How to Plan a Brand Photoshoot (With a Complete Shot List)

Planning a brand photoshoot can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right preparation, you can walk away with a library of images that truly reflect your brand and feel aligned across your website, social media, and marketing materials.

Whether you’re refreshing your website or building your brand from scratch, these tips will help you feel confident, prepared, and clear on exactly what you need to capture.

1. Make Your Brand Colours Visible

Look for simple ways to incorporate your brand colours into your background. This could be through small, natural props like a tea towel, spatula, plates, or any objects that fit your space and aesthetic.

These subtle details help tie your images back to your brand and create a more cohesive visual identity.

2. Coordinate Your Outfit With Your Brand

If you don’t have accessories that match your brand colours, choose clothing that does.

If you do have on-brand props, keep your outfit simple with neutrals, whites, or blacks so your images feel balanced rather than overwhelming.

3. Create a Pinterest Inspo Board

Before your shoot, gather pose ideas that feel natural and aligned with your personality.

Having a Pinterest board gives your photographer clear direction on the types of angles and shots you like, and it also gives you something to reference if you feel unsure or freeze up in front of the camera.

4. Capture ‘In-Between’ Detail Shots

If you’re planning multiple outfits, ask your photographer to capture detail or “stock-style” images while you’re changing looks.

These images are incredibly useful for your website and social media. They help break up photos of you while still maintaining a cohesive, on-brand look across all your platforms.

5. Capture a Variety of On-Brand Images

A strong brand photoshoot includes a mix of images that you can use in different contexts. Try to capture:

• Photos where you’re looking directly at the camera

• Photos where you’re not looking at the camera

• Shots that include your face, and others that focus on your hands or body

• Action shots of you working

• Lifestyle moments that reflect your personality outside of work

This variety gives you flexibility when creating content and ensures your visuals don’t feel repetitive.

Your Brand Photoshoot Shot List

Once you’ve planned the look and feel of your shoot, it helps to go in with a clear shot list so nothing gets missed.

Here are a few must-have images to capture:

• A few strong, approachable headshots with eye contact (ideal for your homepage hero and “About” section)

• Lifestyle photos of you doing everyday activities (drinking tea, reading, spending time with your pet, etc.)

• A mix of posed shots with different expressions (smiling, relaxed, confident)

• Candid-style images where you’re not looking at the camera

• Behind-the-scenes shots of you working (typing, writing, meeting with clients)

• Action shots that reflect your day-to-day work

• On-brand detail or stock-style images captured during outfit changes

One Last Tip

Always ask your photographer to provide both full-resolution images and web-sized versions.

Having optimized images ready to go will save you a significant amount of time when uploading to your website or digital platforms, where files typically need to be compressed to 1MB or less.

Final Thoughts

With a bit of planning, your brand photoshoot becomes more than just a one-time session. It becomes a content library you can rely on across your website, social media, and marketing materials.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s creating images that feel like you, represent your brand clearly, and allow you to show up consistently and professionally online.

If you’re not sure how your photos should fit into your website or overall brand strategy, this is something we often support our clients with as part of their build - ensuring everything works together seamlessly.