DIY Brand Photoshoot: Advice From A Pro

by | May 29, 2019 | Business, Social Media

Nothing quite says “I mean business” like a gorgeously branded photo. Earlier this year we had the immense pleasure of working with Christine Wright from Swish + Click Photography for our own brand shoot. During the weeks leading up to our photoshoot, she booked a phone call with us and sent us a questionnaire. Why would a photographer do that? Because she wanted to know exactly who were, what we do, and who we serve, so that our images would accurately reveal our brand and connect with our desired audience.

We can’t tell you enough how happy we were that she took the time to understand us. You know, since branding is our thing, we definitely wanted to make sure our brand was visually represented. Professional photos are a solid investment; we would tell everyone that. But we also know that not everyone is in a spot where they can make that great investment.

Don’t despair. Christine was awesome enough to agree to be interviewed for this very post – how to make the most out of a DIY brand shoot. She shared some key tips and tricks to help you make sure you get the best out of what you can do by yourself.

Know Who You Are Talking To

Christine shared that the most important thing when deciding what you want your images to look like is to know who you are talking to. We know…how do pictures talk to someone? Well, just hop on over to Instagram and look at pictures there. Those pictures are talking to you, aren’t they?

By having a solid understanding of who your ideal client is and what appeals to them, you will be better be able to set scenes and include props that will connect with them. Then you need to tie your own brand into that. This means knowing what your brand strategy is, what your colours are, and how your voice is represented online. “Because if you don’t know who you are talking to or what your brand is,” says Christine, “you’ll create messy looking photos that aren’t consistent and could belong to anyone.”

Connecting the dots between who you want to talk to, your brand, and your current voice will help create a cohesive visual experience for your prospective, current, and past clients which helps to build up your know-like-trust factor.

Setting The Scene

As beautiful as you and your personality are, you need a little more than just you in the photos. If you are in the business of making, it’s a little easier because you can you use your products as key props. But if your business is more service based, it’s harder to come up with that tangible item to represent what you do.

First figure out where you want to hold your photo shoot. Do you want a ‘work environment’ that shows you in action? Or do you want something that adds a different element and shows a different side? Consider looking for spaces that are playful, offer texture, or somewhere that just inspires a feeling that is connected with your brand. Perhaps a graffiti wall, a trendy coffee shop, a funky co-working space, or a super simple and clean room that you can jazz up with a few props.

Next think about what you want in the pictures. People? Things? Devices? Christine shared that props should be tied into industry. She works with a lot of photographers; rather than just having them show up with their cameras she wants to know who their target clients are. When she’s shooting wedding photographers, she makes sure to incorporate things like ribbon, flowers, and even wedding cakes (sadly, dummy cakes…they don’t get to eat cake afterwards). “Your props should be tied into the industry you work in AND the people you are trying to attract.”

When you are figuring out what should be in the pictures make sure you consider both the industry type props that should be in there as well as what your people would want to see and connect with.

Lights, Camera, Action

Lighting can be your best friend or your worst enemy. We can definitely say that when we’ve done little prop shoots in the past, getting the lighting right was a big struggle for us. Christine’s top tricks on lighting:

  • On most phones you can tap the screen and then drag up a little so it brightens. You want to aim for a balance between light and not being overblown.
  • Capture natural light. If you can snag a spot by a window or even get outdoors, that is better. Look for a shady spot on a sunny day (so that you don’t end up with shadows), and if it’s cloudy out, even better because then the light is diffused.
  • Use a giant white board (Bristol board or Styrofoam board) to reflect light from the window to create less shadows. Windows, Christine says, can be your best friend.

There is a definite difference between a cell phone image and an actual camera. She admits, you can still take some decent photos with your camera, but a keen eye will be able to see the difference. If you are thinking you want to get in the practice of taking your own photos, she recommends buying an entry level DSLR camera rather than just relying on your phone. This kind of camera (verses a basic point and shoot) will give you the ability to edit photos better and have more control over your images. It’s definitely more of an investment, but the control and quality go way up.

As for clicking the camera, it’s so easy to keep on taking direct angle photos. You’ll end up with something nice that way, but if you shift just a little, you’ll end up with images that are a little more slick. Move a little to the side or above of your target object, about 45 degree.

For most small business owners, who they are is a big part of their brand. If this is true for you, then you definitely need some pictures of you in the shot. Grab a friend who has a steady hand that can help you out. Better yet, grab another small business owner and help each other out! Make a fun day of it, taking photos for each other.

Want some more tips on how to plan a branding session (and how to pick the right photographer)? Hop on over to Christine’s blog How to Plan a Branding Session. While you are there, check out her gallery. If you are a Potterhead, we guarantee you are going to see something there you’ll love.

 

Need a little help defining what exactly your brand is? Send us a message below! We’d love to chat with you and share how we can help you create a brand that reflects not just what you do in business, but how you do it. 

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