When preparing for your brand photography session and creating your shot list, that is, a list of the types of images you want captured during your session, consider these 5 must haves. These are photos that you can go back to time and time again for varied marketing purposes. In the spirit of pragmatism, I’ve included suggestions for where you could use these types of images across your online presence and marketing.
1. The Professional Headshot
One of the most important photos you need is a professional-looking headshot. In general, a simple background without distracting elements is best so that your portrait will read clearly in the smaller sizes of most social media profile formats . A professional headshot is a must-have for entrepreneurs and small business owners, which is why it’s so important to plan for it during a Brand Photography session.
Where to Use It: Your professional headshot will work great as “About” page images and across your social media account profiles. Using the same profile image across all platforms reinforces brand recognition.
2. Personality and Lifestyle
Many people are inclined to focus on business-related imagery when they’re putting creating a list of images for their session. I often remind clients, don’t forget about your “story.” That includes capturing images that show off your personality and interests when you’re not doing business related things. Your hobbies, interests, and lifestyle create instant connection with people who share these things in common with you. Your personality and lifestyle set you apart; they show your clients and customers that you are like no one else, even if you are providing similar services or products.
Some examples of lifestyle images might be of you snuggling with your cat or cats, playing with your kids at a favorite park, gardening, reading a favorite book, or enjoying a cup of tea. Planning for these kinds of portraits helps us capture the stories that make you who you are, helping your customers get to know you, like you, and trust you.
Where to Use It: Personality and lifestyle images will work well as an alternative to your professional headshot when you want to be less formal. For personal brands, these lifestyle shots would be the bulk of your image content.
3. Branding Elements
Do you have a logo? Some businesses have branded cups, bags, stickers, and tee shirts. Most businesses have business cards with their logo. Capturing things with your logo on it is a great way to show off your branding. These branded images reinforce your business in the mind of the viewer and establishes credibility for anyone looking at your website or social media feed. It sends a message that you are a professional and that you’re taking your business seriously. If you’ve invested money in creating a logo and other branding elements for your business, show it off!
The biggest caveat to this one is if you’re planning a rebrand, such as a new logo design, in the near future. In which case, have your photographer create brand images that you’ll still be able to use after your rebrand so you get the most out of your investment.
Where to Use It: Images with your branding elements can be sparsely sprinkled throughout your social media feed or used as banner images for pages on your website.
4. Behind the Scenes
Behind the scenes images share what goes into creating the product or service you provide. This can include brainstorming with clients, planning, writing, designing, shopping, packing orders, and even updating your website. These are the steps that go into creating your product/service and into running your business. These behind the scenes images build connection, authenticity and trust. Again, people are more likely to support businesses they know and trust.
Where to Use It: Behind the scenes images work well as the banner image to your “Shop” page or e-commerce site if you sell products, and on the “Services” page if you’re a service based business. You can also include them in your “About” page.
5. Details
Detail shots are really useful for infusing pretty imagery throughout your website and social media feed. Cloese up imagery showcases and explain specific elements of your work and products. By isolating and zooming in on the details, you’re able to focus your message and direct the viewer’s attention to what’s important.
In a digitally driven world where we’re inundated with visuals, we’re drawn to detail images perhaps for the simplicity and clarity they bring.
Detail shots are a useful addition to your image content library. Props, parts of your workspace, and specific features of your products make perfect detail images to your content strategy.
Where to Use It: Detail shots work well for your “Services” page and also make great social posts where you want to direct focus and engage your followers in conversation particularly about craftsmanship and conscientiousness.
KEEP ORIENTATION IN MIND: It’s always good to know the orientation for your specific image needs. Landscape (horizontal) images work well as banner images, in email marketing and on X. Portrait (vertical) images work well on “About” pages, Instagram and Pinterest. Think about where you’ll be using the images ahead of time so you get the most out of your investment.
If there are key shots you want, ask your photographer to take those using both landscape and portrait orientations.
A website imagery audit is available upon request with any Session Package.
