Preparing for Your Personal Branding Photoshoot

Personal branding photography is key to success as an entrepreneur. A great headshot can make the difference between getting a new client and being passed over. But what do you need to do to prepare for your personal branding photoshoot? Keep reading to find out.

1. Choose the right photographer. This is probably the most important step in preparing for your personal branding photoshoot. You want to make sure you choose a photographer who understands your vision and can help you bring it to life. When you're looking at portfolios, pay attention to the lighting, composition, and overall style of the photographer's work. Do their photos make you feel the emotion you want your own headshot to convey? If not, keep looking until you find a photographer whose work speaks to you.

2. Come up with a concept. Once you've found a photographer you love, it's time to start thinking about your shoot concept. What feeling do you want your headshot to evoke? playful? serious? approachable? confident? brainstorm some adjectives that describe how you want to be seen, then start thinking about how you can translate those feelings into visuals. Perhaps you want to wear bright colors to convey playfulness, or use a props or backgrounds that reflect your industry niche. Whatever you decide, make sure it aligns with your brand identity and will help you attract your ideal clientele.

3. Gather your wardrobe options. Once you have a concept in mind, it's time to start putting together your wardrobe for the shoot. Again, think about your brand and the feeling you want to convey with your headshot and dress accordingly. If you're going for serious and authoritative, stick to classic colors like black, navy, and gray. If approachable is more your style, opt for earth tones like tan, brown, and green. And if confidence is what you're after, go for bold hues like red, yellow, and purple. Choose 3-5 outfit options so that you have plenty of options on shoot day.

4. Practice makes perfect. Before your big day arrives, take some time to practice in front of the mirror or with a friend's camera phone. This will help you get comfortable being in front of the lens and enable you to give natural-looking expressions when it's time for your close-up.

Getting ready for your personal branding photoshoot doesn't have to be complicated or stressful—just follow these simple tips and you'll be on your way to nailing that headshot in no time!