The Top 5 Mistakes People Make Before Their Branding Shoot (and How to Avoid Them)
Nervous about your branding session? You’re not alone. Let’s walk through five of the most common mistakes people make before their shoot and how you can steer clear of them so your photos feel like the real, confident you.
So you finally booked your branding session... amazing! But now you're wondering, "What do I do to actually get ready?" You're not alone. Prepping for a branding session can feel like a lot, especially when you're not sure where to start. Here are five common mistakes people make before their shoot and how to make sure you avoid them.
1. Waiting Until the Last Minute to Plan Your Wardrobe
We've all done it. Thrown something together the night before and hoped for the best. But your branding photos are a visual representation of your business, and that means your outfit matters. Give yourself time to plan, try things on, and even get input. Your wardrobe should reflect your brand personality and make you feel like the best version of yourself.
We'll also talk through this extensively during the planning process, and I'll offer tips and guidance based on your brand so you're not doing this alone.
How to avoid it: Start early. Lay out your outfits a week in advance and make sure everything fits, feels good, and photographs well. Bonus tip: bring a backup outfit or layers in case something doesn't feel right day-of.
2. Not Thinking Through Location (or Just Picking Somewhere "Pretty")
Yes, aesthetics are important. But a location should be more than just "cute." It should support your brand message. Are you more modern and polished? Outdoorsy and grounded? Bright and creative? The environment should align with your vibe.
How to avoid it: Think about where your clients find you and how they experience your brand. Choose a space that helps tell that story, whether it's your workspace, a coffee shop you love, or a studio that offers versatility.
3. Showing Up Without a Clear Goal
It might sound obvious, but walking into your session without knowing what you want to walk away with can lead to photos that miss the mark. Are you updating your website? Creating a social media library? Launching something new? The clearer you are, the more strategic your session can be. We’ll work through all of this in the pre-session process, and these details will be reflected in your personalized Creative Guide so you’ll never feel unprepared or uncertain.
How to avoid it: Talk with me about your goals. As your photographer, I'm here to help you think through what you need and how to best bring it to life. Share what platforms you use most, what you need images for, and what kind of content you want to create. This helps shape the shot list and overall flow.
4. Skipping Hair, Makeup, or Grooming
You don’t need to look like someone else, but you do want to feel confident and put together. Sometimes that means a professional stylist. Other times it means just giving yourself enough time to prep.
I partner with a talented hair and makeup artist, Valerie Hammer Makeup Artistry, who understands exactly how to make you look and feel your best specifically for photos. Makeup for photography is different than everyday makeup, and Val knows how to enhance your features in a way that translates beautifully on camera.
How to avoid it: Think about what makes you feel confident in daily life and mirror that for the shoot. Whether it’s a blowout, a fresh shave, or clean nails, the small stuff makes a big impact.
5. Trying to Do It All Alone
Branding photography isn't just about snapping a few nice photos. It's about telling a story. And stories are easier to tell when you're not doing everything solo. From shot planning to styling, a little support goes a long way.
How to avoid it: Lean on me throughout the process. Ask questions, share ideas, and let's collaborate on how to bring your brand to life through visuals. I’m here to guide you every step of the way—from shot planning to styling—to make sure we’re telling your story in the most authentic and strategic way. If it’s helpful, we can also bring in additional support like a brand strategist, stylist, or makeup artist.
Getting branding photos taken is a big step in putting yourself and your business out there. When you take the time to plan and avoid these common missteps, you set yourself up for images that don’t just look good, but actually feel like you.
Why the Creative Guide Matters (And Why I’ve Been Loving the Process Lately)
Lately, I’ve been deep in Creative Guide mode for some amazing upcoming branding sessions. It’s part research, part vibe-check, part creative strategy—and such a helpful step in the branding process. Here’s why this phase matters (and why it’s growing on me).
The past few weeks have been full of questionnaire deep-dives, brand voice sleuthing, Pinterest rabbit holes, and the best kind of back-and-forths with clients who are ready to show up and stand out. These guides are the secret sauce to a strong branding shoot—and lately, I’ve found myself really enjoying putting them together.
If you’re new here, the Creative Guide (aka the branding brief) is basically our visual roadmap. It’s how we go from "I want new photos" to "This feels like my brand." It covers everything from location ideas to wardrobe suggestions to how you want your brand to feel when someone lands on your site.
Yes, it’s strategic. But it’s also collaborative and creative. We get to play with color palettes, think about how you want to connect with your audience, and brainstorm visuals that make your brand personality shine. It’s the phase where I learn your quirks, your goals, and how you want to show up in your space—then translate that into photos that work across platforms.
Is it nerdy that I get excited about brand adjectives and prop lists? Maybe. But this step really does make a difference.
So if you’ve got a session coming up: don’t skip over the Creative Guide. It’s not just pre-work—it’s where the vision starts to come together.
