Why A Branding Photoshoot is Way More Than Just Headshots | Planning Yours with an Arizona Brand Photographer
Let me guess… You’ve had “schedule a branding photoshoot” on your to-do list for months. You know it would be good for your business, but it keeps getting shoved farther and farther down because you’re busy doing the day-to-day. There always seems to be a client who needs something, content to create, emails to answer, and 500 other things you could be doing instead.
Trust me, I get it. I’m Gisselle, an Arizona photographer, videographer, and fellow business owner, and helping you plan your branding photoshoot is my bread and butter. You don’t need to show up with the location picked out, every outfit perfectly steamed, or a complete shot list you spent hours creating. I’ll help you take care of the logistics that make everything feel overwhelming, guide you through posing, figure out what kind of content your business needs, and make sure it feels like you instead of throwing you in a white blazer and calling it branding.
So if you’ve been putting off your branding photoshoot because you have no idea where to start, let me show you exactly what planning one with me can look like.
Already know your business needs new photos + video, but don’t want to figure the whole thing out yourself? You can see what my Arizona branding sessions include here.
What Even Is a Branding Photoshoot?
Okay, so what do I even mean when I say branding photoshoot?
Let’s start with what it isn’t. At Gisselle Loera Media, I’m not talking about standing in front of a solid color backdrop, pretending to type on a laptop, awkwardly posing for headshots, or dressing up in that business casual outfit you’d never wear to your job. I don’t subscribe to the idea that branding photos are supposed to look a certain way.
Why? Because everyone’s business is different. Everyone has something that makes them and their business unique, and THAT’S what I want to photograph! Don’t get me wrong, typical headshots can be great, and it’s nice to have a professional photo of your face. But I’m not going to stop there. A branding photoshoot is about showing people who’s behind the business, what you do, what makes your brand recognizable, and what it might feel like to work with you. That could mean photographing you doing the work, using the tools you use every day, showing off your actual space, or incorporating little details that make your business yours.
Your photos should help someone start getting to know you and your business before they ever reach out. A plain-jane headshot just doesn’t do that.
You Don’t Need More Content. You Need Content You Can Actually Use.
You already know that you don’t need another folder full of pretty photos collecting dust on your computer. What you really need is content with a purpose. When you book a branding session with me, we’ll figure out what you need before my camera even enters the building, and you’ll leave your session knowing exactly how you can use the content.
Going into your shoot knowing how you need the content to work gives us a game plan. Instead of taking a bunch of photos and figuring out what to do with them later, we’re creating everything around the places your business already needs content.
By the time we’re done, you’ll have photos you can keep reaching for without having to start from scratch every time you need something new. As business owners, we have enough things taking up our brain space. Figuring out how to use the photos you spent a lot of time and money on shouldn’t be one of them.
Video Deserves a Plan, Too
Video is a huge part of what I offer during branding sessions, and depending on what your business needs, we can take it in a few different directions.
One of my FAVORITE ways to use video is to create a B-roll bank. We’ll capture short clips of you working, using your space, showing off your products, helping actual clients and customers, or just doing the things that make your business yours. You can turn those clips into Reels, layer voiceovers over them, use them on your website, or keep them on hand for launches and future social content. I love this because when 7 PM on a Monday hits and you feel like you have absolutely nothing to post, you already have an entire collection of clips sitting there waiting for you.
B-roll is only one way we can use video, though. My background is in filmmaking, so if what we’re creating needs to be more intentional, we can turn it into an actual produced video. We can come up with the concept, plan out what needs to be filmed, shoot interviews if need, think through how everything should come together, and create something specifically for your website, a campaign, a launch, or whatever else your business is cooking up.
Sometimes that means creating a whole library of clips you can keep pulling from. Other times, it means creating one specific video with a clear concept and a place to go. Either way, we’ll create video that makes sense for your brand and what you’re trying to do with it.
What It’s Like to Plan a Branding Photoshoot with Me
I think of my branding shoots less like a traditional photoshoot and more like a production.
That might sound a little dramatic, but hear me out. There are a LOT of moving pieces that go into creating strategic branding content. I’m not starting with your Pinterest inspo and working backwards. I’m thinking about your business, what makes it recognizable, what makes it different, what you need this content to do, and how we can make the whole session feel unmistakably you.
I love this planning part because my brain gets to go a little wild in the best way. It’s basically one giant creative puzzle where I get to take all the little things that make your business yours and figure out how to turn them into something visual.
If you want the very long version of why my brain works like this, you can read more about my film background on my about page!
Now, let me show you what I mean:
Start With Your Goals
Before we start planning what your branding photoshoot should look like, I want to know what you’re hoping to get out of it. So we’ll hop on a call and talk through your business, what you’re working toward, and what you want these photos to accomplish.
Maybe you’re launching something new and want your brand to look as established as your business feels. Maybe your current photos don’t match who you are (or even what you look like) anymore. Or maybe you’re trying to bring more of your personality into your brand.
Knowing WHY behind your shoot gives me soooo much more to work with than “I just need some new photos.” I want to know what you want people to understand about your business when they see this content, and how you want your brand to feel when we’re done. Once I know that, we can start making creative decisions with a reason behind them and building the shoot around where your business is going.
Figure Out Where Your Photos Need to Go
One of the easiest ways to figure out what photos we need is to ask one question: where are you actually going to use them?
If your website needs an update, I’m thinking about horizontal images for banners, portraits for your About page, photos that show what you do, and compositions with enough breathing room for text.
If social media is the priority, we need vertical options, plenty of variety, and enough usable content that you’re not posting the same three photos until you’re personally sick of looking at your own face.
Launching something new? Then I want to know exactly what you’re selling so we can create visuals that make sense for it. If email marketing is a big part of your business, we can also make sure you have images that fit the things you regularly talk about there.
Where the photos are going changes my shot list way more than “What poses do you want?” I’d rather build the session around what your business needs the content to do.
Choose a Location
Once I know what we’re trying to create and why, we can figure out where it should happen.
I’m a sucker for a gorgeous studio or trendy office space, but that’s not necessarily the best choice for every business. Maybe that’s your actual studio or storefront. Maybe a rented Airbnb in Phoenix with the perfect kitchen or living room gives us more to work with. We could use the space your clients already associate with what you do, or find somewhere completely different that fits your personality.
My point is that I’m not choosing a location just because it photographs well. We have to think about what we’ll be able to create there, whether it makes sense for your business, and how it fits with your goals.
Use Your Inspiration as a Starting Point
If you already have a Pinterest board or your camera roll is filled with screenshots, send them to me! I want to see what you keep saving because that tells me a lot about what you’re naturally drawn to.
I’m looking at the overall feeling, the colors, the way people are photographed, and the movement in each shot. More than anything, I’m looking for patterns. Do most of the shots seem playful or polished and editorial? Is there a specific color that’s repeating? Those patterns give me clues about the direction we should take without turning your shoot into a copy of somebody else’s
I’ll also use your inspo to create a custom vision board for your shoot. I do this for every session and send it to you ahead of time so you can get a little peek into my brain and see what I’m envisioning before we start shooting.
The Inspo I Prepped
The Branding Shoot
Woman leaning on a silver countertop listening to a plum colored vintage radio and smiling Woman talking on her cell phone while holding a matcha latte
Once We Start Shooting, Trust Me to Take Over
By the time you’re standing in front of my camera, you’ve already done your part. We talked through your business, figured out the direction, chose the location, and built the vision for your shoot. Once my camera comes out, you can hand the rest over to me.
I’ll be guiding you the entire time. I’ll tell you where to stand, what to do with your hands, make adjustments if something looks off, and give you plenty of direction. You’ll never wonder where to look or where to put your hands.
If you’re more introverted or nervous, don’t worry! I’m extroverted enough for both of us! I’ll keep talking, joking, and giving you things to do so you don’t feel like all the attention is on you, despite being the only one in front of the camera.
You don’t need to perform for me. Just trust that I’ve got you.
If this is exactly what you want, you bring me the business, and I help figure out how we turn it into something visual. Take a look at what my branding sessions can include.
A Real Branding Photoshoot with Becerra Aesthetics
If you want to see all of this planning in action, my Becerra Aesthetics branding session in Phoenix is one of my favorite examples.
Lezly originally reached out because she was coming up on one year in business and wanted professional photos to celebrate the milestone. But once we started planning, I knew there was so much more we could create than a few anniversary photos.
Becerra Aesthetics already has such a distinct personality. Pink is EVERYWHERE in her branding and studio, and even the little cow in her logo has a personal story behind it. Lezly is a little more introverted and hadn’t really done a professional photoshoot before, so being in front of the camera definitely wasn’t something that felt totally natural to her at first.
That’s where I come in. I wasn’t expecting her to show up knowing exactly what to do with her hands or magically turn into a model the second I picked up my camera. I guided her through posing, gave her things to do instead of just telling her to “stand there and smile,” and kept the session moving so she had less time to overthink everything. Once she settled in, that playful, sassy side of her started coming out, which is exactly what I wanted the photos to capture.
We chose to use her studio where she sees clients and pulled details from the branding she already created. We photographed her doing real treatments, played around with props, and made sure there was plenty of pink.
The best part? Those first anniversary photos ended up lasting way beyond her anniversary. More than a year later, Lezly is still using them for graphics, social media, and everyday marketing. That’s exactly what I want from your session.
What Should I Wear for a Branding Photoshoot?
The best thing you can wear is something that feels like you.
I know that sounds obvious, but branding photos have a weird way of making people think they need to dress like a completely different version of themselves. If you’re always running your business in jeans and sneakers, I’m going to have some questions when you send me a photo of a pencil skirt and blazer.
I want to know what you normally wear, what you feel confident in, and how your clients are used to seeing you. Then we can adjust from there to make sure it’s something that will photograph well and fit the rest of the vision we’ve built.
Send me your ideas ahead of time, and I’ll happily tell you all my opinions. You have enough decisions to make as a business owner. Your branding photoshoot outfit doesn’t need to become another thing you spend three days overthinking. Let me help you narrow them down, and we’ll make sure you show up feeling like yourself.
What Should I Bring for a Branding Photoshoot?
When you’re figuring out what to bring to your branding photoshoot, think less random cute props and more: what would I find you using on a normal workday?
If you’re an esthetician, bring the products and tools you use with clients. If you’re a baker, PLEASE bring me the cake. If you’re a designer, I want to see the sketches, samples, and materials that are usually scattered across your desk. If you’re a florist, bring the flowers you’d be working with. Those are the things that tell me something about your business and give us way more to play with.
I’m not going to hand you a coffee mug and laptop because the internet collectively decided that’s what a business owner looks like. If they naturally belong in your world, absolutely, bring them. If they don’t, they can stay home.
We’ll talk through all of this while we’re planning your shoot, too. You don’t need to show up with a car full of props and hope for the best. I’ll help you figure out what’s worth bringing based on what we’re creating and how you’ll use the photos afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Branding Photoshoots
How much does a professional branding photoshoot cost?
Branding photography can vary a lot depending on what we’re creating. A quick refresh with one location is going to cost less than a bigger production with multiple outfits, spaces, photos, and video. My branding photography currently starts at $450 + tax for a 30-minute session with 20 edited images and commercial usage included.
How long does a typical branding photoshoot last?
A branding photoshoot with me starts at 30 minutes and can go up to 2 hours, but there isn’t one standard session length that works for every business. A shorter 30 min session can be perfect when we have a focused plan. Before we book, I’ll look at everything we want to accomplish and tell you how much time I think we’ll need. You won’t be paying for hours you don’t need or watching the clock to make sure we get through everything.
What’s the difference between headshots and a branding photoshoot?
A headshot is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a polished photo of just you. Super useful for your about page, LinkedIn, email signature, speaker bio, or anywhere else people just need to put a face to the name.
A branding photoshoot gives us way more to work with. We’re still getting those great portraits, but we’re also photographing what you do, the space you work in, the details people associate with your business, and all the little things that make your brand feel like yours.
Can a brand photographer help with social media content?
YES! If social media is one of the places you know you’ll be using your content, I want to plan for that before we shoot. That might mean creating images with room for text, getting a mix of vertical and horizontal options, or making sure we create enough variety that you’re not posting the same three photos over and over.
We can plan both photo and video around the platforms you use and the kinds of content you regularly create, so you leave your session with things you can actually put to work.
Do I need to know exactly what photos I want before booking?
Not at all! No need to spend three nights building me a 47-page photo shot list before you inquire (or after, for that matter).
Come to me with what you do know: what your business does, why you need content, what you’re launching, and what you’re drawn to. I’ll help turn all of that into an actual plan. Figuring out what we need to create is literally my job.
How often should I update my branding photos?
I’d update your branding photos when the ones you have stop feeling useful. If you’ve changed your services, rebranded, moved into a new space, look different than you did in your current photos, or you’ve used the same handful of images approximately 500 times, it’s probably time. I care way more about whether your content still fits your business than following some made-up rule that says you need a new branding photoshoot every six months.
Can I include my products in my branding photos?
Absolutely. If your products are part of what you sell, use, or want people to associate with your business, I WANT them in the shoot. We can photograph them on their own, work them into lifestyle images, or show you using them so everything feels connected to what you do. I love using things that belong in your business rather than adding random props just because they look cute.
Ready to Plan Your Branding Photoshoot with an Arizona Brand Photographer?
I hope you now understand why I put so much into the planning part of a branding photoshoot. I want to know the things that make your business weird, fun, recognizable, and completely yours. Those are the details I get excited about because they’re what take a shoot from cute branding photos to something that could only be made by you and your business.
I want you to open your final gallery and immediately start thinking about where and how you’re going to use everything. I want you excited about the obvious favorites, but I also want you finding photos six months later and thinking, “Wait, this one is PERFECT for this new post.”
That’s how I know we did it right.
So if you have a business you’re really freaking proud of, and your current photos aren’t doing it justice anymore, tell me about it. You bring me the business. I’ll help figure out what we should create for it.
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