How to plan a brand shoot: getting the images you need.
This is Part 2 of a three-part series on planning your brand shoot. Find Part 1 (about brand identity) here.
In Part 2 we’re going from the general to the particular. Where your images will be used, and what they’ll be used for, directly informs what images to capture on a shoot. Getting specific about what images you need is the best way to avoid overwhelm and make sure you come away with useful photos.
Let’s break it down...
Where will you use the image?
What works for one platform may not be ideal for another. A square image with a central point of interest will look great on Insta, but will crop terribly when you need a thin horizontal banner for your website.
Make a list of all the places you need your images to appear.
Website, blog posts, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, brochures, postcards, menus, E-books, PR packs…
What are you saying?
Photos are visual communication tools, so work out what you want to say.
Maybe you have specific copy or ideas to illustrate- blog posts, how-tos, menus, IG posts, Pins…
List out those ideas, and any specific images you have in mind to accompany them.
Or maybe it’s more general- “I want to show people the quality and artistry of my work.” Brilliant- we’ll tell the story of your process, and include details like raw materials, packaging, and show your face too so people connect with you as the artist.
Make a shot list
Take the notes you’ve made and turn them into a shot list, covering:
Aspect (portrait/landscape/square crop)
Negative space needs (where you need to place text)
Description of what’s in the image
For example:
Landscape aspect website banner styled product shot with central negative space for text
3x square crops with negative space for text on left side, of behind-the-scenes close-ups of tools (paintbrushes in jar, notebook and pencil, etc)
What’s next?
So you’ve got your brand identity down (see first post in this series if not!), and a bunch of notes on what kind of images you need.
Next it’s on to planning what you need to make it happen- location, props, outfits. I’ll share more about this in the final chapter of this series…