What to Include in a Brand Photoshoot: A Guide for Small Businesses
If you’re investing in brand photography for your small business, you want to make it count. Your shoot isn’t just for a website headshot — it’s a chance to create intentional content for your entire brand presence.
Here’s what to bring, what to wear, and how to prepare to make the most of your next brand shoot.
1. Outfits That Reflect Your Brand Personality
What you wear says a lot about your brand. Choose 2–3 outfits that align with your brand colors, vibe, and audience. Think about how you want to be perceived: playful? polished? approachable? Avoid busy patterns or logos, and aim for clothing that makes you feel confident.
Bonus tip: Bring a mix — casual, professional, and lifestyle looks give you more content variety later.
2. Props That Tell a Story
Props bring context and personality to your shoot. Some of our favorite content creation tips include:
Tools of your trade (camera, laptop, design samples, books)
Coffee mugs, notebooks, or branded materials
Products, packaging, or service materials
Lifestyle props (flowers, candles, phone)
Make sure props align with the visuals you want to share on social media or your website.
3. A Shot List Based on Your Content Needs
Before your shoot, think through where you’ll use the images:
About page headshot
Banner image for your homepage
Instagram Reels covers
Blog graphics
Behind-the-scenes shots
Horizontal vs vertical for different platforms
Your brand photographer (hi, that’s us!) can help you build a custom brand shoot strategy to get the variety you need.
4. Location, Lighting, and Backgrounds
Natural light is your best friend. Whether you shoot at home, in a studio, or outdoors, aim for bright, clean spaces with minimal visual clutter. You can use multiple backdrops to create different scenes and settings in one shoot.
5. Your Brand Messaging — Even If It’s Just for You
This one’s often skipped. Even if you're not filming video, your brand voice, values, and key messaging should guide your energy and positioning. If your brand is joyful and bold, your shoot should reflect that. If you're calm and professional, lean into that tone.
Not sure what that looks like? A branding strategy session can help clarify before you step in front of the camera.
Let’s Make Your Next Brand Shoot Work Smarter
At Hey Darling Media, we don’t just take pretty photos — we create visual content that works for you across your website, social media, and marketing. Our brand photography services for small businesses are customized to your vibe, voice, and visibility goals.
