3 Important Things to Consider Before Booking Your Brand Photoshoot | Boston Brand Photographer
A brand photoshoot is an exciting opportunity to capture professional, high-quality images that showcase your business, personality, and brand story. But before you book your session, there are a few key things to consider to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Here are the top three things to think about before scheduling your shoot.
1. Define Your Brand and Vision Goals
Before booking a brand photoshoot, take some time to clarify what you want from it. Ask yourself:
How will I use these photos? (Website, social media, marketing materials, press features, etc.) Which of these do you put the most focus on?
Who am I talking to? (Is your client another business? A consumer? What type of person are you speaking to with your marketing materials?
What message do I want to convey? (Professional, approachable, creative, luxurious, etc.)
What emotions do I want my audience to feel when they see my images?
Having a clear vision will help guide the entire process—from choosing the right location and outfits to selecting props and poses. If you’re unsure, don’t worry! I can help you refine your vision and ensure your brand shines in every shot. I will have you start with filling out a helpful questionnaire that can help you gain some clarity.
2. Where will we shoot?
The location is our backdrop, the foundation for creating the vibe, for telling your brand story. I love to make suggestions, but at the end of the day it comes down to what is right for YOUR brand. You want it to feel authentic and cohesive.
My favorite starting points:
Your workspace, for the personal touch behind your business
The photo studio - for a clean backdrop to show off products or services
Outdoors - when and if this makes sense for your brand vibe, the possibilities are endless
A rented space - let’s get specific! If you’re looking for THE location, sometimes renting a space to nail the look is what you need!
More info on choosing the location that’s going to be the best for your individual experience!
3. Choose the Right Photographer
HI! That’s where we come in! Pick us, pick us! Just kidding, honestly, every business owner should choose the photographer that is the best fit for them. Not all photographers specialize in brand photography, so it’s important to choose someone who understands how to capture your business in a way that connects with your audience. When selecting a photographer, consider:
Their portfolio—does their style match your vision?
Their experience with brand photography and working with small businesses.
How comfortable you feel communicating with them. This is a big one, if you don’t vibe with them in that first conversation, you may not feel comfortable working with them. No matter how great the photographer is, if you’re not comfortable, you’re not going to love your photos.
A great brand photographer will not only take beautiful images but also guide you through the process, from planning to posing.
Booking a brand photoshoot is an exciting step for your business, and a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring a successful session. By clarifying your brand vision, planning your location, and choosing the right photographer, you’ll set yourself up for a seamless experience with photos that truly represent your brand.
📸 Ready to book your brand photoshoot? Let’s create stunning images that showcase your business!
How We Choose the Right Location for Your Best Brand Photoshoot | Boston Brand Photographer
As a brand photographer, One of the first things I tell my clients is that selecting the right location for your branding photoshoot is just as important as choosing the right outfits or props. The backdrop of your photos helps tell your brand’s story, evoke emotion, and create a lasting impression on your audience. This may mean renting a space. Yes this is an additional cost, but if you’re already making the investment in brand photos, make sure you do them right. Whether you're a service provider, creative entrepreneur, or small business owner, here are some key factors to consider when picking the perfect spot for your next shoot.
1. Does it align with Your Brand Aesthetic
More than just a pretty space, does this location align with your brand? Your photos should reflect your brand’s personality and values. Are you modern and minimalistic? Consider a clean studio space with white walls. Do you want a cozy and inviting feel? A café or home setting might be the perfect fit. If your brand is all about nature and wellness, an outdoor location like a park or garden can help convey that. Think about colors, textures, and the overall vibe that best represents your business.
2. Consider functionality and practicality
While aesthetics are key, practicality is also important. Ask yourself:
Does the location have enough space for different setups?
Are there bathrooms available?
Can you change outfits easily?
3. Choose a Space That Enhances Your Brand Story
Every brand has a story, and your photos should help tell it. If you're a chef or food blogger, a kitchen or farmer’s market can reinforce your brand message. If you’re a fitness coach, a gym, outdoor trail, or even a bright studio with space to move can make sense. Think about how your surroundings can visually communicate what you do and what you stand for.
4. Think About Lighting
Lighting can make or break a photoshoot. While we ALWAYS make sure the lighting is excellent in your photos, starting with great natural light is the best place to start. We are always able to add light to compliment what’s there, but it’s usually better if we are not starting with a windowless room with bright fluorescent lights. We don’t expect clients to know whether a location has ideal lighting or not, but we can often tell from just a few snapshots. If you're unsure, I can always help guide you in choosing a location with great lighting that will make your brand shine!
5. Personalize It
Adding small personal touches—like your favorite books, branded packaging, or signature coffee cup—can make your images feel more natural and unique to your business. Your location should feel like you. If you have an office, studio, or workspace that reflects your brand, it could be the perfect setting for an authentic and personal brand shoot. If we are shooting on location, make sure to bring in some elements that are specific to your brand.
Choosing the perfect location for your brand photoshoot doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By keeping your brand aesthetic and storytelling in mind, you can find a spot that enhances your brand and makes your photos feel truly you. Not sure where to start? Think about where you work, and where are your touchpoints with clients. We may shoot in your home office, your studio space, or need to rent a space. As your photographer, I’m happy to help you find the perfect location that aligns with your vision!
If we are renting a space, I like to start HERE
📸 Ready to book your brand shoot? Let’s chat and create stunning images that tell your story!
Working with a Great Brand Strategist and Why You Need One (Part 1) | Boston Brand Photographer
If you come to me and you’re already working with a brand strategist, I immediately love you as a client. Why? You’ve already taken a major step to uplevel your business. You are most likely an entrepreneur with defined goals and a clear brand story. Planning your photo shoot is already less stressful for you.
If you ARE the brand strategist, now I am doing a happy dance. When Kris contacted me because she wanted to book a photoshoot for one of her clients, the first thing we did was to schedule a call to make sure we “vibed”. I don’t know about anyone else, but entering into a relationship with someone you are not compatible with, is DANGEROUS ground. Luckily, within 5 mins we were giggling and chatting about patriarchy and lifting up women business owners in the home design industry (perfect, I love her already).
Two weeks later she came to me with her first client she wanted to book a photoshoot for… which happened to be my dream interior design client, boutique hotel design goddess, the legend herself, Ms. Rachel Reider or Reider and Co. IYKYK.
(Rachel’s team shoot blog coming on part 2 tomorrow!).
Kris had been working (heavily) with Rachel on her rebrand already, so it was easy for Kris to take the reins on direction and planning for the shoot. This was a HUGE benefit to Rachel and her team - it totally took the weight off of her shoulders, goodbye stress and overwhelm!
Kris and I chose three incredible locations (always helpful when your client has designed two luxury homes that we can use as a backdrop, and has a chic design studio in Boston’s South End), and came up with a shot list that included specific needs for Rachel’s website and social media.
On the first day of the (two day) shoot, Kris took the role as art director, and we worked as a team to produce and execute the shot list. It was a long two days for everyone, but having Kris as the art director, truly made this shoot as successful as it was.
Check out her (also newly-rebranded-coming-soon) site where you can see more details about how awesome she is.
In the meantime, her new Instagram is getting very interesting! @loudhousebranding
And you are going to be absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the new Reider and Co site. You want to know how to effectively use your brand photos? This is it… We’ll be posting Reider and Co’s final images and link to their brand new website next week! I know it’s so hard to wait!
