7 Things I Did to Prepare for My Own Brand photoshoot (As a Photographer Who Usually hides Behind the Camera)
Being behind the camera is where I feel most comfortable and as a photographer, I spend a lot of my time helping other people feel relaxed in front of the camera.
When it came to my own brand photoshoot, I was super nervous about stepping into my clients’ shoes. The whole experience was really eye opening, and it gave me a new perspective on how having a brand shoot actually feels!
From preparing for the shoot, wondering what to wear, experiencing those first few moments in front of the camera and seeing the whole process from the other side, it really made me realise how much I like to support my clients through the whole process.
I have a whole new appreciation for what my clients experience, how they feel, and thought I’d share some insights on what things I did to prepare for my own brand photoshoot.
Let’s get into it…
The first thing I did to prepare for My Brand Photography Shoot (as a Camera-Shy Business Owner) was work out what images I needed
Before anything else, it was really important to me to work out what these new brand images would actually do for my business.
Where would I use them?
What was missing from my current brand photos?
How did I want people to feel when they saw them on my website or Instagram?
After some brainstorming, I realised that I wanted a mixture of photos that felt natural, creative and an honest representation of how I work.
I didn’t want them to be over polished. I wanted a genuine reflection of me.
I also wanted to highlight my brand photography service, especially the fact that I have a home studio that I can transform into a pretend office / workspace.
2. I booked a Brand Photographer Whose Style Felt Like the Right Fit
It was so important to me to choose a photographer who felt like the right fit, and Holly Booth sprang to my mind straight away.
I’ve been a big admirer of Holly’s for a while. We have a similar style - light and bright, with a laidback natural feel. Her brand shoots aren’t just portraits, they’re about capturing the vibe of a workspace, the hands at work, and the personality behind the brand. So I reached out to see if she would be happy to travel to Bristol from Derby for the shoot.
As a photographer myself, I know that we all see and shoot things slightly differently. The way we use light, direct people, compose an image and edit all contribute to our overall style.
It was so important to find a photographer that would suit my brand, it meant that I could trust Holly’s creative eye and actually relax into the experience of being a client myself.
We had a shared pinboard where we could both add ideas for shots, compositions, moments to capture, and create a clear visual vibe for the photoshoot.
3. I Worked With a Stylist, to help me decide what to wear for My Personal Branding Photoshoot
Working with a stylist was a game-changer!
When you’re planning your own shoot, it’s so easy to overthink everything.
If you’re camera shy like me, wearing an outfit that feels exactly like you, can really help boost your confidence.
I invited Becky at Style Positive (who I photographed a couple of years ago) to come to my house and do a ‘wardrobe edit’.
We went through my whole wardrobe, tried different outfits on and got rid of anything that didn’t feel like me. (I have to admit I rarely go through my wardrobe, and had clothes that I used to wear when I lived in Nottingham 16 years ago!)
Becky methodically went through everything, and pulled together so many outfit combinations. She layered items I would never have thought of, and it blew me away how many actual outfits I could make, and that felt like me. During the wardrobe edit, we decided on 3 / 4 different looks that I could wear for my photoshoot
Working with an expert helped me to feel confident in my outfit choices, and reassured me that I would look good in front of the camera.
4. Stepping back from my brand and seeing the big picture
This is one of the most difficult parts of the process for most of my clients. When you’re too close to your own business, it can be really hard to see the bigger picture. Here are a few things I thought about when I was gathering brand information -
I looked at my website and social media to see what images would be useful to have.
I thought about the feeling I wanted to give people and the kind of clients I wanted to attract
I considered the colours, textures and details that already existed in my work.
I thought about my services, my client journey, and what I wanted to communicate with my new images.
The whole process was really useful. It gave me reason to pause and really think about how I wanted my business to be seen.
My main focus for my brand shoot was to get up to date images of me, and to showcase my home studio during a brand photoshoot.
I worked with my photographer to create a shot list, and we used this to guide us throughout the photoshoot.
6. The Small Details That Made My Brand Photoshoot Feel More Like Me
I wanted to make sure the shoot captured some of the things that make up my working world and were unique to me. The first thing I did was declutter my home.
I have an open plan lounge and dining room that I transform into my home studio.
I arranged some cameras on my fireplace, tidied the bookcase, and thought about areas in my space that might feature in the photos.
I treated myself to a new mug, from a local maker - I love tea and this seascape mug felt completely on brand!
7. I asked friends / existing clients to pretend to be my customers for my brand photoshoot
It is a great idea to ask your friends or family to stand in for real clients during your own brand shoot. It makes it much easier to organise, and also having a familiar face helps to put you at ease on the day.
To showcase my brand photography service, I arranged for my existing client Hannah Redden to come and pretend to have her brand photos done for the shoot.
Hannah bought some items from her office, so we could create a mock workspace in my studio. We teamed this set with my bespoke painted boards and plinth, to show behind the scenes of a studio aesthetic too.
To showcase my product photography, I borrowed a lovely vase from Handsome Vintage and some cards from Kate Hazell Illustration to use as “products” that I could photograph during my brand shoot.
I really wanted to show behind the scenes of a product shoot, and loved the idea of celebrating bold colour in these images.
Letting Go and Not Taking Myself Too Seriously on Camera
It was really important for me not to take myself too seriously throughout the shoot. Of course, it felt awkward at first and there were definitely moments when I didn’t know what my face was doing or where to put my hands and that was fine.
Being photographed doesn’t come naturally to everyone, not even photographers!
So what did I learn from having my own brand shoot as a camera shy photographer?
I learned that preparation isn’t about having everything planned. It’s about knowing what you want your final photos to achieve, surrounding yourself with the right creative people for expertise and guidance and simply giving yourself permission to show up as you!
Then all that matters is stepping in front of the camera.
Even if you’d much rather be behind it!
Hi, I’m Faye and I’m a Bristol based photographer, who creates photography and video for independent businesses, designers and makers.
If you’re interested in booking my branding shooting for your business, please get in touch here.
