Build an amazing personal branding shot list. 8 concepts for your personal branding shoot

If your brand centres on you and the services you provide to your clients, you know that when it comes to marketing your business, that headshot you had taken a couple of years ago gets old pretty quickly.

When you’re creating content on your website, blog, and social media, you need a variety of compelling images that really capture the essence of your brand. But when you *are* the brand, what does that look like other than a bunch of pictures of yourself?!

Move beyond portraits and headshots

I have some ideas for you. Personal branding photography is all about creating images that capture you as your brand, and there is so much more you can share beyond simple portraits and headshots. Try showing just your hands, your notebook or laptop over your shoulder, your back or side profile looking out a window, or a wide view of the landscape with you as a small figure in it.

Of course, it is good to show your face too, and a good photographer will help you relax and feel comfortable in front of the camera. Having a mix of different images to hand will make your life that much easier when you come to write your next blog or social media post.

Here are a few prompts to help you create an amazing shot list for your next personal brand photo shoot:

Eight ideas for your personal branding photo shoot

1. Interior designer Teresa Eggleton at work, 2. tools of an interior designer’s trade, 3. engaged, looking-at-the-camera shots build connection, 4. Teresa’s inspiration for a scheme

1. You in your (work) element

Show yourself in a work setting- at a desk, with your laptop, notebook, favourite mug and pens- what does your working life look like? This might be a stylised version of your working life, but shots of you “working” are really versatile and helpful. Your photographer can move around to capture some head-on shots with you looking at the camera, some over-the-shoulder shots, and more.

2. Tools of the trade

Whether it’s a notebook and pen, laptop, tablet or phone, whatever tools you use to do your job should feature in a few images. I use shots like this when I’m talking about my planning process, for example.

3. Connection

What image would you share if you really wanted to build connection with your audience? This is possibly an authentic portrait of you looking at the camera (but not necessarily)- it will look different for everyone. Use this prompt to work out how you want to show up when the focus is on *you*. Very useful for ‘about me’ pages.

4. Inspiration

Where does your inspiration come from? Is it a stack of your favourite books, a moodboard on the wall, or key words written in a notebook? Wherever you take your inspiration from, chat to your photographer about how you can represent this visually in a way that fits your brand’s aesthetic.

5. Joy

What does joy look like to you? When you have some good news to share with your audience, what should that look like? A candid belly-laugh on camera, a glass of something in your hand, arms flung wide on top of a hill- there are lots of ways to interpret this prompt for your brand.

6. Thoughtful contemplation

Having some quieter, calmer images to share (even if your brand is a high-energy one) can be very useful. What does quiet contemplation look like to you? If you had a more serious message to share, how would that look? A quiet moment looking away from the camera perhaps, or a detail shot of your hands with a journal or notebook- whatever feels true to you and your brand.

7. At rest

How do you relax? Is it a quiet cup of tea, being curled up in a chair? You could consider an outfit change here too- do you have something to change into that sets a more casual, approachable tone? Relaxed doesn’t mean unprofessional, but showing some off-duty/behind-the-scenes images that still fit your brand aesthetic can help your audience connect to you as a person.

8. Spaces and places

Show yourself in your workspace, or a place that is meaningful to you. Is a connection to nature a part of your brand? What landscapes inspire you? Building in a visit to some of those places as part of your brand shoot can bring added depth to your brand and images.

Was this blog helpful? Do share it with friends, if so, and let me know if you have any questions. If you’d like to chat more about personal brand photography, send me an email- I’d love to hear from you.

These images are of a brand shoot with Teresa Eggleton of TME Interiors, a wonderful interior designer based in Bristol, UK.

Build an amazing personal branding shot list: 8 concepts for your personal brand photo shoot