Developing a relationship between your audience and brand requires more effort than posting a few staff headshots to your website. Your audience’s waking hours are dominated by visually driven media, making it essential to convey a complete image of your business, from the products or services you provide to the workplace environment. For brand recognition, people should view your business as a living entity with its own distinct personality, and having a plan for your brand’s photoshoot is a great way to establish its identity.

What is Your Message?

Before smiling for the camera, you should determine the intent of your photoshoot. Depending on your business’s field and desired identity, your photos should convey certain messages – messages that a professional photographer can capture.

Recognize the Intent of Your Photoshoot

Don’t confuse your business’s identity. Your brand should be original, but don’t shy away from calling a spade a spade. If you’re running a restaurant, include pictures of your menu items or shots of the waitstaff interacting with customers. Also, give your audience an occasional peek behind the curtain to see how dedicated you are to preparing their meals. They’ll appreciate your transparency by giving you their business.

Separate Your Brand from Competitors

Establish a brand that stands out from your competitors while simultaneously focusing on brand consistency. You don’t want consumers visiting your business expecting a colorful, lively atmosphere only to be met with grayscale floral prints and soft jazz music. Show that your company was built by real people who advocate for your brand. Scope the competition and stray from their definition of the norm.

Hire a Professional Photographer

A professional relieves much of the stress of staging the right shots, as they will know how to best portray your product or service. Furthermore, the right photographer should have a love for marketing. They will put in the time to analyze your ideal client and determine what characteristics will draw their attention to your company. Moreover, a professional photographer will make the most use of their creative license, utilizing your location’s space, people, and props to carve out your niche in your field.

Prepare for the Photoshoot

Most of the heavy lifting will be done by the photographer, but there are steps you can take to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. To guarantee your photoshoot goes off without a hitch, make sure your business is prepared:

• Prep the area: Remove clutter and ensure the site is clean. An organized space will paint your business in a positive light.
• Consult with staff and patrons: If you’re including staff or customers in photos, make sure you have their approval.
• Gather props: Include props that convey your brand’s unique personality, such as a mood board displaying company-branded materials or glassware to compliment an entrée.
• Plan your outfit: Show off your company’s diversity by showcasing your staffs’ unique styles, or depict your dedication to professionalism by donning your best formal wear.
• Practice your poses: Experiment with poses and facial expressions, or for restaurants, practice different place settings or add dimension by including someone’s hand holding a utensil.

If you’re having trouble organizing a plan for your brand’s photoshoot and determining your aesthetic, hire an agency with experience visually representing brands. Your time is precious and developing a brand personality takes the expertise of someone with years of experience. At Vision, our photography services are backed by more than two decades of marketing experience. Contact us to discover how we can help build your business’s online presence and personality.