How to prepare for a personal branding photo shoot
As you say yes to speaking engagements, get featured in articles, connect with people on social media, or update your website, you find yourself needing a headshot.
To be honest, I have a love/hate relationship with headshots. I love putting a face to a name, catching a glimpse of authenticity, and seeing the person behind the profession. But I hate. hate. hate that so few headshots do any of that.
People bring their representative to photo shoots. They put on the “uniform,” stand at attention, rest their chin on their hand, and try to look serious about their J-O-B. What if it looked more F-U-N? With the right photographer and the right mindset, it will.
Hold up. Do I even need a photo shoot?
Yep. If you’re connecting with people online, you really do. But not a lame photoshoot like you’re doing school pictures at Olan Mills. A photoshoot that captures your authentic self. Sure, a headshot or two, but also shots of you being you. Living at your home office, in your house, your yard, with your kids, your dogs, reading, writing, talking on your phone.
“People connect with people, real people. Your photoshoot needs to capture that realness.”
How to find the right photographer
Referrals are the best way to find a photographer. If you have a friend that had photos taken that really capture their personality, ask for their photographer.
If you don’t have a referral, try searching for personal brand photographer or editorial photographer or lifestyle photographer followed by the region you live in. These type of photographers tend to focus less on corporate-looking, L-A-M-E photo shoots.
Next, look through portfolios, read testimonials; check that they fit your budget and can schedule in the timeline you need.
Shoot is scheduled. What should I wear?
You want to come across authentically in your photos. So wear what’s perfectly you. If you don’t normally wear suits, don’t pull out your one funeral suit for your shoot. Hillary Jeanne, a talented personal brand photographer in the Bay Area, suggests these 5 tips:
Don’t wear baggy clothing; the camera will show you as wide as your widest garment.
Find ways to layer; it’s helpful for seasonality and photo variety.
Wear what you would wear to meet with your ideal client; show up as the best version of yourself.
Avoid logos and brand names.
Coordinate your outfits for brand consistency.
You can also ask for help (hire a stylist or use an in-store stylist) and feedback (run things by your photographer). Lastly, be sure to try everything on in advance and make sure you iron or steam your clothes before your shoot.
Heading to the shoot. What do I bring?
Props.
Mmm hmmm. Props.
Cringing? Been there.
When I did my photo shoot, my assistant grabbed all these props - my fave pen and notebook, my vintage typewriter, my bag and fave books. I rolled my eyes.
She grabbed a bottle of champagne. Hell yeah, now we're talkin'. I grabbed the tequila too.
And guess what? The photos with the props were some of the very best ones. The props removed that "I don't know what to do with my hands" feeling and gave me the opportunity to do things in the pics that felt much more natural. Don't hate the props. It feels corny, but the result is anything but.
Let’s wrap this up.
If you’re averse to photo shoots, that’s probably because the word makes you have flashbacks to being a kid at JCPenney. Some lame nature backdrop or worse, the space laser show. Some prop an adult made you hold to give your photo some jazz.
But your personal branding photo shoot is going to be a different story. Your photographer and you are going to pick a cool location. Wearing what you wear. Being who you are. People are way cooler than old school headshots make them out to be. You are way cooler.
Skip the headshot and go for a heartshot.
Are you a CEO or founder looking to develop a personal brand?
