Prepping For a Branded Photoshoot: Curating Marketable Imagery
When potential clients reach out to me for their website design or digital marketing they're often referring to something I've worked on for another client that spoke to them or they're bringing me examples of sites they love.
99.9% of the time their inspiration has one thing in common - the visuals! The visuals aren't only from the actual website design it's the professional photography at the center of the design.
I'm good at what I do, but my design can't shine with low-quality images (and more importantly your business won't shine with low-quality images). This is the reason a few years ago I made a serious shift in how I do things and now hi-quality photos are a 'must have' for the clients I bring on.
This was scary at first to implement. I get that when you're first starting out especially if you are a start-up that the issue of budget comes up, but let's be real if you have ONE chance to make a first impression it needs to kick it out of the park. It's because of this I tell my clients you can't afford NOT to create a photography budget.
Since implementing this I've been helping more and more clients with their branded photoshoots. It's one of my favorite things to do leading up to a design project. Collaborating with amazing photographers like Francesca of Coco Prop Shop makes a world of difference on the final project.
Here are some tips to prepare for your Brand Photo Shoot - to ensure you have the best images for your website, social media and marketing materials.
PHOTOSHOOT PREP CHECKLIST:
Book a photographer: Make sure their portfolio lines up with what you have in mind.
Hair, Makeup and Manicure: You will feel your best with a mini glam session trust me
Work on a shot list: See below for details on this.
Props: It's the small details that make the image come to list. Shop for small props that connect with your brand.
YOUR SHOT LIST:
Planning ahead will make your photoshoot fun smooth and ensure you walk away with all the images you need. If you're building a website work with your designer on this portion to know what types of images you need for specific pages (are they vertical, horizontal?).
Think about the imagery you are going to use across your social media platforms and marketing materials. Each image has a purpose and needs to be planned for. Think about the environment you will be shooting and the props you have to work with. Shoot several different angles of each scene. Head shots are a must but not enough - get all those detailed shots like you writing a note, checking your computer. This content is so important for your blog posts, social media sites etc.
INTERESTED IN BRANDED PHOTOGRAPHY?:
We are thrilled to help our photoshoots cover the entire process from ideas, props through the final deliverables. Contact us, we'd love to help! >>
MEET MICHELLE
My name is Michelle, and I love telling stories with design that reflects it! I work with creative entrepreneurs on their branding, website design and digital marketing. Here you'll find a behind-the-scenes look at what I do and some useful tips that will help you along your journey!
