What to wear for a personal branding photoshoot
It might be tempting to just opt for your favourite or go-to clothes when planning a personal branding photography session. You wear them all the time, they are comfy, they truly reflect your personality, etc. Whilst it is easier, I want to encourage you to think outside of your comfort zone and more about your brand. Effective outfit choices that are you and on brand are crucial when planning a photoshoot. So let’s talk about how to choose what to wear for a personal branding photoshoot to make the most of your session!
Here’s What is Personal Branding Photography and why it’s important.
Why is planning what to wear for a personal branding photoshoot is so important?
Just like your professional headshot, your branding photos are your first impression. For a headshot photoshoot I usually recommend dressing like you would on a typical work day. Check What to Wear for a Professional Business Headshots for more tips. Though when planning a brand photoshoot – you should put more thought into your outfits (as it’s no longer only a head-and-shoulder crop!).
When thinking about what to wear for your upcoming brand photoshoot, the biggest question you want to ask yourself is ‘how do I want my potential customers to see me?’ Is it professional, fun, or creative?
Is your brand personality driven? In this case, let your personality shine! Maybe your brand has a different stylistic direction than your personal style? That’s perfectly fine as well! There’s no right or wrong answer! It’s completely your decision. However, to make your brand image consistent throughout your online presence you will need a bit of planning.
Outfit Styles
Consider what message you want to convey with your branding photos, and how you want to present yourself. This will help figuring out suitable outfit styles for your photoshoot.
We all love magazine editorials; perfectly capturing the art of story-telling and commerce! If you want to create an editorial feel for your branding photos, think about the look you want to achieve and the story you want to tell with your images.
Do you want to play it safe? Then wear what you would when going to work. Just add a bit more style to it with accessories and colours!
Colours
Colours are probably the most important aspect when planning what to wear for a personal branding photoshoot.
There are two ways to think about outfit colours for your brand photos: choose colours that suit your skin colour and complexion, and colours that are aligned with your brand.
Make sure your colour choices are well thought through, and have a reason. If your branding is minimal in colour, for example you are using monochromatic shades throughout your website and social media presence, dressing up like a rainbow for your photoshoot will simply be odd. You want to make sure the colours you are using unite all your marketing materials including your brand photos.
Accessories
Accessories are your friends! Little details like a statement necklace, or a cool scarf will help your personality shine in your branding and marketing photos. As mentioned earlier, you can dress as you would normally for your workday, and use a few accessories to make your outfit dressier and more stylish.
Preparation is the key to any successful branding photography session. Start with a Pinterest browse and get inspired! Create a mood board. Add all the colours that are associated with your brand, and the ones that you like/wear/think would work for your photoshoot. Add your possible outfit choice, accessories, and anything else relevant to you and your brand. This will help you stay consistent with your branding, and will give you a bigger picture for your upcoming personal branding photoshoot.
I hope this blog post was helpful, and as usual, if you have any questions regarding what to wear for a personal branding photoshoot, drop them in the comment section below! If you are looking for a professional photographer in Birmingham, West Midlands for your branding and marketing photoshoot, shoot me an email!
