When do you need a brand shoot?

Hello again!

 

I know I’ve been sharing lots of tips on where to have your brand shoot, but you might be wondering when do you actually need a brand shoot?!  I know it’s something that is on the to do list of so many business owners, but it often gets pushed down the list and then all of a sudden you think “eeek I’ve got no images, I need some new ones now!”  At which point, you’ll either contact a photographer you’ve worked with before, one that you’ve seen others using, or you’ve done a frantic Instagram search looking for one and then you hear those dreaded words….. My next available date is in 2 months.  Now what?!

So, let’s look at some of the reasons you need to have a shoot so that you can schedule it in to the diary in plenty of time so that you can then enjoy the planning process stress free, knowing you’re not cramming it in or doing it for the wrong reasons.

 

You’re launching a new business

So this one’s an obvious one – if you’re at the beginning of your business journey this is a great time to start with a foundation of images that will help you build your website and social media so that when you launch, you have a clear and professional looking brand aesthetic.

This first brand shoot should not be done until you have worked out your brand messaging, ideal client and brand aesthetic – these form the basis of all the elements of your brand shoot.  Doing the shoot first will mean you’ll either end up with vanilla images that don’t reflect you and your brand, or clash entirely when you’ve got the rest of your brand aesthetic.

There’s a lot to consider and invest in when you’re starting a business, so if a full Content Brand Shoot isn’t quite in the budget at this point, don’t reach for your mobile and settle with selfies – that just won’t cut it on your website.  Have a look at mini brand shoot sessions, these are at a lower price point because they are shorter in length and some of the planning has already been done, such as the location.

 

 

You’ve had a shoot before and you’re bored of the images

Social media demands a lot of content, and so it’s no surprise that you may get fed up of posting the same images again.  Chances are your audience aren’t seeing every single post, so they are probably not bored but you may be.  And if you’re bored of what you’re posting, you may stop posting all together if you feel uninspired which is never good for your online presence!

The Seasonal Edit® was inspired by those business owners who post their face a lot as part of their content strategy and who get bored of using the same images over and over, especially if they are launching several times a year…. Which brings me on to….

 

 

You have a launch coming up

You’ve got your strategy for the year, you know what you’re launching and when, so therefore you know what assets you’ll need for that launch.  One of the things I’ve learned from Lisa Johnson, especially in her One To Many® programme is that the more organised you are and the more you plan your launch in advance, the less stressful it is.  So if you know you’re going to be putting together all your launch assets and materials 3 months before the launch kicks off, then you need to make sure you’re having your brand shoot 4 months before that kick off so that you have the images back in time to create those assets.

 

 

You have something to celebrate

A business birthday, an award, it just being Wednesday!  Whatever you may celebrate in your business or brand, it’s worth having some celebratory photos for it!

 

 

You are a personal brand

You’ve got an established business and you’re known in your field as the person to go to.  So more people want to see your face!  That means more images (see above!) but it also means you’re likely to be getting PR, maybe writing a book and/or publishing a podcast – these are all things that need images and all things that will strengthen and grow your personal brand.  People buy from people, especially in the online world, so it’s time to step up the frequency on how often you’re posting your face and let them get to know you!

 

 

You’ve had a brand refresh

Are you planning a brand refresh or have already done it?  Chances are then you will want to review the images that you’ve got across your website and socials so that they align with the new/updated aesthetic.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a complete rebrand, for instance, on my blog I have a little image of me on the side bar, and I refresh that each season so that it’s a bit seasonal (I admit, I’d forgotten to do this until writing this post, so all summer it’s had me in a bobble hat!)

Even the act of changing your photos can be a bit of a refresh, so if you’re having a brand shoot for any of the other reasons then this might just give everything the sense of being new and a refresh…. I know that’s what I’ll feel like when I get round to updating the images after my recent brand shoot.

 

 

You want a confidence boost

Now, this might feel counter-intuitive if you are one of the many people who say to me that they are not photogenic, they don’t look good in pictures, or the one that makes the most sad…. you need to lose weight for your shoot.  So I’m going to stop you right there – we are conditioned to see what we think are flaws, to think we need to be a certain size or look a certain way in order to be beautiful or successful.  And I call BS!

I have experienced this myself, with having my own brand shoots.  I feel that I won’t photograph well, that my arms will look big, that my body has changed since having a baby – yes I know I am slim, those demons are still there.

But you know what does happen when you have a shoot – your photographer shows you how amazing you are, what everyone else sees.  They’re your cheerleader long after the shoot. And when you post those new images, your clients and your audience will all celebrate you too – you’ll have a wave of comments and complements, reminding you that they are your people and that you are fabulous!

 

“Hi Amanda

Oh my god!!

 

So, have you been putting off a brand shoot?  Have you got a need for images in your business and know that it’s time to step in front of the camera?  Then pop into my inbox and let’s chat and start planning!