A strong online presence is an essential tool for connecting with your customers and clients. This first impression is often where a client decides if they will invest in your product or service. On brand images of you and your team is an essential tool in building brand trust.  Professional photos will be what communicates quality to your customers.

What IS a “Brand” session? 

Your brand is anything that helps define you or your company.  It’s more than your photo. It’s your STORY.  

A professional brand session will take your images to another level.  They will tell your audience a little bit about who you are and what makes you, YOU….they will tell what it is that sets you APART!

Does your restaurant pride itself on being home grown? Maybe you’re a great realtor because you’re empathetic and relatable. Perhaps you want to show that your business is more than just “corporate,” but encourages a creative and relaxed atmosphere. Our photographers are experts at helping you define and showcase what makes you different. We can help you stand out. 

I don’t know what my “brand” is…?

That’s ok! We can help you figure that out.  We’ll ask some simple questions HERE to help you focus in on what it is you want the world to know about you. 

To help you make the most out of your brand session, we’ve put together this guide for preparing for your headshots. You’ll also find makeup tips, as well as general ideas for preparing for professional photos.

What Should I Wear?

One of the biggest challenges when preparing for your headshot is deciding what to wear. While you can certainly wear whatever you’d like, there are a few go-to guidelines that will help ensure you look your best for your session. You want to choose a look that lets your personal style shine through in a professional “put together” way. Here is a few of my favorite tips to consider when choosing an outfit

• Solids are best…Large patterns take over the photo. Solids are best for headshots. Some prints can work when layered with solids over the top. For example, a medium sized floral print under a solid top can be very flattering and add some visual interest to your photo. Avoid really tight patterns or tight prints, like tight pinstripe or polka dots.
• Choose colors that fall in the mid-tone to jewel tone color range…Burgundy, navy, plum, emerald, charcoal are few examples of good jewel tones to consider. A simple “black and white” palette can also give you a crisp clean look!  Also keep in mind what your brand color pallet is!
• PSSST…..if bold, colorful, pattern and prints are YOU and YOUR brand then you should ignore everything I just said and go with what makes you feel best and what sets you apart from others in your industry.

 

• Consider your profession... Dress like you are trying to impress your ideal client. While a lawyer or business professional will want to go for a corporate look, an artist should choose a more relaxed, fun look!
• Be mindful of your neckline..The best necklines for photos are modest V necks, boat or crew necklines. Avoid turtlenecks or scarves that can’t be loosened around your neck. Turtlenecks make you look like you have no neck, and in photos, can make you look out of proportion. Avoid really low necklines that you’ll be tugging on. Avoid buttoned shirts that are too tight around your neck. If you wear a buttoned shirt, it should fit without causing bulging
• Bring Layers…Layers work well for headshots, but be strategic about fit and color. Lighter colors should be underneath, with darker colors over the top in suit jackets and blazers.  If you don’t love your midsection, pick a jacket, sweater or blazer that can be buttoned.

• Make sure clothing is fit right..Clothing should be well-tailored and fitted. Avoid baggy or loose clothing, as it will make you look larger in photos. Avoid fabrics that are clingy, especially thin, stretchy polyester or velvet. These fabrics highlight every bump and crease. Longer shirts are best if you plan to be untucked. They will also elongate your torso and hide your midsection insecurities.

Hair and Makeup

In general you want to go for a neutral “everyday” look. While getting your hair and makeup done can be ideal for your session, you want to make sure your look is still true to you and not a version of yourself your clients would never see in real life. Here is a few tips to help ensure your hair and makeup is on point for your session

• Wear sunscreen in the weeks leading up to your shoot… Racoon eyes or peeling skin are not fixable during edits.
• Drink extra water the week prior to your photos…hydrated skin photographs best!
• Don’t get anything waxed or threaded the day of or the day prior to your photos. Waxing or eyebrow threading can lead to redness. Avoid any major skincare treatment in the same week as your photos.
• Schedule a haircut a couple weeks in advance rather than right before your session, just in case you don’t love it or in case you need a little time to learn to style it.
• Avoid shiny, glowy, or dewy makeup, like those that contain minerals or sunscreen.
• Use a matte foundation that matches your skin tone and blends well with the skin color on your chest and neckline. Don’t apply foundation too thick; it will cake and enhance wrinkles.
• DO NOT wear super bold/dark lipstick. Lipstick should be one shade darker than your natural color and it should stay in line with your color palettes. Dark tones make your lips look thinner.

• Wear lipstick with a slight shimmer or gloss. Matte lipstick also makes your lips look thinner
• Avoid heavy fake eyelashes. A thick heavy fake eyelash will weigh your lids down giving the illusion of smaller eyes.
• Do your hair in a style you typically wear. Photo day is not the day to try a new style.
• Do not wear your hair in a bun or ponytail. It can look like you don’t have hair, or if your head is turned, like you have a bump on one side.
• Bring a comb or brush and some hairspray with you.
• Wear facial hair the way you normally would. If you’re normally clean-shaven, use an electric razor to avoid redness.

Choosing a Location

Choosing a location for your brand session is just as important as what you wear.   The location you choose will make a big difference in the look and feel of your photos and will help tell your brand’s story. What is your typical day like?  Is your business home based or are you in an office? Are you downtown? In a studio? Do you work in a boutique or shoppe?  Is your space already styled for your brand? The entrepreneur life sometimes means working from your couch or even your kitchen and that’s ok…if your space isn’t exactly styled for your brand let us help you find a space that is the idea setting for what you want to attract.

 

You’ve heard it said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  We think that figure might be a bit low.  Before you read a sentence of an article or ad, your brain has already scanned accompanying photos and drawn conclusions.  Often a photo can determine whether the words are read at all.  How many times have you glanced at a billboard and not even registered the message because the photo looks the same as every other photo on every other billboard? Yeah. Us too.

If you don’t have the first clue on how you want to portray yourself then these tips above will help! In the end you need to feel good in your skin so we can bring out how you FEEL inside on the outside in your photos.

We can help you create images that make people want to find out more.  Images that make people recognize something of themselves – a sense of humor, a warmth, an intelligence and creativity.  That kind of visual message is not only important, it’s VITAL for competing and succeeding.  

Our photographers will work with you  to make it an easy and – dare we say- fun process of creating that image.