How to prepare for a professional Business Photo Shoot
FIRST OF ALL - WHY SHOULD YOU OPT FOR PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS PORTRAITS?
Your profile photo is the first thing potential employers [or business owners] will see, and it takes just 0.5 seconds for that profile photo to make that first impression! Professional business portraits are an increasingly important marketing tool. You can include a professional head shot on your business card, and a photo of you on any professional websites can help draw attention to your work.
As a business owner, you build the brand, and in most cases, how you portray yourself, makes or breaks the brand! Today, companies, groups and brands are using personality across the whole organisation: from front office, to back office; from the reception to the boardroom. This extends across all aspects of a brand from the logo type to the photography. A brand, after all, is the very essence of a business – it is personality and character – visual or otherwise. Having professional business portraits of you and your team, always helps to communicate that personality.
MATCH YOUR PORTRAITS TO YOUR BRAND
Overall, the goal of your business portrait should be to put a face to your brand. This means that there is not necessarily a right and wrong way to present yourself. It simply depends on your brand image. For example, a lawyer might prefer a very professional image with a suit and plain background, while a creative business owner could be a bit more casual and fun with their portrait.
WHERE AND HOW
Depending on your business and how you would like to portray it, the business shoot can be from very formal with a simple background to very creative with vibrant colours or at an outside location. So, you decide whether it should all take place at your office, even in your home, on location or in a studio set-up.
Include props if they match your brand. In some cases, you might include items that have something to do with your business, like a computer, desk, camera, paintbrushes, books, you name it! But make sure those items are not distracting, and only include them, if they actually add something essential to the image and your brand.
WHAT TO WEAR
You should take care to present yourself in a positive light in terms of the way you dress . Again, this can vary, depending on the brand. Some companies are very formal, others are completely informal. But a good rule of thumb should be to consider how you would want to present yourself to a new client or new job and then dress accordingly. I always recommend to bring a couple of outfits, maybe a suit or two, maybe trousers and a blouse or jeans and a shirt (with and without a jacket). Whatever you feel comfortable in and whatever shows the kind of styling you would like to be associated with.
RELAX AND BE YOURSELF
I will guide you every step of the way, from making you feel comfortable, to showing you how to pose for the camera. I will help you stand out from the crowd with head shots that radiate confidence and approachability to give you that professional edge from your peers.
Let's have a chat and come up with the perfect way to portray you!
