Whether you've already booked your brand shoot or are thinking about it, you'll find heaps of helpful info to get you prepared so you know what to expect from your shoot with She by Shan.
have you had your free discovery call?
Before making any booking with She by Shan, you have the option to book a free discovery call where you'll have the chance to chat with me to see if we're the right fit, and feel our whether you're ready for a brand shoot. In this short discovery call, I'll analyse your current use of images across your social media platforms and website, identify your brand vibe, chat about your target audience and the impression you want to give. Following the call, you'll receive an email summary of what we discussed, as well as some ideas that I've got for improving your imagery and I'll make a recommendation for one of my packages based on your needs.
Don't forget the questionnaire.
Once your session is booked, you'll receive a questionnaire via email to complete. This will help to identify your needs, pick your brain for ideas and provide me with some insight to prepare for our next catch up.
book a shoot planning call.
It might seem like a whole lot of talking, but being prepared for your shoot and making sure we are on the same page will make such a huge impact on your shoot. It also means we can maximise your investment and know exactly what we are doing when we jump into your shoot. The shoot planning call is a 30 minute video call where we'll go over ideas more thoroughly, I'll help you plan some outfits and offer suggestions where needed.
Let's grab a coffee.
This part is essential. Well, it's not really, but who is going to say no to a free coffee or hot choccy? I'll always schedule in time before your session for a little cafe date. This is so we can formally meet if we haven't already, and get you feeling comfortable before I start shoving the ol' camera in your face!
Now you know what comes first, let's talk about what you can do to prepare.
Be clear on your own vision.
For me to understand your needs, you'll need to understand your own first. Now is actually a great time to review your brand as a whole, as these images will last you a long time, so you want them to align with your goals for the next 12 months. I'd suggest sitting down and thinking about what you want to attract in your business, start making some Pinterest boards with some examples of the type of imagery you like and get a feel for what you really want. This will be immensely helpful when you're sharing your vision with me.
choosing your outfits.
I'll offer suggestions in our calls for what I think will work, and you'll also receive access to my Client Wardrobe which may have some pieces that fit your brand vibe. What you want to look for is:
- Colours that match your brand colours and tones.
- Options that showcase the different vibe you want to portray; e.g. are you going formal or casual? Do you want to be fun and edgy or super professional and clean?
- Comfort. This will ALWAYS be important, because discomfort shows in your photos. You also want to be accurately representing yourself and creating reasonable expectations for your ideal client.
I recommend adding accessories where possible, these can be a super subtle way of adding in your brand colour without it feeling so full on (especially if it's a colour you wouldn't usually wear, or if it's a dominant colour like red). I always suggest items like hair clips, or fun sunglasses, scrunchies etc.
Planning a location.
This decision usually comes in the earlier stages of our planning together, but it's important that you understand your end goal before choosing a location. Personally, as much as a location can make an impactful difference on your photos - you are the main subject at the end of the day and so long as we shoot somewhere that's tidy and has good natural lighting, your photos will look great.
A location can be representative of the work you do, so if you think you might want it in your workspace but you're worried it's not pretty enough, we can discuss some ideas and I might have suggestions for "jazzing" it up a little. Sometimes, a location can be as simple as a cute quiet cafe, or somewhere in the streets of your city. Of course, we've also got some studio options available and if you're not local to Hamilton, I can help locate one closer to you. I'll be here to help with choosing!
Bring props.
Start brainstorming a list of items that represent your business and line of work. Some super essential props can include:
- Branded clothing;
- Business cards;
- Branded stationery;
- Laptop & phone;
- Favourite coffee mug;
- Anything in your brand colours
But get creative with it, start hunting out bits and pieces that fit your brand vibe, like little secondhand decor pieces. Again, I'll be hear to prompt any ideas when you need them and I might have a few items to bring along myself.
consider getting your hair and make up professionally done.
Whether you're usually a make up girly or not, an investment like this is totally worth the extra treat of getting yourself glammed up and feeling good. A make up look doesn't have to be heavy, and there are many incredible artists out there that I can recommend to you. With a brand shoot, you'll want a super minimal and natural make up look, and without a doubt it will leave you feeling all that extra confidence!
Do some posing research.
Whilst I'll be here to guide you through the whole shoot, I know many clients have benefitted from watching Reels or TikTok's on how to pose. Even just looking back at your Pinterest board and analysing how subjects are positioning themselves will provide you with more insight going into the shoot.
you don't have to be the centre of attention.
A huge part of the She by Shan way is incorporating what I call, "branded stock photos". These are images where you're not the key focus, you might be in the shot doing something like typing on your laptop, picking up your journal, or even posing but without being the centre of the shot. It can feel a lot more comfortable to have and use these images because sometimes posting headshots all the time can feel a bit intimidating. I'll also snap loads of photos of your props so you'll have heaps of fun images that aren't just you!
trust your photographer.
I'm here to answer any questions, provide any ideas, and guide you through this whole process. I know without a doubt that you will have so much fun being in front of the camera, and you'll walk away feeling a little more empowered and inspired.
Conclusion
You can really maximise your investment by taking these steps to prepare. Understanding your brand and being able to communicate this to your photographer will ensure that you can make the most of your time at the shoot.
A brand shoot is such a fun and exciting step for your business, if you'd like to chat about working together in the future, you can find out how to contact me below.
