Budget-friendly Brand Photoshoot Tips: How to Make the Most of a Simple Shoot

Using professional brand photography on your website will help you stand out and make stronger connections because your audience can put a face with your name! Whether you’re a blogger, coach, photographer, or other creative entrepreneur, make time for a brand photoshoot. I put off taking brand photos for a long time in my business, but now I’m so glad I did!! It was fun and those photos have been such a helpful asset to my marketing efforts. You don’t have to have a large budget or a fancy office space to do this, either. I’ll let you in on a little “secret” – most of my photos were taken in my “home office,” which was really just the desk in the corner of my bedroom! Let’s dive into how you can get the most out of a simple personal branding photoshoot.

Plan Your Brand Photoshoot Beforehand

Planning is key for any successful photoshoot! Ideally, you want to have a plan for the type of photos you want, what you’ll wear, and where the photos will be taken before the day of the shoot. Communicate with your photographer so they can help you with this.

Essential Questions to Ask When Preparing:

As a brand designer, I’ll tell you that it’s so important to be clear on your brand message and visual aesthetic before you plan any other details for your shoot. Ask yourself:

• What’s your brand style? (ex: Laiid back and casual, formal, calming, loud and bold, etc.)
• Do you have specific brand colors that you want to incorporate into your photos?
• Is there something you want to be known for?

How you answer those questions will help you make decisions on what to wear, props, and the setting. 

Once I was clear on my brand message, I found inspiration for the vibe I was going for on Pinterest, and shared those examples with my photographer. 

Choose a Location That’s Easy to Access (It’s okay to take photos at home!)

When taking brand photos, especially for the first time, I recommend choosing a location that’s easy to access like your home, or a local spot you love like a coffee shop or co-working space. It’s okay to not go all out renting an Airbnb or traveling (but you can if you want to!).

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I took my first brand photos using the desk space in the corner of my bedroom! As a brand and website designer, all I really needed was a spot for me to sit with my laptop. The only downside to taking photos at home is that you’ll be responsible for making your space look presentable. 🙂 

Use Outfit, Hairstyle, and Prop Changes to Add Variety

Changing your outfit, hair, and props will help you get variety in your brand photos, especially if you won’t be switching locations. I had 3 outfit changes during my shoot (mostly I just changed my top or put on a jean jacket). I’ve seen people do some with hair down vs. a ponytail, glasses vs. no glasses, etc. These simple changes can really make a difference! As for props, I used my laptop, desktop computer, iPad, phone, and a book – easy things that I already had around the house. I even invited my dog for a few photos!

Get Creative with Your Poses

This is something that your photographer will direct you on during the session, but be sure to change up your poses! My photographer had great ideas and was also open to any I had. Examples of poses from my shoot: me working at my laptop, drawing on my iPad, looking at art on the wall, sitting with my dog, and using my phone. Even though we didn’t change locations, changing up what I was doing in each photo and moving angles allowed me to get a lot of awesome photos!

Feeling Excited for Your Brand Photoshoot?!

I hope this post has helped you see that it’s totally possible to get high quality, useful photos from a simple brand photoshoot. And if you’re ready for a stylish new website for your business, check out my Showit template shop! You’ll find affordable, easy to edit website templates that are strategically designed to support your business growth. 

P.S. – If you’re local to Raleigh, NC, Davonte Anthony is the talented photographer who took my brand photos, I highly recommend reaching out to him!