Putting Together A
Brand Photography Shot List
Detail Shots Are a Must-Have in a Brand Photoshoot
I suspect if you were to think about brand photography, you would probably picture the ‘obvious’ images first; a headshot; working at a desk; an action shot. And yes, these types of images absolutely have their place in a gallery of brand imagery.
However, the shots that often end up doing quite a bit of the heavy lifting for businesses are actually the detail shots.
The close-ups. The textures. The tools. The tiny moments. The things that tell your story and show what you do/offer without necessarily needing your face in every frame.
They might be the images that you don’t initially think of when you’ve putting together a shot list and thinking of where you’ll be using your images. But they are often the images that prove the most useful images.
They Add Depth to Your Brand Story
Your business is made up of far more than just you smiling at the camera.
It’s the notebook covered in scribbles. The carefully chosen packaging. The paintbrushes, coffee cups, fabrics, ingredients, keyboard shortcuts, sketches, tools, hands and tiny routines that make your business what it is.
Detail shots help tell the fuller story of your brand. They create atmosphere and personality and (I say it a lot!) authenticity. They show people how your business feels, not just what it looks like or does.
For creative businesses especially, these details are often where your individuality lives.
They Make Your Website Feel More Professional
A website filled only with portraits could potentially come across as bland or repetitive.
Detail images help to add interest and variety across pages and are especially useful on blogs about what you/your business does. They help create that genuineness, that USP that helps you stand out from the crowd.
They are particularly useful for:
• Blog graphics
• Social media
• Newsletter imagery
• Background images
Sometimes a beautifully photographed detail shot says more than a posed image ever could.
They Capture the Things You Might Forget
Often, the little details are the things business owners overlook because they see them every day.
The carefully wrapped orders. The favourite pen. The branded tape. The ingredients lined up before baking. The way sunlight hits your workspace in the afternoon.
These are the things that make your business personal and real.
They Help To Maintain Visual Consistency
One of the biggest differences between a business that looks thrown together and one that looks established is visual consistency.
Detail shots help maintain that consistent visual language across your platforms. The colours, textures, lighting and styling all begin to tie together, making your brand instantly more recognisable.
Over time, people begin to associate those visuals with your business before they’ve even read a word.
That’s powerful branding.
Don’t Leave Them Until the End
When planning putting together your brand photography shot list, detail shots are just as important as the big banner images that you’ll splash across the top of your website, or the headshots that will appear on your socials or publications.
They need just as much consideration as what you’ll wear for you photo shoot, or the main images we capture. These detail shots can potentially be the glue that holds your visual branding together.
So, when preparing for your next brand photo shoot, think beyond “photos of me”.
Think about the details that make your business yours.
So, if you’re thinking about a photoshoot for your own business and you’re wondering what you’d put on a brand photography shot list, I hope this article has been useful. If you delve deeper into the workings of your business, you’ll find there’s a whole host of amazing details which will be interesting to your clients and that will help your business to really stand out.
Related Reading: Why Businesses Need Consistent Visual Branding
Who is your Brand Photographer?
It’s Me! Hi, I’m Georgina.
I have a genuine passion for photographing people. My clients tells me time and again how much they hate having their photo taken. By the end of their sessions, they are telling me how much fun it was!
I pride myself in putting people at ease in front of the camera and making each and every photoshoot as much fun as possible.
I have photographed marketing specialists, graphic designers, yoga instructors, screen writers, therapists and many others besides. If you would like to chat about your own personal branding photography session, please do get in touch.