As an entrepreneur or content creator, your personal brand is the key to establishing a strong and authentic connection with your audience. And one of the most impactful ways to visually express your brand is through a well-planned and thoughtfully executed personal branding photoshoot. From showcasing your unique story to conveying your brand’s values, a successful photo shoot can help you create a lasting impression that resonates with your target audience.

1. Start With Why (or a Creative Brief)

You only realize how important starting with why is once you are deep in the planning process. 

Not starting with why can lead to a mismatch in the photographer you hire, underwhelming end photos, and unrealistic expectations for what can be accomplished in the allocated shoot time and within your budget.   

Starting with why clarifies the purpose of the shoot & the story you want to convey through the imagery & videography. Engaging imagery & video tell a story, and while the typical headshot is always needed, you want to ensure you’re getting a wide range of shots, so you have versatility beyond an image of you holding a laptop and smiling. 

• What is the purpose of this shoot? Why should the photographer & creative team be passionate about this shoot? What is this shoot going to accomplish? 
• Am I using the shoot for a specific launch, marketing campaign, PR tour, or brand partnership? 
• Do I envision these photos being shot in a studio or a specific location? Both? 
• If this shoot were a movie, what would be the different scenes I am trying to set? 

As a personal brand, you have many integrating parts of your personal story that intertwine within your brand. Brand photography & videography is a great way to connect all those dots. Here are a few more questions to ask yourself that will help in the creative planning of the shoot: 

• What is the story behind my brand? How did my brand come into existence? What props or locations could help set the scene to tell the story further? 
• What is the vibe of the shoot? What descriptive words can I use to describe this shoot? Do I want it to be bright & airy, moody & grungy, or powerful & bold? 
• How am I going to use these photos? Do I need them optimized for a 1:1 square on Instagram, shot landscape for a website header, or shot portrait for an updated headshot? 

If these questions are difficult to answer, I’d recommend working with a Brand Strategist before planning your shoot. Brand Strategy clarifies the brand’s deeper story, mission, and vision. A Brand Strategist can also help you create a creative brief that can be used in the photoshoot planning process. In the long run, your photos will turn out so much more intentional and won’t become something you quickly feel tired of. 

2. Create Your Moodboard

A mood board is an idea board that is a collage or mix of the inspiration for the photoshoot. A mood board is typically put together before the shot list (photography) and storyboards (videography) are put together. 

I can’t say this enough – Create your mood board before hiring your photographer, videographer or booking a studio, even if you’ve had your eyes on someone or somewhere for a while. 

Creating your mood board before hiring anyone allows you to showcase the creative vision you have & confirm with the photographer that this is something they can help you achieve. You may have a pattern of retouched photos or a specific editing style in your mood board that a photographer may not do (or charge extra for), or the lighting in the inspiration photos may need to be shot at a specific time of day. 

These small details are beneficial for a photographer to know before booking your shoot. The mood board is a great way to communicate your expectations visually. You can create your Moodboard using a Pinterest board, Canva, or apps like GoMoodboard.com. 

I prefer to use Pinterest because of the sub-board features. If you are going to use Pinterest, I recommend pinning any inspiration you like and then breaking it into these categories: 

• Wardrobe Inspiration
• Prop/Location Inspiration 
• Poses/Shots 
• Editing Style Inspiration

3. Determine Your Budget & Creative Team

This step is often forgotten, but you will thank me later if you complete this step.

Will it just be you and the photographer? Do you want professional hair and makeup? Do you plan to have a videographer? Do you want a stylist to help you select a wardrobe & help you on set? A Creative Director and production team to help you execute everything from here?

You don’t necessarily need a large team for a successful shoot, but you may want to consider these things. I’ve had multiple successful shoots with just myself and the photographer, but these are still things you want to consider in the planning process. 

Even with my corporate experience planning creative campaigns and styling fashion shows, I still like to hire a production team (The Fleurish House) to help me bring my creative vision to life. 

Here is what a Creative Team might look like for a smaller shoot: 

• Photographer
• Videographer (Optional) 
• Hair & Makeup Artist (Optional)
• Friend/Family member for BTS Content

With the smaller creative team, you are taking on more responsibilities for the Shot List, Wardrobe, Props, Planning and scheduling the Shoot, and Hair and makeup artist. 

Here is what a Creative Team typically looks like for a mid-size shoot: 

• Creative Director (Responsible for Wardrobe, Props, and Shot List) 
• Production Manager (Responsible for the Shoot Day Schedule, Coordinating with the Creative Team, and Keeping the Shoot on Schedule to ensure you get all of the shots you need) 
• Photographer 
• Videographer 
• Hair & Makeup Artist

The size of the team will depend on the purpose of the shoot, which is why it is so important to start there. I suggest contacting a few photographers, videographers, production teams, etc., in your area to clarify your budget. 

4. Determine Your Shoot Date

The bigger the shoot, the further in advance you want to plan.

 I like booking a smaller shoot with the creative team about eight weeks in advance. Before inquiring with any creatives, I would select 2-3 shoot dates that work for you. This gives you flexibility when choosing the photographer, studio, and anyone you work with. 

I’d begin the booking process about 12 weeks in advance for a mid-sized shoot. This allows for more time to select & purchase wardrobe, order or create props, and gives the creative team some breathing room when planning. 

When it comes to booking, every photographer or creative team is different. What I typically see and recommend is booking in this order: 

• Book with your photographer, videographer, or production team first (If you are hiring a production team, they’ll most likely secure the rest of the team & location for you)
• Book your location (if applicable) 
• Book your Hair & Makeup Artist (if applicable) 

5. Start Planning Wardrobe Early & Determine Your Props

Wardrobe & props are undoubtedly the most important aspect of the shoot. If you don’t feel comfortable and confident in your outfits, it can be felt through the photos. 

Plan your wardrobe at least eight weeks in advance to allow time to find pieces that fit well and represent the image you want to present in your photos. Here are a few things to consider when putting your wardrobe together: 

• Fit over everything else. The clothing needs to fit you well & flatter your specific body type. It can take trial and error to find pieces that work well (especially if shopping online) which is why I recommend beginning to plan eight weeks in advance and start ordering/shopping six weeks in advance. 
• Order/plan for more than what you think you’ll need. Giving yourself options is good if something doesn’t work out (double-check the return policy). It’s also good to have multiple options when on set. 
• High-quality pieces will almost always photograph (and fit) better than fast fashion items. 
• Stick with timeless pieces and take it up a notch with accessories. It can be tempting to go with trendy items, but the problem is that your photos will feel out of style when they go out of style. Accessories are a great way to still add visual interest to your outfit. My favorite items to accessorize with are handbags, statement jewelry, sunglasses, and shoes. 
• Consider the location or backdrop. My rule is that you generally want your outfits to be a contrasting color to whatever the background is in the photos. For example, you probably won’t want a white pantsuit if you shoot in an all-white studio. 

Props allow you to bring in personalized or sentimental items that support the scenes you are setting. I often make props such as a skateboard with custom stickers of logos I’ve designed or a blazer that I hand-painted my logo & tagline on. 

With props, it is best to list items you use daily and items that represent pieces of your brand story. Then, I think outside the box about how I can customize the items to fit my brand (such as getting your logo printed on an item). Feel free to customize your wardrobe, like the painted blazer mentioned. 

6. Shot Lists, Storyboards, and Shoot Day Prep

Depending on the size of your creative team, the shot list, storyboards, and shoot day prep might already be taken care of for you. Even if you do not have a large creative team & it’s just you and a photographer, I highly recommend putting together your shot list. 

Here is what I recommend including in your shot list: 

• Put together a brief shot list broken up by location (if you’re shooting multiple locations). Various locations can even be in different areas of the studios or inside & outside the studio.
• If you plan to have multiple outfits, take the shot list further by outlining which outfits you will wear in each location. 
• Include on your shot list the inspiration photo, how you plan to use that specific shot (such as a website header), and any props you need for that particular shot. 
• To take it further, you can include how much time you plan to spend in each location/outfit to ensure you get through your shots. 

If you are doing hair and makeup yourself, do a test run a few days before the shoot to practice (and test your makeup products). Remember to pack touchup makeup such as powder and lip products you may need on set. 

If you are working with a videographer, you’ll want to storyboard the shots you’d like to get. A storyboard outlines the sequence of movements you’ll be doing in the video and can be added to the shot list. 

If you are shooting with a studio, I like to contact them 72-48 hours before the shoot to confirm your arrival time, parking, and how to get into the studio. 

A well-executed photoshoot goes beyond simply capturing images; it tells a story, conveys a message, and connects with your audience on a deeper level. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can lay the groundwork for a successful shoot that aligns with your brand’s vision and objectives. Remember, starting with why and collaborating with a creative team will help you achieve a cohesive and compelling visual narrative. So, take the time to plan, prepare, and communicate your vision effectively, and watch as your photoshoot becomes a powerful tool in elevating your personal brand.

Ready to take the next steps in elevating your brand? Inquire with Studio Kaly today!

Katelyn Alyssa is the Founder and Creative Director behind Studio Kaly – a Brand Strategy and design Consultancy born on the cliffs of San Diego, CA. With over 10 years of experience working with editorial brands, Katelyn brings an uncommon mix of strategy and creativity to the table when it comes to brand building.