Your personal branding photographs are telling the story of who you are so that your potential clients are thinking, she looks lovely and approachable, I want to work with this woman.

I’m going to break it down in 7 steps what you should focus on when preparing for your personal branding photoshoot…

1. Outfits

I think we have a tendency to feel overwhelmed with the ‘what the hell do I wear for my photoshoot?’ We often get panicked and perhaps wear items that aren’t the real us.

Now I’m going to say something that might be a little contradictory; - Wear clothes that you feel your best in (don’t try to be someone you’re not). What would you wear to meet your dream client? - But also look at what you’ve been pinned on your Pinterest vision board. Pick the items that are the most you and inline with your brand vision but remembering that you do have to be strategic, these clothes are part of your branding. You’ll be using them on your website from anywhere from 6 months to 2 years+.

2. Props

To make your photos even more gorgeous, think about props that you can add to jazz up your photos. If for instance your brand values are all about being feminine, joyful and positive, your brand colour may be yellow so buy some sunflowers or props that go well alongside yellow. If you’re brand is about health you may want to have the ingredients in to make a smoothie and put it in a pretty glass. Perhaps place books in the shot that tie in with what your business is about.

3. Photographer

Find a photographer whose photos you love and gets your vision for your brand. You can do this by looking at peoples accounts you admire on Instagram and you can sometimes see who they credit the photograph with. Search on PInterest for ‘personal branding photographer or the tried and trusted, just google it. Or better yet you can work with me in capturing your brand photos, you can see my work on my website.

4. Photoshoot Date

My recommendation is to book your shoot 2-4 weeks before your website design process is due to start, that will give the photographer enough time to make a final selection of shots and touch up whichever ones you want to use for the shoot.

5. Locations

Location, location, location - this can be key to your visual identity. For example if you’re a London based career coach for women working in the city, you may want your visuals to be with well known London landmarks in the background, or if you’re a yoga teacher you would probably want photos in a beautiful studio with lots of light. For instance if your dream brand look is light and airy, so you pick your local gorgeous country manor house with tiny windows, that wouldn’t be so great. It may be full of dark wood and little light due to the size of the windows.

Always pick somewhere you can take at least 5-7 different types of shot and within a short distance of other locations if you have multiple places to shoot. I wouldn’t suggest more than 3 venues in a days shoot.

Again refer back to your brand aesthetics and Pinterest vision board.

6. Scenes

Decide on multiple ideas for different scenes for your shoot, this will help your photographer and also you think about your outfits and the days plan easily. Here are a few examples;

Working with clients, 1:1 or in a group

Sat with your laptop

Walking in nature

You want to think about what is going to be on your website now and potentially further down the line. If you’re planning an online course you will probably want some photographs of you at your laptop or if you’re planning a workshop, you will want to enlist some friends to set the scene of what a workshop may look like with you.

7. Personal Grooming

You will probably have your hair and makeup professionally done on the day if you’re spending the money on a photoshoot but what about the pre-prep?

Get your roots touched up a few days before your shoot if they need doing

Treat yourself to a mani/pedi (doesn’t matter if the toes aren’t show, you wanna feel your best)

Book yourself in for a facial or something equally as lovely to rejuvenate yourself. Obviously you don’t need to do this, but I’m just trying to give you an excuse for some self-care

Eyebrows threaded/tinted - ok maybe that’s just me then!?