Anna-Maria Langer: Your Brand Photoshoot

Branding

Feb 7

When you should start planning and executing your photoshoot and why

Visuals are incredibly important when it comes to creating a consistent brand experience and convince your clients, that you are the right fit for their project. Still, you should have a couple of things figured out before you rush into a photoshoot.

Anna-Maria Langer sits in front of a pink backdrop.

About the author:

Anna-Maria Langer is a personal branding and commercial photographer from Cologne, Germany. She focuses on empowering women through photography and uses color as her creative element of choice to create scroll-stopping imagery for her clients.

Visit Anna's Website

Smiling woman sits on a chair in front of a yellow backdrop.

Woman in front of a pink background laughs.

What do you need to know before you start planning your photoshoot?

First of all: do not rush your photoshoot. Ideally, all of your brand elements, from typography, colors and overall look-and-feel should be defined and in place before you start planning your brand photoshoot. If you already know your website design and layout, that’s even better. As a photographer, it’s incredibly helpful to work with a clear brand identity and corporate design. Within these structures, it’s my job to think of creative ways to incorporate the brand’s look and feel into a consistent photographic concept.

Your branding defines your brand. And your photos should be designed and styled accordingly. That’s why you should know your brand identity inside and out before even thinking about planning and booking a photoshoot.
Your website layout helps your photographer with finding the right compositions and image styles for your web design. If you use a lot of banner imagery, you should make sure to communicate this to your photographer. If you use squares on your websites, make sure the brand imagery fits the required framing.
Your color scheme can be incorporated in your photoshoot. But make sure to find the right balance between colors and how they will interact on your website, socials etc. It can be a good idea to shoot some imagery on a neutral backdrop, just to be able to combine the photos better on all of your channels.

A woman throws her head back with a satisfied expression.

Woman looks at the camera with a deep expression.

You are ready for your photoshoot. How do you start planning a photoshoot?

Finding the right photographer for you and your business would be the first step in planning your photoshoot. My advice: do not book a photographer simply because a friend of a friend worked with them before, but rather because they with your style and aesthetic. Take a close look at their portfolio and make sure the editing style, the way they work with light and colors, they way they tell people’s stories matches your brand perfectly.

A young woman is bent over and looking at the camera.

Once you have chosen your photographer, you are ready to get started with planning.

Some tips for planning a successful brand photoshoot:

Create a mood board that is consistent with your brand’s identity and design. Make sure to communicate your ideas to your photographer and ask for their expertise on how to make your ideas come alive.
Create a “must-have” shot list: some images, such as a portrait for your about page and social media or a photo of your work environment, can be essential for your website and marketing channels. Make sure to create a shot list and check each image of the list during the shooting process. This way, you make sure you get everything you need out of a photoshoot, but leave some room for spontaneous and creative images as well.
Plan your outfits and styling in advance of the photoshoot. There’s nothing more stressful than wearing clothes that are wrinkled or do not fit well – so make sure you’ve taken care of all of these aspects before, so you can feel your best and feel amazing during your photoshoot. It’s best to discuss our outfit choices ahead with your photographer, so you can both decide if that matches the look and feel of your photoshoot. It’s always best to avoid small patterns, they usually make the photos look really busy. Go for looks that you immediately feel confident and comfortable with.

A woman in an all blue outfit is swinging a matching blue handbag.

A female stylist is holding a clothing hanger above her head with a cute silly expression.

Conclusion

Designing your brand and creating imagery for your business is an incredibly important step on your ladder to success. Do not rush each step and be mindful with choosing the right people for your vision. It’s incredibly exciting to work with creatives and to create photographs that match your brand perfectly.