EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A BRAND PHOTOSHOOT
If you ask someone ‘What is a Brand photoshoot’ you’re likely to get an array of answers.
In my opinion and in the work that I do, a brand photoshoot is a visual of a business’s story. It helps communicate who they are, what they stand for and of course, what they do. It needs to compliment and echo the Brand identity, design + branding while conveying their tone, message and most importantly, invite their audience along for the journey, show how a business can help them and also what separates them from every other business.
As a photographer, the most common phrase I hear is “I hate having my photo taken!” I get it, it’s kind of a weird experience. More often than not, this person you’ve only recently met is telling you to be vulnerable, to trust them and sometimes sit in weird positions saying, ‘don’t worry, the angle looks great, trust me’. There it is again, trust. It’s probably one of the biggest factors in a successful photoshoot. Because of this, I always make it a priority to build trust with all my clients. The way I do this is firstly, being a real human. I talk honestly, ask questions, share experiences and get to know them and their business quite personally.
This is what I’ve decided to share with you everything you need to know about a brand photoshoot with me! I’m giving you a detailed look into what the experience is like and the process I guide my clients through.
First impressions
When I’m approached by a potential client for a brand photoshoot or any service, the first thing I do is send through my Studio Guide. It’s a detailed pdf which outlines who I am, what I do and the ways we can work together. The first page is an intro to me. I’ll be the one meeting and working with clients so I want them to get to know me just as much! My goal in business is to create long lasting relationships, become a friend and someone to lean up, offer support and bounce ideas off. I also want the process to be fun, not weird! This really helps to break the ice, so to speak and quickly helps a client to decide if I’m the right photographer for them.
Get to know you
If the client wants to go ahead, I arrange to catch up over coffee, phone or a video call for my interstate clients. This allows us time and space to talk more about the client and their needs. We talk through current struggles, goals and ideas, locations, props, outfits etc for the photoshoot. Most people have a general idea of what they want but either need help refining the details or someone to confirm they’re heading in the right direction! Before the call or meeting I always review the clients current content (social media, website etc) and see ways they could improve, what’s missing or share ideas I have about what could work for them.
Client Questionnaire
No two clients are the same so I always send through a brand questionnaire to identity uncommon commonalities, how the photos will be used, the clients messaging, colours, team members, their brand story, timeframes, any special requests or must have shots. All of this helps to determine what kind of photos need to be created.
Pre-shoot planning
As a general rule, I have a starting point for each client I work with. I know that our end goal will be to create a combination of vertical and horizontal photos that include portraits, their process/working, where they find inspiration and the tools they use. They way we do this is different for every client. In the pre-shoot planning I start putting together a moodboard using the answers from the client’s questionnaire. From there we are able to discuss and decide on a shot list, outfits, props and a location. The props, outfits and location should all be ‘on brand’, that meaning in line with the colours, tone and messaging of the business.
Location scout/check
If the location is outside or the client is unsure, I’ll do a location scout and come up with options for the photoshoot. As most businesses and brands I work with either have a shopfront, office or home studio, we generally make use of their space as this helps to really capture the business owner in their element. For a hair salon for example, some of the best photos I’ve created are the everyday moments with their clients. I spend a few hours in the salon capturing them as they work with their own clients. I’ve found that if people aren’t thinking about having their photo taken, the process is a lot easier for them. This doesn’t work for every business though and that’s why we have a discussion about location first.
Final shoot plan
Before any shoot, I send through the final shoot plan. This includes the goal of the photoshoot, the moodboard, a detailed shot list of what we will be capturing, confirmed prop list, location and outfits. This is also a chance for clients to review everything and make sure we haven’t missed anything. I always ask for feedback, ideas and expectations from my clients as if I don’t know what they’re thinking, I’m not able to successfully perform my job.
Additional info
If required, I share advice for local makeup or hair stylists to help clients look and feel their best on the day. I always recommend trying to prep in the days leading up to the photoshoot by eating nourishing foods, drinking lots of water, working out, finding time to rest and doing a little self care, whatever that looks like to you!
Photoshoot day
The moment we’ve all been waiting for… SHOOT DAY! This is honestly my favourite part, it’s where we pull together all our ideas and bring the vision to life. Throughout the day we talk, laugh, reference the shot list and allow space for ideas and moments to present themselves naturally. I’m a big believer in not planning too much as it takes away from the energy and mood, it’s good to have a general guide and required shots but when the client is relaxed and opening up, this is really where the magic happens!
Full Gallery delivered
2-3 weeks after the photoshoot I deliver the entire edited gallery to the client. This is the timeline I give clients but 9/10 I deliver the gallery early. If photos are needed earlier, I always ask to be told this up front, it’s mentioned in the questionnaire but I make sure clients know what kind of timeframe they can expect at each step of the process.
I hope this helps clear up any thoughts, questions or hesitations you may have had around a brand photoshoot. They really can be a fun experience and are so vital in telling your story.
If you’d like to chat about your own brand photoshoot, please get in touch! I’d love to hear from you and help bring your vision to life.
Until next time,
Jess
