Branding Photos: Tips for Making Your Photos Awesome

If you’re on the hunt for tips for great branding photos, then you’ve come to the right place!

Branding photos are all the rage these days, and for good reason! Having great brand photos, that are not only high quality, but also on brand, creative, and authentic, really sets entrepreneurs and companies apart from the competition.

Think about marketing photos and headshots you’ve seen recently. How many headshots have you seen that are on a plain background, with simple lighting and a forced smile? How many marketing photos look just like every other photo you’ve seen recently? Now, how many headshots and marketing photos have you seen that are interesting, professional, and eye catching? Out of all of these, which were you more drawn to?

If your answer is the latter, then you’re in the right place. Not to brag, but we’ve done countless branding sessions for companies all around Columbus. So, we’re here to help you prepare for your branding photo session. Here are our tips for great branding photos!

We can share lots of tips for great branding photos, but this one is the most important! The #1 goal of great branding photos should be authenticity. Be true to yourself! Be true to your brand! Be true to your style! Remember: branding photos are meant to attract ideal clients. If you’re not being authentic in your photos, then you won’t attract those clients. Instead, you’ll attract the opposite. So, don’t go for anything less than what is truly, uniquely you and your brand.

Your brand photos should showcase what you do and how you do it. If you’re a fitness professional, it doesn’t make much sense to have your branding photos done in an office. In the same sense, it’s not helpful to have a boring headshot if you’re an artist or creative entrepreneur. Make sure your brand photos showcase what your product or service is and how you do that particular service. The visuals in your photos should tell your ideal client more about what you do, not less.

Branding photos should be exactly that: ON BRAND PHOTOS! So, be sure to incorporate your branding in some way. You can incorporate your brand colors into your wardrobe. You can style with certain elements of your brand. You can have your logo in the background. There are many more ways to do this, but whatever you do, don’t forget about your branding!

Believe it or not, the preparation and planning process is just as, if not more important than the actual photo session itself! Investing time and energy into the planning will ensure that your photos are on brand and flawless. So, be sure to share your branding materials with your photographer. Work with them on a collaborative Pinterest board for inspiration and to identify your preferred style. Collaborate on a shot list so that you aren’t worried about getting all the shots you want on the day of the production. Being organized, detailed, and prepared beforehand will make things much less stressful and much more successful.

Location is so important that it gets it’s own category! Going back to authenticity and showcasing YOU, the location you choose should be an accurate reflection of you, your brand, and your product or service. As mentioned earlier, if you’re a fitness professional, it doesn’t make much sense to have your photos done in an office. So, consider what types of locations best highlight what you do. Your office? A coffee shop? Outdoors? A theater? A gym? There are endless options, but whatever you do, choose the one that visually completes your brand’s story.

Whether you’re fashion forward or not, wardrobe is a huuuuuuge component of great branding photos! Avoid clothing with small repetitive prints, logos, and distracting patterns. Choose clothing that is on brand, simply designed, and flattering. Remember that bright colors and high contrast will get you noticed and help you stand out from the crowd. If you find yourself really struggling with designing your wardrobe, consider investing in a stylist to help you with this aspect of your branding photos.

Just like location and wardrobe, details are super important for branding photos. Props, hair, makeup, etc. are all things that shouldn’t be forgotten about. Be sure to spend plenty of time brainstorming prop ideas. For example, a painter might want to include their paintbrushes. A social media manager might want to include a notebook and computer. A hair stylist might want to include a blowdryer and scissors. What are the things that you use in your career that you can include in your photos to complete your story. Additionally, don’t forget about details like hair and makeup. If you’re not confident getting yourself photo ready, invest in a hair stylist and makeup artist to help you look your best!

Let’s face it: there are some things that are better left to the pros. And, you guessed it, branding photos are one of those things. Just like you wouldn’t try to re-plumb your entire house yourself, you shouldn’t try to do something as vital to your business as DIY branding photos. Sure, you can use your photo skills for filler social media content, behind-the-scenes posts, etc. But the real stuff? That should be left to the pros. So, determine a reasonable photography budget, do research on photographers in your area, and hire a pro whose style you love and whose pricing is in line with your budget. A real professional will be able to help you plan the perfect session, create the most beautiful photos, do just the right amount of professional retouching, and leave you with amazing photos and an even more amazing experience!

So, now that you know the tips for great branding photos, are you ready to create some epic branding photos for yourself? Reach out to us to start bringing your vision to life! We’re here to make your branding photo dreams come true!