Getting Started

You need to start with intent. Grabbing a bunch of pretty images is great, but grabbing images with a specific intent contributes to an even more impactful visual brand.

Remember that brand photos are just another way to help communicate with your intended audience; as much as the images include you, they are not really about you.

The Preparation Process

1. Determine intent and goals

2. Create shot list

3. Collect inspiration

4. Create a mood board with inspiration and shot ist

5. Collect props and make a list of on-brand items to include

6. Select wardrobe

7. Consider location (do you need to book a studio or set a specific time for the shoot)

Step 1: Set Your Intent & Goal for the Photos

Questions I would ask myself before collecting any inspiration or shot lists:

• What are you trying to showcase?

• Are you giving context to your space?

• Trying to generate new clientele/audience?

• Trying to inform or educate?

• Humanizing your brand by showing your team and your culture?

• Showing your process?

• Showcasing your product and varies uses?

• Show your community involvement or collaborations?

• A specific promotional event or campaign?

• Creating stock imagery for your website and marketing efforts? (Web banners, newsletter banners, blog content, reel covers, feed posts, templates etc,)

Step 2: Create a Shot List

Once you know what you’re trying to accomplish and where it’s intended to go, you can create a shot list specific to those goals instead of going in blind getting a few shots here and few shots there ending up with great images but not necessarily strategic to your overall brand presence (formatting) or mission.

Step 3: Collect Inspiration and Create a Mood Board

Things to consider:

• Props; create a prop list ahead of time so that you’re not scrambling

• Tools you use during your process, products you’d like to showcase, any other relevant items to your brand

• Keep in mind the intended context of images (formatting) does it need to be a wide shot (banner image) or a portrait shot (social), does it need to be a profile image or a team image?

Step. 4: Select Wardrobe

• Think about your brand colours, dress within the palette but not head to toe, be subtle. Or go full neutral.

• Bring multiple outfits (2-3)

Step 5: Consider Location

Where will the shoot happen? On-location or in a studio?

• Time of day may be important to have optimal lighting

Dorothy May and I created this list because we’ often work’ve worked on several brand photoshoots together, side-by-side on this process. Brand Shoot Planner Coming Soon.