What do you wear for your brand shoot that will look good, make you look professional yet approachable, and coordinate with your website? That is the question so many entrepreneurs ask as they plan for their sessions!
A lot goes into a successful brand shoot, and for good reason! You’re investing in something that will ultimately increase your know, like and trust factor with potential clients. And you want to maximize this investment so you have a beautiful library of images to draw from as you update your website and other client-facing collateral & social media.
Seven tips for what to wear at your brand photo session:
1. Select clothing that work with your overall brand.
I always say that one of your outfits should be what you’d wear the first time you meet with a prospect or client, one that you might wear while working every day, and one on-brand look that is your at home casual look.
2. Make sure your clothing fits well and isn’t baggy.
If you’re curvy or heavier than you wish, don’t think you’re covering things by wearing shapeless clothes. This will only make you look bigger in photographs. All body types should consider wearing form fitting pieces that highlight your curves, not hide them. I will pose you to look flattering.
3. Wear colors that match your brand palette.
This gives you a cohesive look across your website pages and social media pages. This also can be a neutral palette that goes with your brand color. For my own brand sessions, I always wear at least one pop of my brand turquoise and fill out the other outfits with creams, beiges and whites. This ensures my visual identity is consistent.
4. Solid colors should rule – they always work.
Prints can be beautiful as long as they aren’t super tiny patterns. If you want to wear prints, make sure that it works with any other clothing design you use so they all look good together on your site.
5. Flaunt what you like.
If you have great legs, skirts or shorts will accentuate them. Same with sleeveless tops with your arms. On the other hand, if you dislike the look of your arms, avoid sleeveless or throw a blazer, cardigan or jean jacket over one.
6. Don’t overlook your accessories.
Wear thoughtful jewelry that work with the outfit and aren’t overly trendy or fussy. Scarves, hats, belts should be well thought out but can give you polished looks.
7. Consider renting outfits.
If you want something special but it’s out of your budget, don’t forget there are companies that specialize in clothing rental. One to check out is Rent the Runway.
Put some thought into using your brand color palette in different ways when you decide what to wear! Check out an article I wrote about the power of wearing your brand colors.
Want to be worry-free going into your brand photo session?
Before your shoot, try all your looks on in front of a mirror to be sure the tops and bottoms work, as well as your accessories. Move and walk in them to be sure that they stay where they should. If you have a buttoned up blouse, be sure it doesn’t gap between the buttons. Make sure each piece is pressed and wrinkle-free and on hangers. Add the accessories to the hangers according to the outfit you’re wearing them with. Put the outfits in the car, hanging up, the night before your shoot.
If you book a branding photo shoot with me, either in my Brighton Michigan studio or on location, you will get a ton of support from me along the way. And when you book a date, I’ll mail you my brand shoot magazine to help you plan for your shoot!
Angie is a brand and headshot photographer serving the Ann Arbor, Brighton + Howell, Michigan area. She works with entrepreneurs to create strategic, personality-driven branding images that elevate their visual brands and attract their dream clients.
In her studio, she also crafts polished headshots for professionals and executives who want to show up with confidence.
