Yesterday, I shared some of my favorites from my recent brand shoot with the amazing Hannah Haston Photography. Custom imagery for your brand is one of the most powerful ways to not only set your visuals apart through your website or print collateral, but it’s also a strategic way to showcase your work in action, inspiring a more personal connection with your audience. Custom imagery can create visual consistency as you incorporate your colors throughout, stick to a theme that enhances your brand’s aesthetic, and showcase you in action doing whatever it is you do with grace and gumption! But how do you pull off a brand photoshoot? What exactly goes into this, anyway? Today, I’m sharing my step-by-step process for styling a branded shoot that delivers gorgeous, on-brand images that can elevate your visuals intentionally.

Choose a Theme

First of all, every strategic shoot needs a clear theme that determines what types of content you capture, the overall message you’re trying to share, and the best way to convey that experience visually. For my shoot with Hannah, I wanted to focus on a theme that felt more like a lifestyle session than some overly polished headshot session, so we focused on a theme that highlighted the behind-the-scenes of my work. From scouring through color swatches to putting the finishing touches on a logo sketch, these images showcase more of my process in action.

Whatever theme you choose, keep it specific to the work that you do. For example, if you’re a photographer who specializes in anniversary and engagement sessions, capture the behind-the-scenes of you on location with one of your couples. This type of theme enables potential clients to connect to you, your offering, and how it could fit into their lives.

Set clear goals

What do you want to achieve as a result of this shoot?

Do you want to add more elevated content to your website to create visual consistency?

Do you want to inspire a specific set of emotions from your ideal clients as they view these images?

Do you want to showcase more of your work in action in an attempt to increase bookings?

Whatever you want to achieve as a direct result of these images, get clear about it and write it down! Having a clear purpose in mind for these images will help you choose everything from the right photographer to the right props that will ultimately align with your goal(s).

Define your shot list

Unless you’re working with a photographer who prefers to work without a shot list, take some time to jot down the specific kinds of shots you want to capture. Keep in mind that your goal should be to emulate these types of images, not to copy them exactly. If you want to capture more wide angle shots that showcase your entire desk, or if you want to capture more detail shots that showcase the intricate components of the work that you do, write it all down so you and your photographer know what to focus on. Having an organized shot list also enables that you can prioritize the types of images that are most important to you, ensuring that you walk away with the images that are top priority.

Curate your vision

Before you start pulling in props or going overboard with the details, focus on curating your overall vision for the shoot.

What do you envision for this shoot?

How will this shoot look or feel?

Get specific with what you want this shoot to really look like so you can pull in props, colors, and other details that are on-brand and create consistency. Having a clear vision to share with a stylist, photographer, or anyone else on your team, will enable you to make wise choices for this shoot that are a good use of your time and resources.

Assemble your Props

Now is the time to pull in all the gorgeous details that will make these images sing! If you are a service provider, brainstorm things that you can pull in that showcase your process or your work in action. For wedding planners who offer floral design, that might be a mix of your favorite planning tools and systems with the tools you utilize to design bouquets. For graphic designers, that could be color swatches or your laptop. Don’t forget the small details that can help echo your color palette, too. Ribbon, desk accessories, clothing, and even pieces of furniture can reflect your brand’s color palette in a way that builds visual consistency.

As you identify the specific props you want to use, create a master list that outlines each prop, the specific shots you want to utilize for it, and any other details that will help you stay organized. Having an inventory of all these items, especially if you’re working at an off-site location, will help you stay on track, capture each prop in its specific setting, and work efficiently.

Partner with Pros

If you’re investing in creating a branded shoot that will elevate your visuals or serve a specific purpose for an upcoming launch or project, choosing the right professionals to help you bring this vision to life is key. Choose a photographer whose aesthetic and editing style meshes well with your overall vision. If you don’t feel confident in your styling skills, or if your photographer would prefer to focus solely on capturing the details rather than styling them, be sure to either bring in an assistant or collaborate with a professional stylist to execute the shoot.

Other areas to consider are hair and makeup, wardrobe styling, the venue for your shoot, and more. Keep in mind that while some creatives are happy to lend their time and talent on a collaboration basis, be sure that everyone involved is being compensated in some way for their hard work. Always credit your vendors when you post about their work, and invite them into an experience where they are excited about what they’ll receive as part of the shoot, too.

There you have it, friends! These are my go-to tips whenever I tackle a styled, branded shoot of any kind. What tips have you used in the past that have worked for you? Feel free to share them in the comments below.