When small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and professionals think of photos for their website and/or various profiles, they often think of updated headshots. But the truth is that there are so many more possibilities when it comes to how to represent yourself online. LinkedIn, social media, your website, speaking engagements, signs or mailers, advertising - these are just places where your image matters, and often times it's the first thing a client will see. 

Did you know that showing more images of yourself, and more images of your product or what service you provide can help build trust with your clients? Think about changing your profile picture - if this is something you do once a month it creates an opportunity to capture your audience while they are scrolling. But remember - people will only stop for content that makes them happy! And this doesn't mean sex appeal, this means lighting - is it a good quality professional photo. Is the person in the photo happy and engaging. How does the client feel when they se you - Safe? Welcomed? 

It's part of what I do to create all of that for you! 

But no matter who you work with when getting your branding photos done, there are certain things that you should consider as we work together to create your perfect shoot!

5 Tips Before your Branding Shoot

• First and most importantly - it's important to know how many people need photos and what kind. Are you doing a shoot with just you, or are you including your team. And if your team is involved, do they need branding photos or headshots? Ultimately that is your decision, but typically I would recommend the owner(s) of the business to invest in a branding shoot as there will be more versatility with the images and you are the people that represent the business. For the most part, employees can get by with a headshot as their image will probably appear once on the website and social media. If you are a working professional/employee that's looking for your own images, then I would also recommend a branding shoot as you will want to use them for your networking connections and it will give you the most versatility.
• Second, think through your location. The best way to guarantee great photos is to come to my studio where I can guarantee good lighting. Offices have notoriously bad lighting, especially if you're not able to turn off the main lights without the ability to get good natural light from outside. However, there are definitely instances where it's important for the photography to happen at the clients workplace. For example, the shoot below is Cassie who is a massage therapist. She showed me a video of her studio, and I knew because of the windows that the lighting situation would be just fine. And if it wasn't, we would probably still try to find a way to do the shoot in her studio as she can't bring everything to my studio. Just know that sometimes the quality of light will affect the quality of shoot you're looking for.
• Third, think through everything you need pictures of. We will have a conversation before the shoot that will include brainstorming this, but it's always great to have an idea of what you need photos of beforehand. For example, in this shoot with Cassie, it was important to get different images of all the techniques she uses to make sure clients had a visual of what their experience would be like. We also got an image of what her intakes look like at the beginning of the sessions where she finds out what her clients are needing/where their trouble spots are that need to be worked on. 
• Fourth, think through your wardrobe. What you wear says a lot about who you are. Is your business luxury? Casual? Your wardrobe should match your brand in this way. But don't worry, in our planning conversation I will walk you through all of this. It's also a great idea to do some causal, semiprofessional as well as very professional in addition to the outfit(s) that match your brand the best. I will offer suggestions and help you plan, but in the end it's your choice what you wear. For Cassies shoot, it was very important for her to wear what she usually wears during her sessions. This relaxed feel helps her clients feel comfortable and welcome, and that they can come as they are. You only see her in one outfit during this shoot, but my shoots include 4 outfit changes. 
• Finally, rest up before the shoot! The day of your photo shoot will be a lot of fun, especially if you get good sleep the night before. While my makeup and hair team can work wonders, it is important to bring your best self as you will be spending time and energy authentically showing up as yourself for the camera. 

A branding shoot is such a collaborative process. Both the business owner and the photographer work together to create a cohesive look and feel for the images. That's why I take time to ask questions through a questionnaire as well as meet online to go over the tips mentioned above (and other topics) before the day of the shoot. My goal is to make your shoot as individual, professional and unique as you and your business!