If you’ve decided that a branding photoshoot is a next step to boost your sales, but you’re feeling unsure of where to start we are here to help with a great shot list! Your photos need to be the visuals for the story of your business so they must be personal as well as professional. And there will be several places where you need to tell this story online or even in print. These places may include websites (homepage, headers, about page) social media, email marketing, print such as signs or pamphlets, product packaging, advertisements, and press. With this in mind, you can begin to create your shot list for your branding photoshoot.
Here are 10 essential categories to get you started. A big thank you to Anne Oliver of Lolli & Grace for sharing her beautiful photos with us to exhibit each type!
1. Standard Headshots
While the standard headshot may not be everyone’s favorite, it is essential because you will be asked for this when you’re presenting, publishing, teaching etc. A great photographer can make a headshot beautiful, professional, and natural. Choose a simple, classic top in a neutral color for versatility. Don’t forget to include members of your team!
Where You’ll Use it: Author bios on other websites, your own website, awards announcements.
Extra Tip: Don’t short-change yourself on looking (and feeling!) your best. Take time out of your busy schedule to make sure your hair and makeup are the way you want them.
2. Creative Portrait
This is where your personality gets to shine through! Plan to where an outfit with a little more spice. You want to feel comfortable but also like you truly look your best. Take some test photos of different outfits with your phone. A location that speaks to your interests and style can create shots that tell a great story. These photos will be light on props, and you should be the focus with your smiling face fully visible.
Where you’ll use it: Your About page on your website and maybe other pages as well. On your social media, in email marketing campaigns.
Extra Tip: Practice your facial expressions and poses ahead of time. Invite a friend to the shoot who knows how to make you laugh or smile so they can help you out if you awkward.
3. Process
For artists, craftspeople and designers really show off the hands-on elements of your work. The one-of-a-kind nature of your work is a selling point and showing the personal touch involved in creating it gives your customers the visual they need to fully understand the concept. If your process is mostly computer-based get creative! You could try working with items pinned on the wall or a bulletin board or create a team meeting shot and include your employees.
Where you’ll use it: On your website, social posts, articles about your business.
Extra Tip: Set up each process step you want to show ahead of time and make it easy to jump from one to the next. Stay focused on the processes that are used often in your business and don’t forget the ones that customers are always asking about.
4. Workspace
Show your customers the space where your products or services begin. Don’t be afraid to rearrange just for the shoot. Consider creating at least two shoot areas for overall images. The variety of backdrops will be appreciated by your future self! Bring your inspirations out into the open. Pin photos, drawings, and reference objects to a bulletin board. The space should feel authentic but if your space is just not great for photos you can use a staged studio. Work with your photographer to put together props that match your business product/service and feel like your brand.
Where you’ll use it: Email marketing, blog articles.
Extra Tip: Find a way to bring some of your finished products into the workspace photos. Garments on a clothes rack, pottery on a shelf or printed designs organized on the wall will make such a difference.
5. Details
Detailed or zoomed in shots of your products and/or workspace are useful as fillers throughout your website and social. If you have specific areas on your website, you need filled, think ahead of time about what detail shots might fit well. While you and your face do not need to be present for these, it can be nice to include hands. A neat stack of materials, or hands on a keyboard with an out-of-focus background give the impression that you’re letting your customers into your world and showing them all the little bits and pieces of your day.
Where you’ll use it: Website and social fillers.
Extra Tip: Keep it relevant. The details still need to represent your brand and the overall story you’re trying to tell.
6. Flat Lays
A flat lay is a composition of items usually in a square on a clean background that is taken from from above. For product-based businesses the items in your flat lays could include finished products, packaging, business cards, promotional printed items or props to give your products context. For service-based businesses you might include paperwork that is part of the process, printed photos of happy customers, and other references to the service provided. Keep the number of items limited so that they are still large enough to be seen in the post.
Where you’ll use it: Primarily social media.
Extra Tip: Think about size. Measure out a square on the surface you’ll be using so you know you are arranging items within the right parameters.
7. Shots with Negative Space
The idea of this shot is to leave space on the top or side where you can later add a graphic, text or something else for a social post or email campaign. A neutral outdoor wall can be a great option that doesn’t require an additional backdrop or location. Consider your facial expressions and if you want to gesture toward the negative space. It is quite common to use pointing to emphasize the text you’ll add later.
Where you’ll use it: Social & email marketing.
Extra Tip: A plain white background will be useful for a million different things. Make sure to have one of these taken.
8. Wide Angle Website Headers
These shots need to show how your product or service is used. They need to create a feeling or mood that will draw your customer in and help them visualize themselves using your product or service. Get creative! This part is a lot of fun and your photographer will probably be able to help you get started.
Where you’ll use it: On your website homepage and social posts.
Extra Tip: Some shots of products with props are great, but plan to have people in at least a few. If you’re not comfortable being the model ask your photographer if they have recommendations or check with friends who would represent your target audience and are willing to model.
9. Lifestyle Product/Service Shots
These shots need to show how your product or service is used. They need to create a feeling or mood that will draw your customer in and help them visualize themselves using your product or service. Get creative! This part is a lot of fun and your photographer will probably be able to help you get started.
Where you’ll use it: On your website homepage and social posts.
Extra Tip: Some shots of products with props are great, but plan to have people in at least a few. If you’re not comfortable being the model ask your photographer if they have recommendations or check with friends who would represent your target audience and are willing to model.
10. Product Only
Product-based businesses will almost always have a need for product photos that are just the product on a plain background. If you have a lot of SKU’s this part of the shoot can be time-consuming and may even require a completely separate shoot. Streamline the process by having products categorized for the type of setup they require.
Where you’ll use it: Website or other ecommerce platform.
Extra Tip: These don’t have to be on a white background! An intentional and consistent color can make products really pop and show off your unique style.
If you’re still debating about which photos you’ll need, browse websites and social profiles of businesspeople you admire. Take note of where they have branding photos placed, what they’re wearing, and the types of shots. Write down what you do and don’t like in the photos you see. Now that you’ve got your shot list in place, don’t forget to make your photoshoot a success by interviewing photographers, choosing a great location and preparing yourself for the big day!
Carrie Miller
contributor