Earlier this summer, me and Katie decided to book a branding photoshoot. We were in need of fresh content for our website, blog, and social media channels so we thought, what better way to liven up our library?

Our friend Audra (of Audra Nicole Photography) did our shoot last month and we are beyond excited to finally share the pics with you! And speaking of sharing, we’ll also divulge eight things that we did to make our session and photos totally awesome!

1. Hire a professional.

Ok, so in our opinion, this is the most important piece of advice we can give someone who’s interested in doing a branding shoot. Hire a professional! It will make a world of difference. A professional photographer not only has the equipment, technology, and know-how for taking high quality pictures but they’ll also be able to guide you on styling, posing, and everything else that’s involved with capturing incredible images!

2. Listen to said professional.

A professional photographer will know how to stage the shoot and position you in ways that the camera will love. Listen to the photographer. When they tell you to “lean in” or “don’t fake smile” or “stand at an angle,” just do it. Don’t waste time questioning their approach. If you hired a professional who you trust, then trust in their process!

3. Be yourself.

I will be the first to admit … participating in a photo shoot can feel a bit awkward (maybe even a little intimidating) if you’re not used to doing it regularly. During your shoot, try to push those feelings aside and focus on just being YOU. If you’re nervous and begin to dwell on that nervousness, it WILL show in the photos. Take a breath (and perhaps a few sips of Prosecco) and just go with the flow. 

4. Flatter your features.

When picking out clothing for the photo shoot, opt for colors and fits that flatter your figure and make you feel comfortable. According to Audra, “Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos.”

5. Carefully consider your hair and makeup.

Hiring hair and makeup professionals is a spectacular idea if you’re scheduling a branding shoot. Due to time constraints, me and Katie did our own hair and makeup for this shoot. However, considering it was lightly misting the entire time, I suppose we saved some money because the humidity took its toll very quickly. Ugggghhh. (My hair was actually quite wavy when we began!)

6. Utilize props.

A branding photo shoot is all about expressing the personalities behind your small business in a fun and visually impactful way. Our shoot took place in the English garden behind LMG headquarters so we incorporated fresh cut flowers as a way to add additional color pops in the pictures. And OBVIOUSLY we worked in a pineapple, too! 

7. Pick the perfect location.

Again, your branding photos are meant to tell a story about your small business. The location you choose for the shoot should have meaning and accurately represent what you’re all about. If you don’t have an office or store-front, consider iconic spots in the town or city you do business in. For example, when we first launched LMG we did a photoshoot on the boardwalk in Middletown at sunset. The bridge served as a backdrop behind us, which spoke directly to our primary service area of Middlesex County.

8. Color coordinate.

If you’re going to have multiple people in your branding photos, coordinate your outfits in a way that will create visual interest in the pictures. Audra recommends dressing in lighter, muted tones. 

“The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits into almost all natural outdoor environments.” 

Audra also suggests that each person in the photo “have their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the other colors that will pull all the looks together.”

We hope we inspired and prepared you for a small business branding shoot! Now, without further adieu, here's a sampling of our favorite photos!