Brand Photoshoots: what to wear & how to prepare!
I am BEYOND thrilled with all my photos from my recent brand shoot with Camryn Clair at her new studio! Sharing all the details and some tips with you below.
tip number one
CHOOSE A VERSATILE SETTING TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SHOOT
Investing in a brand photoshoot with a professional photographer is a big deal, so you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of it.
The best way to do this is by choosing a versatile location! Whether that means booking an amazing space like CAM Studios or choosing an outdoor area with different backgrounds. A versatile location can make one photoshoot look like several photoshoots, meaning you can stretch your photos further on social media without them feeling repetitive or stale.
I cannot recommend CAM Studios enough!! Camryn has designed and decorated this space to be SO versatile, catering to all sorts of styles and photo needs. She has a setting that looks like an office, a setting that looks like a kitchen counter, a living room/couch setting, a gorgeous bedroom setting, and plenty of cute furniture to arrange against any of the white walls. PLUS, Camryn does special, limited edition styled sets for each season, adding even more backdrops to choose from! The entire studio has gorgeous natural lighting from big open windows, which is personally my favorite way to be photographed. I loved jazzing up the white walls in the studio with my own print-outs — logos, patterns, and photos I’ve designed and taken myself!
If you’re not shooting at a studio — think of locations where you can bop around to find different backdrops. For example, a cute downtown area would be a great option! You could pop into a coffee shop, find a brick wall backdrop, pose in front of some greenery, and maybe even get some chic city-scape shots as well!
tip number two
KNOWING YOURSELF, YOUR STYLE, AND YOUR BRAND MAKES EVERYTHING EASIER
Okay, this probably isn’t the quick, easy tip you were hoping for, BUT it is the most important. Before investing in a brand photoshoot, you NEED to have a clear idea of what your brand is all about. Who is your ideal audience? What is your brand tone? What message are you trying to send? What are you offering?
If you can’t answer those questions, maybe hold off and do a little soul searching before you invest in a brand photoshoot. Since I do have a strong grasp on my brand and what Thomfoolery is all about, I felt super confident when preparing for my photoshoot and I knew the exact vibe I wanted to go for. I was able to incorporate my brand colors in my outfits, use my own products and packaging in shots, and choose props that complemented my business.
Guess what? I did not purchase a single prop or outfit for my photoshoot. Yep, I already owned everything I brought to the studio. Wanna know how I was able to do this? It’s simple — my brand is a reflection of my personality and my own unique style. Therefore, the things I surround myself with in my office and the clothes I love to wear, are already on-brand AF.
Now, I’m not saying that you have to devote your life to being on-brand in every possible way. What I’m saying is that when you create an authentic brand that’s true to YOU, it’s easier to choose outfits, props, etc. because you just have to find things that you genuinely love.
PS — if you’re having a hard time figuring out your brand message/tone/vibe, that’s exactly what I do for all of my branding clients during the research and strategy phase of my design process! You can reach out to me here if you’re ready for a brand aesthetic that feels authentically and genuinely YOU.
tip number three
OUTFITS: DON’T BE AFRAID TO BE BOLD + UNIQUE
You want your photos to reflect your brand, but you also want them to be MEMORABLE. You don’t want to look like every other gal on the internet wearing a beige outfit and posing with a bundle of pampas grass. No hate at all if this is your vibe (there’s a vase full of pampas grass next to me on my desk as I type this lol). My point is, even if neutrals and minimalism are your aesthetic, put your own unique spin on it! Maybe a chic, neutral power suit or fun accessories.
For my shoot, I knew I wanted one outfit that was more neutral and could fit into my Instagram feed at any time, regardless of the colors in the surrounding posts. All my other outfits were colorful and fun — just the way I like ‘em! :) My clothing choices incorporated my brand colors (pinks, mauve, and turquoise) as well as some bold patterns to reflect my love and expertise in pattern design!
If you don’t want to use bold colors or patterns, you can still add visual interest by incorporating TEXTURES. For example, I wore corduroy pants, an embroidered/beaded shirt, a velvet blazer, and a silk top. Materials like this add a little extra detail and pizzazz, without being distracting.
tip number four
IDENTIFY WHAT THESE PHOTOS ARE FOR
Are these photos going on your website? Instagram? Both? I got soooo many photos and such a great variety of photos from my shoot. So in my case, these photos will live everywhere — my website, my Instagram, my LinkedIn, my Pinterest, my internal business presentations…everywhere! Maybe even my holiday card because I love them so much LOL.
Once you identify what you want to use these photos for, it’ll be easier to choose outfits, props, poses, etc. Also, your photographer will want to know this too so they make sure to get the right shots! For example, you’d want lots of wide-angle shots if you need these photos to eventually be website banners.
If you want these photos to be used for a long period of time and across several platforms, make sure you take an evergreen approach to the photoshoot. Meaning, keep it classic and timeless! Don’t go too overly trendy with your outfits or colors. Again, once you have a strong grasp on your brand, it’ll be easier to stay cohesive and consistent.
If this photoshoot is for something like a specific product launch, blog post, or social media campaign, you have more freedom to lean into trends or do something a little out of the box. For example, your photoshoot for a holiday campaign can use different colors than your typical, evergreen brand photos.
tip number five
GET GLAM, GIRLFRIEND!
I swear the universe knows when you have something important planned…so it decides to throw you a curveball. You wake up that morning with a random pimple or the worst hair day you’ve had since middle school lol. Because of this, I usually choose to leave my beautification to the professionals.
Even though I rarely do my hair or put on a full face of makeup on a daily basis, I choose to get glammed up for my brand photoshoots! It makes me feel way more confident and it always looks great in photos (even if it seems too over-the-top when you look in the mirror). If you’re a pro at doing your hair and/or makeup, then I’m sure you could skip this tip and DIY. However, as the youngest of 5 daughters, I never had to do my own hair or makeup because I was my sisters’ real-life barbie doll/guinea pig. Because of this, I’m seriously inept with a curling iron lol.
Beauty services can get expensive so I usually pick and choose the ones that are most important to me. For this shoot, I just got my makeup done and a spray tan. The spray tan is a non-negotiable for me because it makes me feel confident in all my outfits and helps give me an even skin tone on my face, which helps with makeup application. Usually, I’d get a manicure but I totally forgot and ran outta time, oops! I wish I had a cute polish on for some of the detail shots holding my mug, flipping through my color swatches, etc. Also, I decided not to get my hair done, and I do regret it! Next time I’m definitely stopping at the DryBar before my shoot because my hair really had a mind of its own that day.
My go-to makeup artist was already booked up for the day of my photoshoot, so I took a chance and (after reading dozens of yelp reviews) decided to book a session with a makeup artist at my local Sephora. It was $60 for a full face of makeup (plus tip), and I was incredibly impressed! I absolutely love how everything looked and I’ll definitely go back to her again.
Also, if you get all glammed up for your photoshoot, you can use that as an excuse to have a date night with your boo or GNO with your besties after the shoot! :)
tip number six
PROPS, PROPS, AND MORE PROPS
The easiest way to add variety and personality to your photos? PROPS! Plus they help answer the age-old posing question, “what should I do with my hands?!”
CAM Studios is decked out with plenty of props and details, however, I wanted to make sure I brought my own too! When deciding what kind of props to bring to your photoshoot, here are some things to think about:
Your product or service — How can you showcase what makes your offer unique? Are your ingredients superior to your competition? Do you have a signature approach, system, tool, or process? Incorporate these things as props!
Your industry — This might seem obvious, but some of your photos should make it really clear to the viewer what you actually do. Florist? Bring lots of flowers and arrangements. Baker? Pose with a spatula, mixer, your signature cookie flavor, etc.
Your brand touchpoints — Show off the details you’ve worked so hard on! Do you have really cute packaging to show off? Snap pics while pretending to package an order. Do you offer coffee or champagne to your customers when they enter your salon? Pose with a glass of bubbly! Do you have a really simple booking system your clients love?! Pose while looking down at a laptop/iPad.
Your personality — As a solopreneur or small business owner, your personality is sure to bleed into your business. Show it off! That’s what makes your brand unique. Especially on social media, your followers/customers want to learn more about the person they’re buying from! Props that can showcase your personality include: your fave book, your pets, your fave beverages (margs, wine, coffee), and any hobbies you love (painting, plants, rollerblades).
Some of the props I brought as a graphic designer/brand designer were: my Pantone color swatches, my favorite design books, my own products (glass and mug), what I use to package my orders, my laptop (obvi!), on-brand coasters for my mugs, and my pink blue light glasses. I also printed out a bunch of my past designs to tape to the wall, creating a mood board backdrop.
If you’re renting a photo space and you want to make it feel more like your style/aesthetic, you could bring your own knick knacks (candles, vases, framed pics, notebooks/journals, misc. desk items) and even your own on-brand throw pillows for the studio furniture. Obviously, this requires more effort, but it’s totally worth it!
tip number seven
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE
If you’re going through the trouble of planning a full-blown brand photoshoot…don’t skimp when it comes to the photographer! I know it might be tempting to hand a camera to your sister/bestie/spouse/mom and hope for the best, but chances are the photos won’t turn out like you hoped. Unless of course your sister/bestie/spouse/mom happens to be a professional photographer. Lucky you!
When you plan a photoshoot, you spend so much time and effort picking the perfect outfits, scouting locations, and sourcing props. Make sure you put in the same amount of effort when choosing a photographer!
Working with Camryn Clair for my brand shoot was a no-brainer for me! She owns CAM Studios, so she had so many great ideas on how we could utilize the space for my needs. Also, I’ve worked with her in the past and have always been obsessed with the photos. Not only is she super talented, but you’ll walk away from the shoot with a new friend! She is SO great at making sure you feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera. I never had to think what I was doing or how I was posing because Cam was constantly giving me direction — which I so appreciated!
When looking for a photographer, the main things to consider are:
Do they have experience with the type of photoshoot you’re doing? Some photographers specialize in wedding or family photos, whereas other photographers focus mostly on brand photography or even product photography.
Do you like their editing style and recent work? I personally like photography styles that utilize natural light and minimal editing (I don’t want it to look like there’s a filter).
Do your personalities mesh well? You’re going to be spending at least a couple hours with this person, so you want to make sure you vibe well together. Your photographer should make you feel more comfortable in front of the camera, not less comfortable or awkward.