How to Prepare for a Brand Shoot

I’ve dreamed of doing a brand shoot for years.

So when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it!!

Working with Jamie Bannon Photography was EVERYTHING I dreamed it would be!!

The photos were exactly what I wanted/needed for my brand and I’m using them even more than I thought I would. They truly are the perfect compliment to the stock photos I’ve purchased from  and Social Squares and the smattering of photos I take and edit myself.

(👆🏻 And honestly, as far as brand shoots go, that’s EXACTLY what you want!! 👆🏻)

But the shoot didn’t happen without some serious planning and preparation (as if I’d do anything without). And today, I want to share with you what I did to prepare for my brand shoot along with a few tips from my photographer (Jamie Bannon) and makeup artist (Lauren Page) so you can prepare for your first or next brand shoot and really knock it out of the ballpark!!

Editor’s Note: This also gives me the perfect excuse to share a few of my favorite photos from the shoot including some behind-the-scenes shots that my mom got and a funny face series that was as fun as it looks!! 😍

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links.)

WHAT A BRAND PHOTOGRAPHER RECOMMENDS YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR YOUR BRAND SHOOT

I’m kicking things off with Jamie’s tips because without her I wouldn’t have known what to do (this was my first ever brand shoot)!! 

1 | Research photographers to find one whose work you love.

If you have specific ideas, communicate with your photographer in advance about what types of shots you want and what kind of images you like—the more information they have ahead of time, the more efficiently your shoot will run and the more images they’ll be able to capture for you! It’s also great to collect or pin images from around the web to share with them so they can get a really great sense of what you’re looking for.

2 | Work with your photographer to choose a location that’s right for you. 

Do you want a coffee shop vibe?

An office environment? 

A mix of indoor/outdoor shots?

3 | If the location is not your office/studio/home, it’s great to bring some personal effects to style your shoot with. 

For instance, do you have a mug with a great saying you love?

A computer covered with your brand colors?

A planner you use every. single. day?

Bringing your own items lends that personal, authentic touch to your shoot, and helps us to capture YOU!

4 | Bring plenty of outfit choices.

You don’t have to wear them all, but it’s great to have options to mix up the shots. I also recommend different kinds of outfits (i.e. professional, casual…) so you can get a broad range of images from your shoot.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to iron those outfits!! It seems obvious, but there’s nothing worse-looking on camera than wrinkled clothing. Unless sloppy is part of your personal brand identity, you’ll thank me for this one!

5 | Most importantly… don’t stress!!

I’ve worked with lots of clients who are nervous, not used to having their picture taken, and convince themselves it’s going to be scary. But I promise—it’s not!

Have fun with it, and remember—the more fun you have, the more that will come across in the pictures, and the happier you will be with the end result.

Let yourself enjoy the experience, and I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Editor’s Note: You can see more photos from my brand shoot over on Jamie’s blog. While you’re there, check out her other work!! She might just be the perfect photographer for your first or next brand shoot!! Did I mention that she loves to travel?

WHAT A MAKEUP ARTIST RECOMMENDS YOU DO TO PREPARE FOR YOUR BRAND SHOOT

Up next, Lauren’s tips for ensuring you look and feel fabulous on shoot day!!

1 | Exfoliate

Make sure to do this a couple of days before the photoshoot to ensure the makeup goes on super smooth.

2 | Drink Water

This will make your skin have a natural radiance as well as plump it up and make it smoother for makeup application.

3 | Sleep

Make sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before to reduce dark under eyes and puffiness. The bonus is you’ll have enough energy to be energetic and excited during your photoshoot!

Editor’s Note: You can get more photoshoot ready beauty tips from Lauren on her blog. While you’re there, check out some of her other tips and examples of her work. If you’re in the New England area, she might just be the makeup artist you need for your brand shoot (or other special event)!!

WHAT I DID TO PREPARE FOR MY BRAND SHOOT

You’ll notice that I followed Jamie’s tips, but with my own twist!!

1 | I chose who I wanted to work with and booked them several weeks out. 

I think Jamie and I started talking about the shoot at the end of January. We scheduled the shoot for the first week of March and everything was booked by the first week of February.

But before we put the date on the calendar, Jamie and I talked at length about what I envisioned for my brand shoot, my brand aesthetic, and the types of photos I wanted. 

We used a private Pinterest board for inspiration, and I later used that to create a shot list of must-have photos, would really love to have photos, and if we have time photos. 

This was our Bible on shoot day and was vital to our efficiency. I have so many photos to work with and I’m positive it was because we had that shot list!!

2 | I decided to have my hair and makeup done by people I trust. 

Even though I can technically do my own hair and makeup, I didn’t want the added stress of making sure everything looked just right on shoot day. My longtime hairstylist, Anne, did my hair at the salon and Lauren met me at Jamie’s house to glamify me.

I was a little bit nervous (I always am in front of a camera) so having my hair and makeup done was actually the best distraction and I was super happy and confident with the final look!!

3 | I chose my outfits carefully so that they matched my brand AND so that I would be comfortable on shoot day.

I tried everything on ahead of time (including accessories and shoes) and then took photos of each complete outfit. I included these in the shot list so that Jamie could help me decide when to change. (We didn’t wind up using all the outfits I planned out, but it was better to have too many options rather than not enough.)

4 | I made a list of all the props so that packing for the shoot would be easy.

Because my REAL home office doesn’t get good, consistent light, Jamie and I decided to RECREATE my office in her guest bedroom. (#bestdecisionever 🙌🏻)  

My mom graciously blocked off the day in her schedule to come help us style everything and it honestly came out better than I imagined!!

I brought things like my laptop, Simplified Planner, books, coffee mugs, pen cups, notepads, and other office accessories to make it look and feel like my workspace. Jamie and my mom did all of the styling while Lauren did my makeup and it was FANTASTIC!!

5 | I changed my mindset and took lots of deep breaths.

I am not a fan of being in front of the camera. I’ve had headshots done before and I know that it takes me a while to loosen up. I told Jamie this ahead of time and she told me not to worry about it. (That’s the sign of a confident photographer right there!!)

In the weeks leading up to the shoot, I constantly looked through the Pinterest board and shot list to familiarize myself with the photos and even practiced some of the poses so that I wouldn’t feel awkward when I finally got in front of the camera. 

I also kept telling myself that the shoot would be great, that I wouldn’t be stressed, and that the pictures would be amazing. I repeated these affirmations every day, multiple times a day… and guess what?! THEY WORKED!!

I was cool as a cucumber on shoot day, Anne and Lauren worked their magic to make me look and feel fabulous, Jamie had me laughing the entire day, and the pictures turned out AMAZING!! Am I right or am I right?! 😉

[bctt tweet=”The tips you need to ROCK your first or next brand shoot!!” username=”productivityzne”]

I am so freaking happy this brand shoot opportunity came up when it did!! Having branded images that represent me and my brand have been a game changer. They’ve breathed so much LIFE into my online presence (my website, blog, and social media platforms) and I love that I have so many options to work with!! I feel so much more confident in marketing my services and shop and can’t wait to work with Jamie on future projects!!

Having REAL images that represent you and your brand are so important to the overall success of your business. I hope this post has inspired you to save up for yours and to prepare to knock it out of the ballpark when the time comes!!

Editor’s Note: Can’t afford a brand shoot right now? No worries, girl!! I used stock photos for years and still plan to use them intermixed with my new brand photos in the future. Check out the best styled stock photography shops for female entrepreneurs, why you need to be using styled stock photography, and the best ways to use styled stock photos in your business!!

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only share about the products and services I personally use and love most and think you will, too!!