Hi, I’m Lucy and I’m a Virgo. I love planning, to-do lists and feeling organised (even if I’m actually kinda, not). I also, love branding, it has become one of my favourite things to shoot for as I know how effective it can be to promote yourself or your business. It’s all in the details! Every piece of content that your client base interacts with, is part of your branding. Which I know can sound scary! But these tips will help you get started and make planning your shoot (hopefully) a super fun experience, and it should be!
I have learnt a lot over the past year as I have worked with more people with this so I wanted to share some of these tips to help both you and your photographer.
1. Think about what you need the images for.
To make the most of your photographers time, they need to know what platform they will be used for. Annoyingly each has different ideal dimensions, square is probably the only ratio that works for them all, but don’t forget about your website. Do you need a wide shot to use as a cover image? Do you not like the square format and want 8x10 for Instagram? I always try and shoot images that work for both but it’s best to know so they can make the most of the space within the frame. Not to add yet another one to think about but it’s also a good idea to have some images with plenty of white space so you can add text.
2. It’s all in the feeling.
Something I have always loved about photography is how much lighting can change an image. Is your brand light and bright, or moody and cosy? Think about how you want your audience to feel when they see the images. Your photographer will know how to create it!
3. Make a list of the shots you need.
Go through your website, socials, anything that you use images for and make a list of your must-haves. This is a great time saver and it makes sure you get what you need. I mean, if you’re like me you might enjoy this part (as I said, I love lists, and I also enjoy ticking them off as I go when I’m shooting. I’m easily pleased).
4. Moodboard and visualise.
Pinterest is a FAB tool for this, start adding images that inspire you and that you feel are the type of style you want yours to be. I also love this platform because you can add your photographer to the board, perfect for keeping them up to date with styling ideas! There is also the classic Word document or old fashioned sticking images from magazines in a scrapbook. But then you’d have to scan it to send to anyone on your team so a little more time-consuming! Whatever works best for you, but this stage should get you excited to have your images done. Dream big!
5. Gather props.
Last but not least, props! They are fantastic for creating visuals that are consistent with your brand. They can help create a specific feeling and add interest. Think of textures, colour, items that add to your story. What do you use? Either collect items yourself and send them to your photographer, or I’m sure (depending on how they run their business) they would be happy to gather them for you and add it to the invoice. They are handy for you to have in case you want to do any flatlays for Instagram etc, yourself. Consistency is key!
So there you have it, those are my top 5 tips for planning your branding shoot! I hope that it was helpful.
If you would be interested to hear about how I can help you with your branding head to my website and check out my branding galleries! And please get in touch if you would like a brochure or to just have a chat! Zoom calls are always free with no strings attached.
Happy planning!
Lucy x
My website: www.lucydack.co.uk
Straight to the Branding Gallery:
My blog post that goes more in-depth into what branding photography is: