the camera is nerve-wracking for most people so choosing a brand photographer you like and are super comfortable with will put you at ease and help you feel confident and look your absolute best in your photos!

Identify Your Preferred Editing Style

What photography editing style do you gravitate to? There's light and airy, dark and moody, etc. Identify the editing style you want for your images and choose a photographer who has that editing style. You have to think, these images are going to represent your business. This might not be the time to use a dark matte preset (save those for family portraits if that's want you like).

Our branding photography style is natural, vibrant, and timeless. We love bright natural light, vibrant colors, and capturing natural emotive expressions!

Communicate Clearly

Share your goals and expectations with the photographer in advance. Experienced brand photographers can help guide you in the right direction with your vision but you should inquire having already thought through some of your marketing goals and what types of photos you need for your business.

Trust Their Expertise

Allow your brand photographer to use their skills and creativity to enhance your vision. Day of timelines and photoshoot guides help ensure a smooth photoshoot day, but it's important to remember that these are just guides and to make time for magic because this is often when the most gorgeous photos are taken!

5 Tips for a Successful Brand Photoshoot For Your Small Business

If you live or work in the Charlotte, NC metro area and are ready to book a brand photoshoot for your small business, let's chat! Fill out the inquiry form here!