How to Prepare for a Brand Photography Session Without Losing Your Mind

You don't need to have every outfit, prop, location, and photograph figured out before your session.

You just need to know what you're trying to accomplish.

A little planning goes a long way, and knowing what actually matters can make the entire experience feel much easier.


START WITH THE WHY

Before you start pulling clothes out of your closet or creating a Pinterest board, think about what you actually need your photographs to do.

Are you launching a new website?

Refreshing your brand?

Running out of photographs to use on social media?

Introducing a new offer?

Your answer will help determine what you need to photograph.


MAKE A LIST OF WHERE YOU'LL USE YOUR IMAGES

Think beyond Instagram.

Your photographs might show up on:

Your homepage
About page
Service pages
Sales pages
Email newsletters
Social media
Launch materials
Media features
Presentations
Client guides

Knowing where you'll use your photographs makes it much easier to create a useful collection instead of a random one.


THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHS YOU NEED

You'll probably want a mix of:


PORTRAITS
Images where you're the focus.

WORKING IMAGES
You doing the thing people hire you to do.


DETAILS
The small pieces that help communicate your brand.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMAGES
Photographs that give people a sense of your world.


SPACE
Images with room for website text, graphics, or other design elements.


DON'T FORGET THE REAL YOU

This is the part that can be easy to overlook.

You don't have to spend your entire session looking polished and composed.

Laugh.

Move.

Make coffee.

Work.

Talk.

Do the things you actually do.

Those photographs often end up being the ones that make your brand feel most human.


YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT ALONE

That's what your photographer is there for.

Bring your ideas, your questions, and even the things you're unsure about.

The best sessions usually start with a conversation—not a perfect plan.


FINAL THOUGHT

You don't need to prepare for every possible photograph.

You need to prepare for the photographs that will actually help you show up in your business.


Let's Plan Your Session >