Planning a creative business photo shoot? Great! This is probably one of my favourite topics to talk about in business and easily my favourite thing to do. Making sure I have a collection of images I can tap into that are personal and filled with brand personality. That resource of creative business images is essential to managing my social media presence day in and day out.
Planning a creative business photo shoot will ensure your brand, blog or business has everything it needs to make waves on social media. All tied in a neatly branded bow. But planning it, executing it and getting to the stage where you have the images to use can be problematic. That’s where this video comes in.
In this video, I’m sharing my tips for planning your next photo shoot including;
- Choosing the colours, brand story, location
- Hiring a choosing a photographer, developing a relationship, doing the deal and knowing the terms
- How to get comfortable in front of the camera
- How to make image selections at the end
Why a business photo shoot?
I’ve used creative business photo shoots for a number of years now (see above). I love the evergreen content it creates for my businesses. I have at my disposal an archive of great images I can pull out when I need to inject a little more personality into the blog or social media. Despite numerous hair colour changes along the way (whoops), I have been able to use them year after year.
Having an archive of images improves your brand, blog or business’s overall branding. Go back to the images above and you can see the ‘brand story’ run through the photos. The black, white, blue, grey theme is there. Sometimes subtly and sometimes through obvious clothing and location choices. Consider that as you plan your clothing, prop and location choices.
Consider how much easier it would be to make your website look awesome or roll out content on your social media with these images in your pocket? That part of what you want to plan before your business photo shoot, what EXACTLY are you looking for? Are they all action shots, or are there some posed? Will you use flat lays and product shoots? Use that Pinterest board and plan out the types of images you want beforehand.
What others say.
Nikki from Styling You says in her post 13 tips for professional business photos (another good one, if you’re looking for tips). This post was the reason I started booking this kind of business photo shoot. For a long time, Kel and I had taken all my photos and they were never quite what I was looking for. With Nikki’s tips in hand, I decided to plan my own shoot. I’ve never looked back.
“Having a set of current photos available at the ready to distribute to media, event organisers and for use on your own social media networks helps you to present an image of your business that is true to you and what you represent. Basically, having headshots and creative photos of you ‘doing business’ makes you look more professional.”
Deb from Debbish used a recent milestone birthday as an excuse to have a personal photo shoot. The images from this shoot could easily be used as part of her professional portfolio as a book writer and reviewer, should she need them. She used a local photographer looking to develop her portfolio and the results are amazing.
“I’d previously contacted a local photographer, Jessica Gunn Photographer as I’d initially planned to get some new headshots done for the blog (and Linked In etc) before the Romance Writers’ Conference in August… but it just didn’t happen. Jess was recommended by a friend and I’d looked at her work and thought we’d be a good fit.”
If you have questions, make sure you leave them in the comments here or on YouTube. It loves that kind of thing. Now, on to the good stuff. Below is the PDF download of the important things to plan/book when putting together your creative business photo shoot. No sign up required, go nuts.
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Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
Great post, and your tips are spot-on. Choosing the right photographer who makes you feel comfortable and who you click with is important, as it can make or break the photos. If you or the photographer is not feeling it in any way it will show in the photos. Having said that, do you think I have any photos of me doing anything? Plain headshots even…. nope. Possibly has something to do with the fact I would rather be behind the camera than in front, but that’s really no excuse!
#teamIBOT
It’s so important. Like you said, make or break. I’m glad to have a more than one impressive photographer that I love. It’s perfect. And haha, that’s pretty standard, right? My yard is horrific and my husband has a landscaping business. Best rectify THAT, Ms. Kylie. (the photos, not that yard, that battle is too big for us mere humans. haha).
I should actually do this! Seeing I freakin live with a photographer!
Hahaha. 100%!! You’ve got no excuse. 😉
I really do need to do this too! My headshots and photos to date have been very low quality, taken by my daughter! A portfolio of professional photos to draw from as needed would be so useful!
ingrid
http://www.fabulousandfunlife.blogspot.com.au
It’s so useful! I’ve never once regretted having photos taken for my portfolio, see what you can do, for sure. Or you could up-skill your daughter, Kel has been the primary blog photographer for years. Haha.
Once again today I had to submit some weird photo as my headshot for something. I should reallllllyyyyy get around to a proper headshot. I’ve only been putting it off for like 6 years.
Also, what’s ironing? 🙂
Hahaha. What’s ironing, indeed. No idea.
For sure, you have to get some done, it’s so handy to have them on hand (so many hand references in one sentence).
This is so good Melissa, thank you for sharing. My eldest Granddaughter is in her final year at Australian Film Television and Radio School and has already started her own business – has done headshots, an engagement party and a wedding! She brings, as you do, a unique view of the subject or event and it makes it extra special. Denyse #teamIBOT
You’re welcome, lady. It’s a team effort, for sure. Everyone has to bring their perspective and unique talents, and that’s the fun part too. Good luck to your granddaughter, how exciting for her.
I just had to submit some headshots and I was so embarrassed. They were shameful! I totally need to do this – just need to invest the moolah! Your pics are class!
That’s the worst. I first had this done when I became a contributor on a site and all I had were seflies… Next to the others, I just felt like such a newbie. I’ve never regretted having these photos. Do it for sure! And thank you, Bambi did an amazing job, always does.