Brand Photoshoot Checklist

I know that I harp on this but there is so much that goes into planning a brand photoshoot. And while much of the prep work is taken care of by your brand photographer, there are some tasks that need to be accomplished by you - the client. If you don’t give your photographer the information they need to plan your shoot, you aren’t going to get the results you want or need. 

 That’s why I like to go over with my clients what makes a successful personal branding session, as well as provide them with my shoot plan guide so they can give me the details that I need to inform all the different parts of our session. I’ve also come up with this easy checklist for anyone in the middle of planning a brand photoshoot so that they can be organized and prepared. 

Keep reading for my brand photoshoot checklist. 

1) What do you need for Content

While I do a content audit for my clients, knowing what goes into my evaluation of your website, social media feeds and other outlets can help you to figure out for yourself what you need for content. When I look over my clients websites I’m looking for whether or not they have an updated headshot, banner images, branded stock images and whether or not everything is cohesive.

Also if you have a blog, you should be looking at what posts you have planned for the next few months (depending on how often you schedule your sessions) to add that content to your shoot needs. The same thing goes for any newsletters you send out or funnels, course materials, Pinterest Pins, resources or opt-ins that need updating. 

You also need to make sure that you have photos of yourself so you can show up on your social media feeds every once and a while. Knowing your upcoming content needs can help inform many of the elements of your shoot. 

If you are at a loss for what you should be posting about, feel free to check out my three tips for coming up with content ideas.

2) Location 

Now that you know what content you need, you should be thinking about where you are going to shoot. This sometimes can feel like the hardest part. While some of my clients have beautiful homes and offices where it makes sense to shoot, most of the time we have to find a shoot location. 

When I worked with Sylvia Winter, a pilot and a podcaster whose show is all about women in flight (literally and figuratively), she said she wanted to shoot at Hanscom Airport. So we were able to make arrangements to hold part of our session on the runway, with an actual plane as you can see above on the left (still one of my coolest shoots to date that you can read more about here). However when my client, Boston Beauty Network, needed new photos for their website and social media, showing off their beauty studio was a large part of the session (above, right).

You can also pick a location based on the vibe of your shoot, as well as your brand colors and aesthetic. If you are in the Boston area, I do have my own studio north of the city where I shoot for many of my clients. But if you are searching for something specific for your location, I also have a list of some of my other favorite shoot spots that are popular with my clients. 

Side tip: I love looking for spaces through Peerspace (save $50 off your next booking of $15 or more using this link) and Home Studio List (save 10% off your booking of $200 or more using code JESSIEW2819_).

3) Shot List

Your shot list can either be super simple, or very specific, depending on how much information you give to your photographer, as well as how they prefer to plan shoots. I know that when I plan my clients' shoots, I make them aware of the shots I believe that should be covered in every branding session, as well as some of my favorite poses. But sometimes we’ll go into the shoot with more of an idea of the shots that we want to get and just go from there! And again, think back to your content needs to help inform some of these shot ideas!

In the end, a shot list is meant to keep everyone on track so you know that you are getting the images you need. It also can inform the next two points of this brand photoshoot checklist - so keep reading!

4)  Props 

Even with a basic shot list, this should give you and your photographer an idea of the props you will need to successfully shoot the content you need. When my clients fill out their questionnaires and we hold our shoot plan calls, we always discuss story ideas and that helps to develop a prop list to tell those stories.

For example, my client Kate Andrews of Fashionably Kate & Co. wanted to show her audience, made up mostly of moms that want to embrace the little luxuries in life, her dream morning in bed. So when we came up with her prop list we determined that for this shot we needed a tray to hold a luxe scented candle, yummy macaroons on a fancy plate, and a delicate tea cup, as well as a pretty book for her to hold. She even had tea pre-made in a bottle, ready to pour into the teacup! You can see how the shot came together above - how much do you wish you were enjoying a morning like this?!

5) Outfits 

Now that you know what content you need, where you’re shooting, the props involved and a shot list has been developed, it’s time to think about outfits which can sometimes be the hardest thing to plan. An outfit can make or break a session since a good ensemble makes you feel more confident or comfortable, adds color to tie in your visual aesthetic, and reinforces your connection with your audience. 

When you think of outfits, you need to take your audience into account as well as the shot types you plan to get. After all, you don’t want to be in a pencil skirt while curled up on the ground, or wearing athleisure pieces when you’re trying to attract real estate agents to your brand. It is always good to have a selection of outfits that range from professional (whatever that means to your brand) to more casual looks so your photos can be applied to a variety of situations.

For more advice on how to pick outfits for your session, make sure you grab my photoshoot outfit guide.

Once you’ve chosen your outfits, make sure that you keep them ironed and lint free. If you're driving to a shoot, I always suggest to my clients that they wear something else and then change on location to avoid wrinkling. You also want to make sure to have any accessories for your outfits and don’t forget shoes! 

Other things to think about is if you are getting your hair and makeup done for the shoot, make sure your outfits are easy to change. It can be pretty hard to wrangle out of a turtleneck if you’re wearing a full face of makeup or sporting a blow out!

6) Other Checklist Items

Of course there are a number of other things that need to be taken into account when planning your shoot:

• Hair and Makeup 

I actually offer my clients the opportunity to book hair and makeup services through me if they would like for an extra fee. But whether or not they take advantage of this add-on, I always suggest that they make sure they are looking put together for their shoot, whatever that means to them. 

• Have your Nails and Toes looking Clean and Neat

If you know you’re going to be holding products or other props and are looking for close ups of your hands, or if you plan on going barefoot or wearing sandals for your session, you always want to make sure that your nails look clean and neat at the very least. 

• Planning Enough Time to Get to Your Shoot Location

I always make sure that I have the address for my shoot location plugged into Waze in advance so that I can not only have an idea of where I am going but how long it is going to take me to get there. This way I always ensure that I arrive at the shoot on time, if not early. 

• Ensuring Childcare is Secured

If you have young children I will always suggest that you not only make sure your child care situation is secure, but that you have a backup plan if something should happen. That way you aren’t forced to cancel your shoot because your child is sick and can’t go to school. I am always understanding when it comes to these situations, however, rescheduling for both the client and the photographer can sometimes be difficult so you want to make sure you have a contingency plan in place.

For more information on how to prep for your branding shoot, make sure that you grab my brand photoshoot planning guide. And if you have any questions or would like to speak with me about booking your session, click here to schedule a call so we can discuss ideas!