When it comes to your personal brand, one of the best ways to stand out from everyone else around you is to get brand photos. This is a great way to show off your personality, what you do, and have a more cohesive brand experience.
As a brand photographer myself, I have been able to work with so many clients who have their own personal brands. Not only did we work together to create photos that feel authentic to them, but also that make their business feel more professional and put together.
So, if you are thinking about having your own personal branding photoshoot, here are some tips on where to take the photos and what to bring to your session.
Where to Take Personal Brand Photos
Peerspaces
Peerspaces are a great option for any brand photoshoot and, especially in bigger cities, there are so many different options that fit any vibe you are looking for. If you haven’t heard of Peerpsace before, these are studios and homes that you can rent for your photoshoot.
The great thing about Peerspaces is that there are so many different varieties out there. You can find some that are very minimal and have the more “traditional” studio vibe. Or you can find some that are really eclectically decorated homes that have a ton of personality and character.
Whatever you are looking for, there is sure to be something that works for you. They also give you so much flexibility and variety and allow you to set up multiple different scenes all in the same location.
You can also rent these for the whole day or for just a few hours so you could even split up your session into two locations and use the Peerspace as one. Overall, they give you a great space that is private for you to get some incredible images.
If you are interested in Peerspace, you can check them out through my affiliate link here!
Your Own Business/Studio
If you are someone who has their own studio or space, using that space for your brand photos is such a great way to show off what you do and the true heart behind your business.
Now, you may be thinking something like “Well my space isn’t super organized or clean or “aesthetic” so it won’t look good in photos.” And while you may think that, odds are it would be a great place for your session.
As a personal brand, you are the heart and soul behind your business and people are going to work with you or purchase your products because they connect with you. Showing off where it is you actually create your products or work on your craft is only going to give them more of an insight into you and who they are investing in.
At the end of the day, too, this is a space that you are intimately familiar with which means you are going to be really comfortable in it. Especially if this is one of the first times you are getting professional photos, having a place to take them that is comfortable and familiar can make you feel much more confident in the photos.
Anywhere that Shows Off Your Personality
I am also a huge fan of having these personal branding photoshoots in places that you feel show off your personality the best. This is going to look different for each and every person, but this could be somewhere special to you, where you first started your business, a place that matches your brand vibe, or anything in between.
For instance, if you have a super bright and bold brand, you could take some of your brand photos in front of colorful street art or murals in a city. If you have more of a chic brand, maybe downtown photos surrounded by skyscrapers is going to be more of your vibe.
There are no limits to what you can do and the great thing about a lot of the public spaces is that you can choose to go wherever you want to. Now, it is important that you double-check before you start your session that there are no specific permits or fees that you have to pay to shoot anywhere, but these spaces can help bring so much personality and life to your brand photos.
Bonus: My Favorite Spots in New York City and Los Angeles
If you are looking to have your photoshoot in New York City or LA, here are a few of my top picks for where to go.
Los Angeles
Elysian Park: This park has more nature vibes and is perfect for anyone looking for a bit more greenery for their session.
Santa Monica Beach Boardwalk: What can be more LA than the boardwalk? While this can be a bit more crowded, it is perfect for that LA beach vibe session.
Studio spaces: There are different studio spaces all around the city, but two that I love are 736 Studios and Issue Studio. Both of them are great options and have everything you need for your personal branding photoshoot.
New York City
SK Studios: SK Studios is a great, open studio that not only has everything you need, but also even has lifestyle furniture included to give you a bit of variety for your session!
West Village: If you are looking for that classic brownstone vibe, the West Village is perfect. You can just pick an area to explore and find countless places that create the perfect backdrops.
Fort Greene: Fort Greene is another great neighborhood to explore for your session. With beautiful buildings and tree-lined streets, you’ll find the perfect backdrops here.
What to Bring to Personal Branding Sessions
The other part of brand photos besides the location is what to actually bring. I get this question all the time and there is always this uncertainty around what is important to bring, what to leave, and what is too much.
When it comes to your brand photos, you really want to think about any props that are going to show off your personality and your craft through the photos. After all, anyone can take a photo walking down the street or standing in a studio, but what makes you different? What makes you stand out?
I have worked with so many different types of clients from journalists to authors, audio narrator’s, artists, and creatives and what really gave their session a more personable and unique look was the props that they brought.
Now, when I say this too, it doesn’t mean that you have to bring the stereotypical props to your session. For example, if you’re a journalist, you can get more creative than just bringing a laptop and maybe instead bring a typewriter.
As an artist, instead of just holding paint brushes, you can actually paint a canvas during the session. Authors don’t just have to have a stack of books but maybe a printed manuscript or papers laying out the outline and flow of a novel.
All of these things show off your craft and who you are but have a unique and personal twist to them to make them seem more than just the average photo of someone sitting at a computer or looking at their phone.
Meet Katherine (aka the biz owner in the photos)
You may be wondering – who is in the photos? I wanted to take a second to introduce Katherine, a brand strategist and e-commerce consultant. She’s also the owner of the home and lifestyle boutique Homie.
She’s a brand-obsessed merchant with more than 10 years of experience in the fashion industry and has done everything from selling on retail floors to creating engaging brand experiences at some of the industry’s largest trade shows.
In 2021, upon completing her Master’s degree, she began ideating on what she could do for her own brand and launched Homie, which, at its core, was built with the intention of inspiring others to make their spaces feel like an oasis. It’s literally “for the homies,” aka the homebody within us all that just wants a space that feels like a home.
Final Thoughts on Personal Brand Photos
So, if you do have a personal brand and want to take it to the next level, a personal branding photoshoot can help to show you and your brand off in a more unique and personable light.
At the end of the day, people are going to be investing in you as an individual so take this time to show off your personality and what people are investing in and do it in a really fun way. If you are ready to take the next step and create stand out and unique brand photos for your business, I’d love to chat! You can click the link here to learn about my brand photography services or head over here to get in touch about your own session!
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How to Have a Unique Personal Branding Photoshoot
