Plan the perfect brand photoshoot in five steps

Having your own business means you wear many different hats, and chances are, that whatever industry you are in, showing your face is probably like a big part of the job right?

That special sauce you bring to the table is what turns your audience into customers and then from customers into loyal raving fans. But maybe your online presence isn’t completely showcasing the thing that makes your business special, and that is YOU. People buy from people and having the person behind your brand front and center is a concern even the most introverted of business owners deal with. When it comes time to put yourself out there, you’ll need photos or video to do so and you’ll be left wondering… how do I plan a photoshoot?

Here’s how I did it. 

Step one: Source Inspiration

Figuring out your photoshoot ‘vibe’ is the first step to planning your brand photoshoot. Head over to Pinterest and start pinning all the things. Start big and then break it down into smaller parts. Start with an overall aesthetic you’d like to achieve: dreamy, moody, bold, eccentric, colorful, high fashion etc. Type in what that overall look you’d like to achieve is or and follow it with the word aesthetic (Pinterest likes to use this as an overflow category). This will give you a good idea of what other similar photos are out there and pin the ones which you are vibing with. 

After you have a good idea of the different types of photos out there that match with your brand's overall or photoshoot aesthetic use those same words and take notice of what props are being used, and what studio spaces are most prevalent. Are you drawn to grassy fields or high-contrast studio spaces? Start funneling shots with backgrounds you like into a separate folder or take a mental note. The same goes for props and poses, are some of your favorite photos those with loads of flowers, no props at all, or all posing a certain way? Categorize these into their own folders as well. I had Pinterest folders housing backdrops/studio spaces, props, poses, overall aesthetic and photos to recreate. The last folder may be the most important as it is going to help your photographer loads!

Step Two: Make a Shot List

Now it’s time to head over to Excel or Google Sheets and start getting organized. Think about the different shots you’d like to get and organize them into their own columns. Include space for wardrobe, props, scene, and a reference photo. This will all help ensure that your photographer understands your vision and that the shoot can move seamlessly and efficiently since most likely you will be paying per hour so time is quite literally money. 

Step Three: Start spending (investing) that money

Your photoshoot will pay for itself but first you have to.

Looking for a photographer depends greatly on your shoot aesthetic. It is super important that the photographer you hire not only understands your vision but can recreate it naturally. This is something that I as a designer 100% value. Having clients whose visions align naturally with my own style instantly yields a more natural and creative end product. It will make your shoot more fun and your photos more like what you envisioned. 

Put a call out to your community asking for recommendations for photographers or put on that detective hat and search out the photographers of all those photos you pinned on Pinterest. Work backwards, if there are some shots that you really identify with, reach out to who posted it, or reverse image search the photo, it probably is in someone's portfolio. Pricing really varies with photographers but as a rule of thumb I would recommend to expect a price tag of $1,000 - $3,000 depending on how much time you want. This also may or may not include a ‘styling fee’ where your photographer can source props and set up shots, make sure to ask! Out of a four hour shoot you’ll want to make sure to also receive 75-100 edited photos if the price is around there.  

When it comes to a studio or outdoor locations, your best bet will be to wait until you already have a photographer and then ask them for their suggestions. They will have so much industry knowledge about locations which will in turn make your life easier. If something is out of your budget, poke around social media for other options. Smaller studios may have a presence there but not be big enough to rank on Google. Studios can range from $40-$200+ per hour so make sure to budget that in.

Step Four: Gather props and Wardrobe

When setting up shots, attention for detail is of the utmost importance. In the photos you’d like to recreate, are there certain items, even in the background? Does the close-up pose you love so much include a ring or some sort of statement wardrobe piece? Take stock of everything in a shot that makes it resonate with you. Note this down in the wardrobe section of your excel sheet because you’ll have to find it. 

Renting clothes will be my advice for every shoot. You can of course always buy the clothes and return later… or you can buy them, they will surely pay for themselves over time, but when you need some statement pieces Rent the Runway or something of a similar nature will do the trick! Take a look again at your Pinterest boards, are you pinning loads of white tops and lime green trousers? You probably want to go and get something similar.

Step Five: Relax and Have Fun

The final step of your planning journey is to take a deep breath and have some fun! Bring makings for a mimosa, and blast some fun tunes over a Bluetooth speaker. Your photographer will have looked over your shot list and will be able to give a good idea of where to start. 

Happy picture taking!