How to choose a brand photographer…
Choosing a branding photographer is a big and personal decision and not one to be taken lightly.
You are trusting someone with your face, body and personality. It’s quite an intimate relationship and you don’t want to feel disappointed with the money, time and energy you invest in it. In fact it’s this dilemma that makes us procrastinate for so long and keep putting it off.
You probably need to update your images once a year. Following the great creative energy of life, we and our businesses are in the constant flux and change and even if this evolution is small, I find that for myself my photos are used and needing a refresh every twelve months. If you’re a blogger say, needing a lot of specific content, then it could be more often.
Don’t worry too much about the shots looking too seasonal as a good photographer will be mindful of this on the shoot and try to create images that don’t limit when they can be used. The photos below were all taken in winter!
Anyway, here are my top tips to make sure that you choose the right photographer for your brand and your needs so that you won’t be disappointed with the final images…
1. Have a chat with them
Make sure you have a call with your photographer-to-be. Would you enjoy hanging out with them for a couple of hours? Can you open up to them? Do they sound interested in you and your business? Do they make you feel relaxed and listened to? And make sure you actually like their photos! I know this is obvious but take this analysis one step further... Whether you’re looking at the quality of the images, the creativity of the shots or the way they capture people - is it authentic? Or do you like how powerful the women look in their photographs? Or are the shots more lifestyle and action-filled? Are they looking into the camera or more wistful into the distance? You may want a range of these but check that they are capable of capturing and what shots are going to be useful for you. You can discuss locations and ideas but a good branding photographer will really listen and come up with creative suggestions that fit your brand well. Remember the process is one of trial and error but you are a collaborator in the process and need to feel really listened to and your voice heard.
2. Do their aesthetics fit your brand?
Most photographers have a particular style so really do question if what they do fits with your branding. I’m all about colour so wouldn’t do a great job if someone had quite a monochromatic colour palette. Some photographers are more dark and moody and really darken the shadows which could really jar if someone’s brand is light and airy. And remember the golden rule - locations and outfits don’t need to match the your colour codes perfectly. Too matchy-matchy is definitely a branding crime and actually shows that you’re trying too hard and can come over as inauthentic (in my opinion). So really ask the question will the photographer you are looking at work for your branding…
I’m all about using colour with intention (not in a cliched way that uber matches your brand colours) - you may want a more darker and moodier set of images or more desaturated and airy…
3. How much brand discovery and preparation do they offer in advance?
This matters for two reasons - it’s a way for you to uncover and then communicate what you are about and what you want these photos to achieve for you but the other side of the coin is that they’ll help you feel more at ease and prepared for the shoot. They really do help you - and all of my own clients always reflect afterwards how much they’ve appreciated it. I myself book in shoots to remind myself what it feels like to be in front of the lens and I definitely feel more nervous when there isn’t much reassurance or guidance from the photographer in the weeks and days leading up to the shoot. Examples of these could be a preparation guide to share some tricks or tips on how to relax or a workbook to share your ideas and plan together. Or even a brand questionnaire or guide that lets you find language and ideas of what you brand is really all about. If you’ve never done any branding work, a branding photographer should still be able to guide you and discover what you’re all about. It’s a nuanced subtle art and those involved in branding are usually really passionate about drawing it out of the entrepreneurs they work with.
4. Ask questions
We are MORE than happy to answer any questions you have - however seemingly insignificant or silly. If it matters to you, it matters to us. Read a photographer’s FAQs in case they have addressed them already such as what happens if it rains or any other specifics. Need help with an outfit choice? Ask their opinion. Have something you feel insecure about on your body? Tell them. This is why you need to trust them as it’s these more intimate details and seemingly trivial decisions that will really make the photos sing in the end. Your relationship with the photographer is the best way to ensure great photos.
When you laugh rather than force a posed smile, your eyes become part of it and that authenticity translates across in the image.
Another brilliant question to ask is what is their technique to make you smile and relax. Some techniques are more aggressive than others. Once I was on a shoot where the idea was to fake laugh and then that turned into a real laugh. Although I loved the final images, I didn't love the process. And I know that my clients would feel super awkward doing this and wouldn’t ever put them in that position. And well I believe that the process is just as empowering as the final photos as you learn to trust yourself and your intuition and realise how easy it can be in front of the camera and that your ‘voice’ should be heard.
5. Don’t go for the cheapest photographer you know
We all start somewhere and offer much cheaper sessions when we start out to build our portfolios. But you are buying experience and expertise when you invest that little bit more. It’s worth it! If you’re lucky your favourite photographer might do short sessions(like my power portrait sessions as an affordable way to test the water and have your first shoot if you’ve never done one before. Brands shoots (longer 3 hour sessions) are special as you can have multiple set ups and locations, more outfit changes. But also it’s more laid-back and relaxed as your eye isn’t on the clock. I still love doing my hour shoots though these are really valuable and will show you that you process is easier than you’d imagine if you need convincing but do consider a longer session as the more rushed pace may not help your nerves.
When you invest in someone who’s been doing brand photography for a while you are paying for experience (and awesome equipment!) - they will have lots of tricks up their sleeves to put you at ease, find amazing locations and style the set well. The odds are you will be more happy with the final outcome when in experienced hands so to guarantee the result you want and to avoid disappointment , book someone with experience.
6. Don’t book a non-branding photographer…
Please don’t fall prey to this one. Again I’m talking from experience 🤦🏻♀️ Branding photography is a very nuanced and sub-conscious art of communication and use of light, colour and composition. A landscape photographer is amazing at composing a pleasing shot and capturing nature but won’t be great at directing clients. Likewise a family photographer will be highly talented in capturing the dynamics of a group but may not have the skill to make nervous adults be at ease or have the competent editing skills for portraits. I know sometimes we want to use a friend or someone we know but only a branding photography can get those results and capture the true atmosphere of your brand and you in your authentic power and confidence! It’s basically so that the process is as easy as possible and that your expectations are met.
I go on my own photoshoots to remember what’s it like to be me and really hone my own practice
7. Scour their testimonials
Whether on their website or Linked In, make sure you rummage around for lots of testimonials from various sources. What is the transformation that previous clients have experienced? Can you relate? Does it solve the problem you have or address your specific fears? Such as how do that make people feel relaxed? Get a recommendation from a friend or colleague. Check if their portfolio has a range of businesses represented or maybe they have a niche. You can probably discover this from the testimonial section too. These may be on a specific page of their website or dotted around. Have a good explore!
“Donna creates gorgeous, vivid, professional images that really connect with clients.
The whole process of working with Donna was a dream, she inspires complete trust and confidence that she and her camera will see the best version of you.”
8. Trust your gut
Listen to your inner voice. Make an intuitive decision once you have considered all of the above. Follow prospective photographers on Instagram to see their latest work and get to know them better and get a feeling if you can trust them with all the things I mentioned above. True feminine power can be really decisive with all the information available. And well we want you to stand in all your glory and power on a photo shoot so that YOUR clients get a real sense of what you care about, how you can help them and what it will be like to work with you. It’s a truly magic and empowering journey!
Well what did you learn?
Here’s a little cheat sheet for you to save for later - download straight away, there’s no need to sign up to my mailing list EXPOSURE. However if you feel called please do (in the footer below) to get the first shoot dates as they are released and special offers, as well as productivity and business ideas and lots of brand education. It’s a great place to be!
If you’re curious to learn more about branding (it’s an elusive term but my mission is to demystify it and make it more intuitive and exciting) then head over to this blog featuring some real gems from some amazing female branding experts. So many takeaways to try straight away. Hop over here to read it today.
If you want a gentle and intuitive branding experience and aren't afraid for colour to feature in your images then hop over to my website and book in a chat! Power portraits are back in September and I have a couple of branding slots left for July otherwise we can book in something for the Autumn.
Wishing that your brand - it's story and all the authenticity that you bring to it - keeps growing from strength to strength,
D x
P.S. Cover collage - original photographs by Jakayla Toney and JJ Jordan via Unsplash.