How to plan your Epic
branding shoot
Everything you need to know!

I’m going to… shine a light on the rockstar I know you are

You’re ready to up your brand credibility and make a genuine connection with your audience. YAY!

Hi I am Jessica your photographer Roberts.

I have created this video and transcribed the contents below so that you can start planning and really make the most out of your shoot.

I get that being photographed feels way outside your comfort zone, I promise that we will have fun. Our photo shoots are designed to help you feel chilled out and comfortable in your own skin.

Let’s take your brand next level, More than pretty pictures

To be quite honest, I can create pretty images but what I really want to do it create purposeful images because between us that is the secret to good photos.

Branding photos are a really great way of showing your audience and customers what you do and how you do it

So let’s begin, you should have received and paid the invoice by this point… if you haven’t please send me message to arrange this.

Planning

The more you put into the planning the more you will get out of your shoot.

You can plan in lots of ways - by using pinterest by brainstorming or filling in my planning document - I can work with you on this.

I want you to start thinking about your content pillars, (This is an excellent little workbook to help you with this) dive deep into what the conversations are that you want to have with these images! Do you have a course that you are creating? If so what are the headings and themes that come up in this course? Do you have a business where you haven’t shown the behind the scenes -how you do what you do.

Where are we going to do this shoot - Location

Where are going to do the shoot? I want you to feel comfortable - this is the most important thing. Shooting in your home or your office may be the most authentic, or you might want to hire a location, it is totally up to you!

You are responsible for the location we do your shoot in. Usually, it will be somewhere relevant to you and your brand or a blank space you can style for our shoot.

When looking for a location look for light and bright - lots of natural light. A nice blank canvas. It might be where you work, your home, favourite cafe or maybe you want to hire an amazing home through airbnb or pure locations.

This is my list of fav airbnb’s you will see the above common themes with them.

The best location have lots of scenes. I shot Emily Osmond in this amazing house in Kew and this house was so good because of the different scenes available and because it was light filled and styled so well. If you have a place where we have 5 good scenes that will be ace. I don’t think this location is available to hire anymore but it is a good example. Sadly it isn’t available to rent anymore but it gives you an idea of what I liked about it.

When I say different scenes - I mean:

• Front porch was good to shoot in

• Hallway good light and a good space for shooting

• bedrooms amazing - could be used for journaling or other relevant things to their content pillars

• Dinning room table to create a different scene - working / packing products etc

• Chair nook in good light - show relaxing

• plain wall with good light for headshots or speaking box photos

• kitchen - showing rituals and creating connection

• lounge area - for Emily we used for podcasting

• desk area - to show working

• another lounge chair in study with interest - showing love for interior designing and reading

Think about your daily rituals, are they relevant to your brand?

I love these locations for hire -

Mentone - The Green Space A natural light studio with white walls and floor, Moroccan rugs, midcentury furniture. Brought to you by In Bloom Horticulture at 40 Balcombe Road, Mentone.

Brunswick -Studio Hardwick

Brunswick East - Mood Objects

Footscray - The Loft Studio Melbourne

Highett - The Button Factory - The Garden room and any of the warehouse spaces with natural light

Moorabbin - The Studio Melbourne - This a great space with props and different scenes that can be set up with different coloured walls, plants, beds, chairs etc

Highett - Luna on Advantage Road

Torquay - The Summer house

Collingwood - The Urban Health Collective - Has beautiful light but is just one room - you can use as a working space a sofa space and anything else you can think of.

Spacely - Co working spaces you can find some gems if they hire by the hour - you must ask if you can use for taking photos when you book

Side note - I can travel - take me regional, interstate or abroad!!

With our branded photoshoots we give you all the guidance you need to make the most out of your session. And if getting in front of the camera feels way outside your comfort zone, we’ve got you. Our photo shoots are designed to help you have fun and feel chilled out and comfortable in your own skin.

What should I wear?

I want you to feel comfortable. It is a good idea to bring a variety of outfits, 5 is good number but feel free to bring up to 10 - we may not get through all of them but it might give you more choice on the day. I am not a stylist but can give my opinion. At the end of the day though I want you to feel comfortable and like the way you look.

Confession, I don’t like black as a colour for people to wear in photographs - I think it looks really severe and can take away the focus from what is important in an image.

If you love black maybe just bring one outfit in black - it’s your choice though that is my opinion.

Try to think of the outfits in terms of what you will be talking about - if you want to show celebrating have an outfit that screams celebration, if you want to show you in a connecting way - nice lounge wear or jeans etc.

Get in contact with Emily of the Conscious garment if you need help with personal styling.

My thought on hair and make - Up

There is a common misconception that you need heavy make up when you have your photo taken.

I couldn’t count the times when we have arrived for a branding shoot and our beautiful client is morphed behind a thick layer of make-up feeling very uncomfortable and not themselves at all.

If you are happy with the way you do your makeup then I wouldn’t think you need to get your make up done. If you think having your makeup done in a natural way will help you to feel confident then go for it - it is a personal choice!!! Just please don’t tell them you are having a photoshoot and please emphasise that you want natural. I write some more about this here with some recommendations.

The same goes with your hair - if it is going to make you feel comfortable and confident and like the way you look more then absolutely book it in!!!

Props… should I bring them

YES! Prop will bring your brand and photos alive - they can help to create the images and really communicate the things you want to talk about so get creative!!!!

How will the day run - what to expect on the day

All the hard work happens before the shoot, on the day you will be feeling all sorts of things, but I would recommend you breath, yep keep breathing it will help, I promise haha! Have breakfast, drink lots of water and then just try and enjoy the day. I kind of just think of it as riding a wave, you just need to chill out and enjoy the ride as much as you can. I will chatter a way with you and you will feel like you are hanging with a friend.

When do I get the photos

When we’re all done, you’ll walk away feeling proud to put yourself out there. You will feel excited and inspired. You will receive your images in 2-3 weeks in an online gallery and dropbox folder and you will get all of the images not just 200 :)

Best of all? You’ll have a bank of amazing images that align with you and your brand — that create a human-to-human connection with your audience (the second best kind of connection after human-to-dog).

Ask us anything