I hear all the time that photo sessions make people nervous because they don't know what to expect. They're not sure how to prepare. They worry you won't feel comfortable in front of the camera. That's why I've developed a process that walks my clients through EVERYTHING they need to know to have a relaxed photo session that's fun to shoot. This is the only way to get the best photos of you.
Below I give you five tips on how to best prepare for your personal branding photo session.
Create a Mood Board
A mood board is a collection of images that represent your brand. Creating a mood board and sharing it with your photographer will give them a good sense of what you want your brand to look like and how your photos fit into the overall picture.
Most people create a mood board on Pinterest that can easily be shared with your photographer. You have the option to add notes to each image to determine what you like about it. There is another tool that you can use to help you organise ideas into a visual board is Milanote. The more your photographer knows about you and your brand ahead of time, the easier it will be for them to help you create images that fit your brand.
Find a nice session location
When you’re planning a photo or video shoot, the last thing you want is to be scrambling for locations at the last minute. Not only is it stressful, but it can also lead to a low-quality shoot. By planning your shoot locations in advance, you can ensure that you have the perfect spot for each shot, and that your crew will be able to work quickly and efficiently.
Hire a Professional Photographer
You need a good photographer. This should go without saying. Usually, you get what you pay for. Your best friend's friend's old roommate who just started "taking pictures on the side" might not deliver pictures you like. The same goes for hair... Hire professionals. They are worth every penny.
Know your target audience
If you don't know your audience's hopes and dreams - and their deepest, darkest fears - you haven't done enough homework. Every good brand understands its ideal customer as if they were best friends. What keeps your customers up at night? Where do they want to be in five years? What do they need to believe about themselves and the world that will make them buy your products or services? Do thorough research to discover these details about your audience. That way, you'll be able to connect with them every step of the way.
Address your target audience.
Once you really know and understand your audience, think about how you want to communicate with them - and that means more than just words. People process images 60,000 times faster than words. So create photos that can do more than just look good. Show emotion in your photos. Laugh. Look confident. Think about how you want to make people FEEL. Channel that energy during the photo shoot.
Create images for the internet
Make sure your photographer is comfortable with taking photos for the internet. Make sure they take lots of horizontal photos that are ideal for websites. Images with lots of negative space are perfect because you can add text later. Think about how the images will spread across your website and the ways you will use them for different promotions in Social Media. Add some examples of your favorite brands to your mood board so your photographer knows what you're looking for.
Use accessories to tell your story
Think about the elements you'll use while you're working. What would your audience imagine you doing behind the scenes? Give them a glimpse into your photos. If you're always on your laptop while sipping a latte, bring your computer and your favorite mug (or better yet, one with your brand colors!). If you couldn't live without your books, get a stack of your favorite titles. If you love to ride your bike, bring it along. When you inject your personality into your photos, you'll attract new customers.
As you can see, a personal branding photo session is about so much more than how you look. More importantly, it's about how you feel - and how you make your audience feel. The tips above will help you make a deeper connection with your audience through your personal branding photography.
For more information on how to prepare for your personal branding photo shoot. I have made available a downloadable pdf document, with ‘Photoshoot checklist’, ‘Photoshoot 15 locations
ideas’, ‘Props and Accessories for Photo Sessions ideas.
Should I consider a photoshoot for my business? Absolutely, all businesses, regardless of the industry, can benefit from having professional photography on their website and Social Media. No matter what you sell and offer, quality photography is a very important part of your brand success and should be your top priority.
What is Angalia Uzuri Production? Hey! My name is Deborah the founder of Angalia Uzuri Production. "Angalia Uzuri" mean look at the beauty in Swahili. I would love to help you capture amazing photos for your business. Check out how I can help you here.
