What makes a Successful Personal Branding Session?

Everytime I book a client I set out to plan the perfect, Pinterest-worthy shoot. I want to give each of them an experience that is second-to-none, but I also want them to walk away with photos that they’ll be able to use for whatever they need in their brand. I know I’ve covered shoot planning before, but what actually makes a shoot a success?  Keep reading to find out the four things that make for a successful personal branding session.

1) Having a good handle on your brand 

I’ve talked about this before (check out my blog post on the three elements that make a strong brand) but there is a lot involved when it comes to creating and developing a brand. It’s important to have a good handle on both your brand messaging (I rely on Courtney Fanning of Big Picture Branding for this) and brand visuals (Verô of Verô Branding is my go-to for all things visuals). My client Sandra of S.C.E. Real Estate has a very strong visual brand and great messaging, knowing who she serves and how she serves them. This actually has informed our shoots in the past, but also has spilled over into her physical office space for her real estate brokerage. So in addition to using her ‘on-brand’ office space for her most recent personal branding session we were able to identify any additional props and outfits that would also be ‘on-brand’. All of which made for easy shoot planning. 

2) Organization 

And speaking of planning a branding shoot - the next thing that makes a successful session is being organized. Above you can see an example of one of my shoot plans. This process starts as soon as you book your shoot, but continues through to the day of. I work with my clients to make sure all the logistics, such as shoot location, outfits, stories, and props, are entered into our shoot plan. But you also need to pay attention to the goals of the shoot. In addition to putting together all the lists, I will look through your website and digital platforms to see where you may have gaps, or to ensure we are meeting the requirements (aspect ratios, photo placement, etc.). Having a shoot plan in place and being aware of those goals will help everyone prepare for the session and will keep both the photographer and the client on track the day of. 

While my shoot plans are meant to be a guide during the shoot, coming up with last minute ideas can throw the schedule off. When we can follow the shoot plan it just keeps things on track time-wise and everyone feels less stressed. It ensures that we get the shots you need and that I can perform at my best. That being said, I'm always willing to be flexible during the day of, just keep in mind big changes can alter the shoot result.

3) Giving yourself some grace and honoring yourself in the moment 

I don’t think I’ve gotten through a session without a client telling me that they hate having their photo taken. Well, there are a few clients that actually didn’t mind, but most of the time my clients usually don’t love the idea of taking photos for any amount of time, let alone for some of my longer sessions. And many times it’s because they are a little self-conscious about how they will look on-camera. As a BRAND photographer, I’d like to remind you that your personal brand is built on what you can offer your own client and that confidence will go a long way. I urge my clients to embrace who they are, what they look like and focus less on the physical appearance of themselves and more on how we can pull everything together to ensure your brand reflects your high quality, high touch, service or offer. That being said, I always want my clients to be pleased with their images. So I work hard to compose my shots and subjects in a way that they will love what they see on the back of the camera. 

To do this, I will pull out all of the poses, all of the tips and tricks that I’ve learned during my years as a photographer, to make you look your best. But if you are at war with your body, you will never be at peace with your photos. So just like having your brand in order (messaging and visuals), I recommend you be at peace with your body so that you can truly enjoy your session and love the end result.

4) Aesthetics

Finally, paying attention to the aesthetics of your shoot can make or break a session. Aesthetics covers your brand aesthetics (colors, fonts, formal vs. informal), the aesthetics of the shoot location, the outfits you choose and the props you employ. I discuss this in depth with all of my clients to make sure that their shoot location, outfits and props work with their brand so they can use their images on their websites, promotional materials, social media, etc. If your shoot doesn’t align with your brand aesthetics, there’s a good chance you will miss out on the ability to have a cohesive and recognizable brand. But if everything comes together seamlessly, you’re going to see a much bigger return on your investment. You can see a few of the results from my clients’ shoots and how they work with their websites both above and below. 

I’ve covered shoot aesthetics from all angles, including how to match your brand shoot with your brand’s aesthetics, why props matter when it comes to your shoot, and how to choose your outfits to match your brand. You can also read about the pros and cons of shooting at your home office. 

Now that you know what makes a successful branding session, let’s get you on the books in 2023. Click here to start planning your next shoot!