Have you taken brand photos recently? When I rebranded my business in 2024, I knew I needed a professional brand photoshoot. As a web designer, branding expert, and Pinterest manager, I know the value of brand photos. They create a cohesive brand identity that portrays the values, style, and purpose behind your company.

More businesses than ever are identifying as personal brands. A personal brand means that YOU as the founder are an integral part of the brand’s identity. Examples of this range from Selena Gomez as the founder of Rare Beauty to even Elon Musk, founder of Tesla. Having a face and personality connected to your brand establishes human connection and builds trust with your audience and website visitors. This is why having brand photos is an essential first step when you’re branding, rebranding, or launching a website!

A  brand photoshoot creates a positive first impression, humanizes your brand, boosts website conversions, and supports content marketing efforts. I had a ton of fun during my photoshoot and I’m looking forward to another one next year!

So if your brand needs an upgrade or you’re just starting, consider investing in a brand photoshoot.

What is a Brand Photoshoot?

A brand photoshoot focuses on capturing pictures that represent the personality, values, and identity of a brand. It usually includes the business owner and their team, if they have one. You can also request custom stock photos during the shoot. Images of your laptop, desk, living space, phone, or items connected with your brand are common stock photos. 

Brand photos have a strategy behind them, so it’s not recommended to book any ‘ole photographer you know. Brand photographers understand how images portray the values and identity of the company. They’ll usually already be familiar with the types of shots you may need. You can work with your photographer beforehand to decide the direction and outcome of the shoot. 

How a Photoshoot Elevates Your Brand

A brand photoshoot drives consistency for your brand, no matter where you choose to show up. Use brand photos on social media, blogs, emails, Pinterest, and your website to increase brand recognition and trust among your audience. Here’s why I believe every business owner should invest is brand photos:

Creates a Strong First Impression

First impressions are everything. They shape client perceptions of your brand before they even know you. Brand photos elevate that brand perception, positioning you as credible and professional. Who would you think more highly of: A brand that only posts highly-filtered selfies or one that has professional photos taken? I can get behind a good selfie, but not for business. Lead with your best foot forward by having quality photos taken.

Humanizes Your Brand

Brand photos show the people behind your brand, even if it’s just you! A face behind the brand adds a relatable, human element to your company. Clients will work with people they relate to; it’s hard to relate to a company that doesn’t show the people they would be working with. Brand photos make the company feel more approachable and friendly.

Boosts Website Conversions

Did you know compelling images can increase time spent on your website and encourage conversions? Images aren’t just a strategy to break up text on your website; they keep people on your website longer. Well-placed brand photography drives customer action. There should be at least one photo of you on every main page of your website. Then you can sprinkle on-brand stock photos in, too!

Supports Content Marketing

Visuals are crucial for capturing attention. With the scroll of doom being a very real thing, you need something that will make someone pause, even for a second. Use brand photos to enhance blog posts, emails, social media posts, pins, and freebies. I see much higher engagement on pins and posts that feature my brand photos versus graphics or stock photos.

Tips for Your Brand Photoshoot

How can you make sure your brand photoshoot is a success? These tips ensure you’ll be well-prepared for a brand photoshoot that produces high-quality images to elevate your marketing efforts across all platforms.

Plan Ahead

Think about outfits, accessories, props, hairstyles, and locations you want for your shoot. Use Pinterest as a source of inspiration to align all these elements to your brand. For example, search your brand colors + outfit on Pinterest and explore outfits that align with your branding. It’s important to create a cohesive look!

You’ll be using these photos for multiple purposes, so get as much variety as you can. Get a mix of candid and posed shots in multiple locations with different props and outfits… you get the idea! It’s a good idea to anticipate any launches or seasonal content you’ll need stock or personal brand images for in the next 12-18 months. The more variety you get during your brand photoshoot, the longer you can use your photos.

Book a Branding Photographer

Find a photographer who can match the vision you have for your brand. Put together a shot list of photos you want to get, but also trust their expertise! I hired Maggie Exum Brands for my photoshoot, and it was so much fun! Her photography style aligned with what I was looking for and she made me feel so comfortable and confident during our session. How you feel during your shoot will absolutely come through in the photos – make sure to get someone who will set you at ease and make the experience a blast like Maggie does! 

Be Yourself

This is how you get the best shots! It’s also how you attract your ideal clients. Photos of you having fun and being yourself will resonate with the people you want to work with. The biggest tip I got from Maggie was to keep moving! Type on your laptop, smile at your phone, take a sip of coffee, look out the window… These small movements take 15 seconds but will give you tons of great shots.

When to Book Your Shoot

So when is the best time to schedule your brand photos? I get asked this quite a lot as I go through the branding process with clients. Ideally, I recommend working with your brand designer first, so you can at least come to the photographer with a mood board and color palette to work off. This will be the inspiration for your location, outfits, and props! 

On the other hand, it’s best to book your web design project AFTER your brand photoshoot. Make sure to ask your photographer what the turnaround time is on editing the images so you can book your web design project accordingly. Your brand images are an incredibly important piece of your web design, so you’ll want to make sure you have them ready to go for your web designer before you begin the project!

Book a Brand Photoshoot

Professional brand photos make my life as a web designer much easier! Book a brand photoshoot whether you’re starting a new business, rebranding, or just need a refresh. Update the images across your website and start to incorporate them in your other marketing materials. Soon, you’ll have beautiful brand photos that align with who you are as a company and resonate with the people you want to work with.

And don’t forget to have fun!

If you’re in need of a new website to feature your new brand photos, schedule a discovery call with me!