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!
How to Create the Perfect Shot List for your Brand Photos | Boston Brand Photographer
It’s finally time to start planning the details of your personal brand shoot, so get excited! Creating a shot list is an individual experience, as no two brands are the same, especially in a city like Boston. The digital world is getting crazier by the day, so If you don’t know where to even begin when drawing inspiration for your branding photoshoot, let me offer some guidance…
1. Give your photographer as much insight as possible to your brand! In addition to having all my clients fill out a thorough questionnaire, I also schedule a phone call. Talking about your brand, your expectations, your ideal client, always gives me little golden nuggets of info to use when creating the perfect shot list.
2. Create an inspiration board. Pinterest is ideal, but any visual representation of your brand goals, the vibe you are going for, posing you love, etc, is essential in communicating what you want your brand photos to look like to your photographer
3. Know what you need ahead of time. If you’ve hired a pro photographer, you’re going to get great photos. But to get the BEST set of photos to launch your brand to the next level, you need to dig deep and figure out your photo priorities. Do you need a banner image for your website that shows your team hard at work? Do you need a series of verticals for an Instagram reel? A unique horizontal of each team member for a blurb about what they do?
Building the perfect shot list is as much about the vibes and the visual inspiration as it is about the nitty-gritty details. Having a clear vision for your brand ensures that we can capture exactly what you need from your shoot… and also allows us space to get creative on location and potentially create something we might have never dreamed up in planning. You give us your brand story, we translate it into next-level visuals that attract your ideal customers.
Personal Brand Sessions, What The Heck Are They?
What IS a Personal Brand session? Personal brand sessions start with a consultation to get to know your brand story. Sessions usually include headshots, lifestyle images to capture you in action, as well as details that cater to your specific business. Because the session is so customized to suit your brand, the types of images we create will vary from one business to another... which is totally the fun part!! We are telling YOUR unique story
Who is it for? Short answer - anyone who is representing their brand. Small business owners, solo and entrepreneurs, creative professionals, public figures, coaches, teachers, the list could go on and on...
Why do I need it? 🤔Strong images give your brand a personality, they show people who you are as a business and what it’s like to work with you. We live in a visual world, and if people can’t see you, they don’t know if they can trust you. I know it’s not easy being in front of the camera, but if you are the face of your brand, YOU need to be involved in the story!
What can I expect? You can expect a personalized, customized experience, that clearly communicates your brand story. We start with a questionnaire and consultation to get to know your brand, this is your chance to throw out any ideas, requests, must haves, or definitely-nots. I love the brainstorming process and once we know where we are going, we can start looking at location and wardrobe options. Hair and makeup is always recommended and helps you look and feel your best in front of the camera. It’s always my goal to make you feel comfortable throughout the shoot so we can capture your true personality and of course THIS WILL BE FUN!!
What can I do with my images? This list could be 10 pages long but let’s stick with the basics for now.
Social media in all its glorious forms! Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In. Social media posts that include an image receive 120-180% more visibility and engagement.
Your website - Blogs, home page, about me, landing pages, sales pages, contact, etc.⠀
Marketing pieces - Business cards, brochures, mailers, or other printed marketing materials.⠀
Press releases, speaking engagements, email signature, anywhere you have the opportunity to show people what it would be like to work with you⠀
I bet you can think of at least 10 more that apply to your specific business. I’d love to know what you can come up with for your business!
What types of images do we create? I know you don’t want 30 versions of a formal headshot... BORING! Of course this varies with every brand, but I love to mix in some lifestyle and “working” photos so that people can truly visualize what it’s like to work with, and just be around you. If you offer products, we’ll get some really great product shots. If you have your own workspace, I love to shoot there and incorporate the vibe of your space
Once I’ve experienced and loved everything about our photoshoot, when can we do it again? YES I hope that’s what everyone says, but honestly, our need for content these days can be overwhelming and it can be so hard to keep up with. Again, everyone has different needs, but we can come up with a plan to shoot weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly to keep your content fresh and consistent!