How to Plan for a Personal Branding Photoshoot

People tell me all the time that photoshoots make them nervous. They don’t know what to expect. They’re not sure how to prepare. They don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera. So I created a process that walks my clients through EVERYTHING they need to know to pull off an amazing photoshoot. It takes the worry and stress out of the picture. They show up ready to have a good time and feeling like they’re in good hands.

I’m sharing a few of my best tips for how to plan YOUR next photoshoot like a boss. You GOT this.

Create a Mood Board

A mood board is a collection of images that represent your brand. When you create a moodboard and share it with your photographer, they will get a good feel for what you want your brand to look like, and how your photos will fit into the big picture.

Most people create a mood board on Pinterest, which can be easily shared with your photographer. You have the option to add notes to each image to specify what you like about it. The more your photographer knows about you and your brand upfront, the easier it will be for them to help you create images that match your brand.

Hire Pros

You need a good photographer. That should go without saying. As a general rule, you get what you pay for. Your best friend’s boyfriend’s old roommate who just started doing “photography on the side” *might* not deliver images you love. Same goes for hair and makeup. Hire professionals. Worth. Every. Penny.

Know Your Audience

If you don’t know the hopes and dreams of your audience—and their deepest, darkest fears—you haven’t done enough homework. Every good brand understands their ideal customer as though they were a best friend. What keeps your clients up at night? Where do they want to be in five years? What do they have to believe about themselves and the world in order to buy your products or service? Do in-depth research to discover these details about your audience, and you’ll be able to connect with them every step of the way.

“Talk” to Your Audience

Once you truly know and understand your audience, consider how you want to communicate with them—and that means through more than just words. People process images 60,000 times faster than words. So create photos that do more than just make you LOOK good. Show emotion in your photos. Laugh. Look confident. Think about how you want to make people FEEL. Channel that energy during your photoshoot.

Create Images for the Web

Make sure your photographer is familiar with taking photos for the web. Be sure they take lots of horizontal photos, which are ideal for websites. Images with plenty of negative space are perfect because you can add text later. Think about how the images will stretch across your website, and in what ways you’ll use them for different promotions. Add some examples from your favorite brands to your mood board so your photographer knows what you’re looking for.

Use Props to Tell a Story

Think about the items you use while working. What would your audience imagine you doing behind the scenes? Give them a glimpse in your photos. If you’re always on your laptop while sipping a latte, bring your computer and favorite mug (or better yet, one with your brand colors!). If you couldn’t live without your books, grab a stack of your favorite titles. If celebrity gossip is your current obsession and you LOVE to drop deets about your idols in your content, bring your latest issue of Star Magazine. Let your props help tell the story about who you are as much as what you do. Infusing your personality into your photos will attract new readers who just GET you.

As you can see, a personal branding photoshoot is about so much more than how you look. How you feel—and how you make your audience feel is even more important. The tips above will help you create a deeper connection to your audience through your personal branding photography. Now go get ‘em!

Need more help? Check out my course “Plan Your Personal Brand Shoot” which gives you my exact system for planning your upcoming photoshoot!