Preparing for your branding session is just as important as the actual session. When you walk into your branding session prepared it has a 99.9% success rate to go better than you expected. Here are SIX tips to preparing for your branding session:
1. Be yourself.
This may sound obvious but it’s important. If you have a signature look, that should override the rest of my advice below. If your brand color is yellow and you ALWAYS wear yellow, wear yellow! Or if you haven’t left the house in 5 years wearing anything other than black, for heavens sake feel free to wear black. Do you! Remember the goal of the branding session is for people to get to know, like, and trust you BEFORE they meet you in person. That’s what a strong online presence is all about.
2. What not to wear.
Don’t overthink this. Wear clothes you feel comfortable and confident in. Whether you are petite or plus size, form fitting clothing looks best on most body types. Baggy outfits will make you look bigger.
If you dislike certain features it’s perfectly fine to hide them. I hate my upper arms, so you’ll never see me taking brand photos in a tank top. If you hate your legs, wear pants!
It’s totally fine to be fashion forward, but try to pick pieces that are timeless, meaning you won’t be embarrassed by them in a few years or months.
Keep it classy—don’t show too much skin, keep cleavage modest, leave your mini skirts at home and do not show your midriff… unless you’re a personal trainer wearing sports attire and your washboard abs are part of your sales pitch.
Dressy/casual is more approachable than overly dressy/formal. Only rock a power suit if you would actually wear a power suit in real life.
Don’t wear stuff that is too seasonal.
Go with soft and neutral colors because they will make your face the focal point of the photo, which is what we want. Black and bright colors or loud patterns are distracting and take the attention away from you.
If you’re still struggling with this, just wear something you would wear to meet with a new client who you want to impress. Bring a few options to your shoot and I can help you decide. 😊
3. Hair and Makeup.
I recommend wearing a little more makeup than you normally would during the day because the camera tends to wash you out. If you have light brows and/or lashes, you should darken them with makeup so they don’t disappear in your photos. Trust me it’s not a good look.
If you usually don’t wear any makeup at all, wear some but go for a natural look. I recommend mascara to make your eyes pop, bronzer or blush, and a subtle lip color. If you wear no makeup at all to your photoshoot, the camera will make you look like you just rolled out of bed.
If you’re really good at doing your own hair, save your money. Or if you’re super savvy, kill two birds with one stone and book your Branding session in the afternoon on the same day that you get your hair cut and colored. Just make sure your hairdresser uses enough product or hairspray so your look will last the rest of the day.
Make sure your hands and nails look clean and presentable. Chipped nail polish is more noticeable than you think.
4. Props.
It can feel awkward to take photos empty handed so bring some props. Depending on what line of work you are in, appropriate props will vary. Props should represent YOU and your business. We are telling a story remember—your story. I like to be photographed with a coffee cup in my hand, or a glass of wine to show the laid back, fun side of my personality. If you work on a computer all day like I do, bring a laptop, tablet and phone to pose with. If you’re a beauty business pro, bring some of your favorite tools like tweezers, lash wands, etc.
5. Time of Day & Location.
You will typically get the most flattering light in the late afternoon, however, a talented photographer should be able to work with various lighting and times of day. I typically schedule shoots for 3–7pm.
Whether you are shooting indoors or outdoors, you want to be the focal point of the photo to be YOU so make sure the background isn’t too distracting. I love to shoot in my studio because it floods with bright indirect sunlight during the day. If your house is dark (or in need of a makeover), drive to a cute neighborhood and walk around. You’ll be surprised what nice backgrounds you can find in front of a plain wall or plant. Soft abstract art also makes a nice background.
6. What Shots to Get.
If you do your branding session with me, I’ll make sure you get the following:
Headshots: these are essential for your profile pic on social media, and your ‘About’ or ‘Bio’ page on your website. Even if it’s awkward make sure you get at least a few shots of you SMILING—they will attract people to you the most.
Action shots: You doing what you do best.
Lifestyle shots: This sounds more intimidating than it is. Basically this just means candid shots of you smiling, looking fabulous, laughing, walking down the street, playing on your phone, etc. These come in handy for social media, especially Instagram.
Detail shots: Up close shots of whatever is happening in your photoshoot.
Venue shots: If you have a brick and mortar business, studio or workspace that you want to showcase.
Product shots: If you sell products or use special products that will mean something to your customers. Also great for bloggers who do affiliate marketing, etc.
