Branding sessions are some of my favorites. I love getting to collaborate with other entrepreneurs and creatives to help them grow their business. Branding sessions give you high quality images that you can use to help promote your business, for various marketing purposes e.g., advertising, blogging, business cards, social media content, website, etc.
Here's a few tips to help you prepare for your branding session.
Who are branding sessions for?
Literately anyone selling something or providing a service. If you're selling essential oils, obtaining influencer status, running your own small business, a real estate agent, the list goes on, you need photos to promote yourself and your business to let the world know who you are and what you're doing.
Think about your brand colors & feel
What's your feel? Light and airy or dark and moody? Natural or Urban? Modern or Vintage?
How do you want to be perceived? Warm & approachable? Posh and sophisticated?
You're going to want to plan your wardrobe, location and details with your brand in mind. Ask yourself, will it go well with the other content of my website (or the direction you want it to go in)? How will all these images look together in my instagram feed when all compiled together (important when attracting new followers)?
And your photographer's work should fit the aesthetic you're going for. Feel free to browse my work on my website, Facebook or Instagram to make sure the feel of my images match the feel you want your brand to have.
Work with the goods
Whatever it is that you do, make sure to incorporate your tools. We want to capture you in action, doing what you love; so we'll get a good mix of just you, just your items, you working with them and if you have a physical location, that too. This will 100% depend on your field and whatever it is that you do. For example, for my branding session, I'd have my laptop, camera, camera bag, pretty notebook + pen, and COFFEE and probably a mix of me in my home office and outside shooting.
Location
Everything about this session revolves around representing your brand. If you have a physical location/office/storefront, that part is a no brainer and we would definitely want to get at least some shots there. Definitely don't feel limited if you don't. We'll want to brainstorm what represents you and the feel of the brand you're going for. Some options are renting a space like an air b&b, coffee shops or even just a natural pretty outdoor location.
Put your best food forward
I'd recommend doing whatever routine maintenance makes you feel at your best prior to your session. If it's getting a blowout, spray tan, having your makeup professionally done - now is the time to do it. These images will be representing you and your business so it's important you put your best foot forward and feel your best so that you can be proud to post and use these images however you need.
Let's hash out the details
Before your session, I like to go over the details so I have a good idea of what you have in mind before hand. We'll do a good mix of vertical and horizontals so that you have various images to work with different platforms and ad sizes. Print releases are included with my branding sessions as the very nature of these is to then be able to use the images however you need!
Be Yourself
You know how to attract the best clients? Be honest and be yourself! Make sure that what you're wearing and doing makes you feel good too and it'll convey in your images.
