Brand Photoshoots—Why They’re Important + How to Plan a Good One.

Mar 10

This week we’re chatting the ins and outs of brand photoshoots—why they’re important, tips for your next shoot, some Birmingham-local photographers we love, and some BTS of our most recent shoot!

Why Brand Photoshoots are Important

It’s important to maintain branded content for regularly refreshing your website and Instagram feed.

You feel this tug as a consumer of other brands—you get tired of seeing the same stuff over and over. You also likely fatigue quickly with generic stock imagery—not to say stock imagery doesn’t have a place. It certainly does, but it’s most effective when applied in even conjunction with the real thing.

Also, did you know your website gets an SEO boost whenever you make an update of any kind? Doing so signals to search engines that your website is alive and in active use. You’ll get the biggest bang for your buck here if you remember to add alt text containing key words to your image settings, FYI.

Lastly, new brand imagery helps communicate to your target audience changes that are taking place throughout your business model, product and service offerings, staffing, etc., so everybody stays in the know and knows what to expect from you.

How to Plan a Successful Brand Photoshoot

(Current clients—this resource, in even more detail, is available to you within your Client Portal.)

Start with inspo! Search your brand’s colors and vibe descriptors on Pinterest, and then create a board displaying ideas for particular shots, poses, props, backgrounds, etc.—here’s ours from our most recent brand shoot.
Find a photographer that matches your vibe! We’ve included a list of some of our Birmingham-local favorites below. Ask ahead of time whether the photographer you’re considering has ‘brand or editorial photography’ experience specifically—it’s a difference maker!
Source your props and location! If your business doesn’t have a physical address, search “local photo studios” on Google for options. Don’t be afraid to use your home as long as it features some good natural light! And bring more props than you think necessary—they really help add some personality aaaaand give you something to do with your hands. ;)
Generate a very specific shot list. Doing so will ensure your brand imagery meets all of your needs and lasts you a good while—AKA, delivers your greatest ROI. For the sake of imagery longevity in particular, you’ll want a few shots of a lot of different poses/activities, and you’ll feel way less awkward in the moment if you can describe for your photographer ahead of time specifically what you’re going for. Here’s an example of how granular we got on our shot list—“blurry, landscape-oriented, overhead images of Anna Cate moving around photos on moodboard”. Pro tip—do specify photo orientation! You’ll need a good mix of landscape and portrait images (more landscape than you probably think, for stretching across website banners).
Get your outfits together! If you need some help with this part, book a session with a stylist (a couple of our favorites (and previous clients!) include MG Style and Affiner). Consider how to infuse your brand colors and style into your outfits along with your own personality, as well as how to neutralize evidence of seasons or weather, in order that you can use your photos all year round!
Lighten up—make it fun! Make a playlist ahead of time and bring a bluetooth speaker, so you can relax with your favorite music. Maybe also have a cup of coffee or glass of wine beforehand, or even during (depending on your vibe, LOL)!