5 Tips for A Media-Worthy Brand Photoshoot

As business owners, we all know that having a clear representation of our brand identity is key; especially when we're implementing visibility strategies like pitching to the media. You want your ideal audience to look at your interviews, tv appearances, website, social accounts and branding photos, and say to themselves, "Oh, I get it! I know exactly what they're about and I want in."

A common misconception is that the visual aspect of a brand ends at the logos,  colors, fonts and copy. BUT a brand identity is multi-faceted, and if done right, provokes a feeling about the brand!

Let us ask you this, have you ever read something from your fave brand on social media and got emotional? Or saw a picture of a product in an article and and immediately clicked on the button for purchase? What about simply taking a free sticker from a coffee shop because you loved their logo? ("Cough, cough, to all the Jersey people who have Rook coffee stickers on their car!") Well, that my friends is good branding.

Now that you know how important brand photos are, let's take it a step further. Have you ever heard of the "like, know and trust" factor? Brand identity is a HUGE part of that concept. Audience members need to envision their life with your goods or services in it - and brand photos help them do that. A brand photo could make or break someone's buying decision, so let's make sure they "make" it!

Here Are 5 Media-Worthy Brand Picture Tips To Follow For Your Next Photoshoot:

1. Get Clear on Your Brand Authenticity, Personality, & Messaging -- Your brand photoshoot should tell a story that goes along with the rest of your brand. It shouldn't look like anyone else's business, or feel off from the rest of your brand. With that, we need to feel into what makes the brand unique and then portray that through the colors we wear, the location we choose, and even the props. If you need help peeling back the layers, we have a quick course called, Find Your Irresistible, which helps you uncover and unlock your brand authenticity, personality, positioning and overall messaging.

2. List The Purpose of Your Brand Images -- Ask yourself this, "what do you want to use these photos for?" This could determine the look and feel of the shoot. For example, if you want a few images for podcast interviews, you probably want a few traditional headshots that can be cropped into perfect squares. If you want images for big publication interviews like Forbes or MindBodyGreen, you probably want to have a few aesthetic lifestyle images and headshots to mix it up. - Determining the purpose of your shoot is so important for direction of the day. It also helps the photographer come up with concepts, poses, and ideas for you. 

3. Take A Variety of Images -- Each publication and website is different. Some require portrait mode, whereas others require landscapes. It's good to have a variety of images available for the media contact to choose from. That means having some headshots and lifestyle images on-hand. This could look like you sitting on a stool or against a wall, working with your clients or having your products photographed at an on-brand location. & Finally, if you own a product-based business, product images on a white background are crucial! Most publications request them for their articles. 

4. Make Sure All Pictures Are High Quality -- This one should go unsaid, but you'd be surprised! These days, many brand founders are doing press images themselves, which is fine, but we still need to make sure that all pictures are in a 300 dpi or 300 resolution, and clear...that means no blurry pics! All. images. should. be. in. high-res.

5. Be Prepared & Have Fun With It -- Brand photoshoots are the creative part of building a brand identity so HAVE FUN with it! Make a mood board on Pinterest for fun image ideas, find a cool location, connect with an aligned photographer that understands your concept, and dance around while you're getting the pictures done...like why not?

Pro Tip: If you want some ideas for media-worthy personal brand photos, we have a Pinterest Board to help you feel into your unique vibe.

P.S. If you want to hire an awesome photographer, we went with Jen Oceana Photography!