Prop Ideas For Your Branding Session

ENHANCING YOUR PHOTOS

You are the star of the show when it comes to your branding session, but incorporating unique props can absolutely help level up photos.

Branding clients oftentimes struggle with selecting which props make sense to include in their branding session.

I get it. It’s kind of like picking out your outfits. You want everything not only to look cohesive, but also to accurately reflect you and your business. 

Below, you’ll find some helpful tips on how to select props that are authentic to both you and your brand. It’s a pretty long list, and you certainly don’t have to use all of these ideas, but I hope it helps to get those creative juices flowing!

Show Off Your Daily Routines

This may or may not be applicable to your brand, but think about your daily routines and if there are elements that make sense including in your photos. Some ideas might be: 

• Reading

• Journaling

• Meditation 

• Exercising

• Taking supplements

• Doing your makeup

Tools of the Trade

Even if you work completely virtual or in a service-based business, you can include your work tools as props in your branding session such as: 

• Laptop

• Phone

• iPad/Tablet

• Notebook

• Calendar/Planner

• Pen/Pencils/Markers

• Contracts

• Keys

• Camera

• Essential Oils

• Utensils

• Flowers

• Scissors

Favorite Foods and Drinks

Food and drink connect us all - so this is an easy way to engage with your audience on an emotional level. Some props in this category might be:  

• Coffee or Tea

• Kombucha

• Wine/Champagne in pretty glasses

• Cocktails

• Your favorite dessert

• A homemade recipe  

• Smoothie or juice

Playful Accessories

The sky's the limit here, so let your personality shine when it comes to including playful accessories into your branding session.

• Hats

• Sunglasses/Glasses

• Balloons/Confetti/Poppers - these are especially great for a “celebration photo” to announce your next big offering, business milestone, etc.

• Bike/Scooter

• Beach bag

• Picnic basket

• Colorful blanket to sit on outside

• Umbrella

• Statement fashion pieces

Are you feeling inspired? Because I sure am!

I hope these prop ideas help you to realize that there are hundreds of simple ways you can personalize your photos. You don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff, use this list to intentionally look at your life and business and choose the pieces that make the most sense for your brand.

Want to explore what props make the most sense for you? Contact me here.

How to Create a Mood Board For Your Business.

When it comes to plotting out ideas for your branding session, a little Pinterest inspiration (or should I say pin-spiration) can go a long way.

Digital or physical?

The process of creating your mood board doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you choose to pull images from the Internet and assemble them online, or grab some foam board, Elmer’s glue, and a stack of magazines is completely up to you.

However, even though it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole on Pinterest, tying all the ideas together can feel a bit overwhelming. This is where a mood board comes in super handy. 

Not sure what that is? A mood board is any type of visual presentation that is made up of images, textures, fonts, etc that inspire you. A mood board is an awesome tool you can use to gather your ideas and feelings about your brand in one central place. I highly encourage all of my clients to put one together - even if it’s just to help you pick your outfits for an upcoming branding session.

Many of my branding photography clients have already partnered with a professional web or logo designer and have walked through the mood board process with them. If this is you, I highly encourage you to use that existing mood board as a jumping-off point for your branding session. You definitely want your session to tie in seamlessly with your website and logo, so the work you’ve put in with these professionals is a solid foundation to build on. 

In your business, your mood board sets the tone for your branding. It’s the best tool to help you create your signature style for your business.

Most of us are pretty familiar with navigating Pinterest, but if not you might find this tutorial helpful. Once you’re comfortable with the platform, you’re ready to create a killer inspirational mood board for your branding session in incorporating these three steps.

#1 - Stay Organized

It’s common (and encouraged) to come up with more than one mood board for your branding session, but staying organized is key to pulling it all together at the end. Pinterest makes it easy to set up boards with different titles or categories. You can even take your organization up a step and tag your boards with keywords, notes, etc. I like to pin a bunch of stuff and then go back and refine once I have a better idea of the direction I want to head in for my shoot.

#2 - Don’t Limit Your Search

Mood boards provide a unique opportunity to go wild. If you’re looking for inspiration for your branding session, you might be tempted to only search for brands similar to yours. My advice is to not limit yourself by only searching pins in your industry/genre. Instead, look outside the box and go crazy pinning textures, fonts, colors, imagery that have nothing to do with your brand or industry at all! You’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about yourself and your brand by going through this exercise.  

#3 - Make Sure Your Pins Align With Your Brand Qualities

Not everything you add to your mood board will make it into your branding session in a tangible way. Instead, what you add to the board will lend itself to both you and me understanding your brand on a higher level. Adding plenty of thematic content (pins that convey a feeling or aesthetic) will help us understand what type of imagery will resonate with your audience/client base. Pretty pictures are great, but if the photo style doesn’t align with your brand qualities, it won’t be sending the right message. 

So what do you think? Are you ready to compile a killer mood board and get inspired for your branding session? I hope so! If you’re needing some more pin-spiration, check out this board I put together on Pinterest to help you start with some ideas.

What to Wear for Your Branding Session

STYLING YOUR SESSION

Whether you’re launching a brand new business or you’re looking to refresh the one you’ve already got - professional photographs are a must!

You’ve worked hard to develop your brand. You won’t settle for anything other than amazing. All you need now are images that instantaneously communicate your brand message and worth and inspire your potential customers to want to learn more.

First step: Find a photographer you love, book your date and choose your location. Easy. 

Then comes the hard part. You have to choose what you’re going to wear. Let the angst begin! 

Questions about what to wear to a branding session usually flood my inbox leading up to a client’s shoot. I get it. It’s hard enough to style a regular lifestyle session - like family photos or an engagement shoot. Styling your professional self is different. You want to exude confidence, yet seem approachable. You want to look polished, but also make sure your unique style shines through. 

As I said, this is the hard part. 

Fear not, I’ve compiled my top five tips on styling your lifestyle branding session.

Wardrobe Changes Encouraged

I highly encourage my branding session clients to change their outfit several times during the shoot. And I’m not talking about two different looks. I mean, come with at least five outfits. This adds a lot of variation to your session and extends the shelf life of your photos. And, to be blunt, no one wants to see pics of you in the same outfit on multiple pages of your website or on social media.

Bring Your Strongest Color Game

If you had to assign your brand a color – what would it be? Now, how are you going to translate that into your lifestyle branding session? Here’s my advice – add pops of your brand colors throughout your clothing items. As long as it looks good on you, fits your brand and your location — go for it! A branding session is a great opportunity to bring your A-game in the color department.

Avoid Distracting Patterns, Prints & Logos 

While I’m all for a bold color palette, I highly encourage you to avoid clothes with unsightly logos or distracting patterns/prints. Now, I’m not opposed to some tasteful prints -- but make sure the article of clothing with the print doesn’t overwhelm you. Wearing mostly solids are ideal for a clean and polished look.

Add Accessories

The skies the limit when it comes to your accessories. There are the obvious choices like bold jewelry and great shoes. But a branding session is a unique opportunity to think outside the box. I highly encourage my client to include “business accessories” like their laptop, a pretty leather-bound journal or their favorite book. A cool pair of reading glasses is a great way to change up your look between wardrobe changes, too. Depending on where we are shooting, including interesting elements from the space like pottery, plants, etc can be a great way to warm up your images. 

Treat Yo’ Self

Ok, so this final tip isn’t directly related to what to wear - but I can’t encourage you enough to pamper yourself in the days leading up to your branding session. Afterall, you’ve worked hard for the money – right?! For any shoot – I always recommend getting your hair, makeup and nails done. These small, but professional, touches can go a long way in the finished product. And, besides, you deserve it (and more)!

Now you’re ready to slay your branding session - I’m so excited for you! Ready to schedule your session? You can contact me here.

Where To Take Your Branding Photos

Branding photography isn’t only for businesses that have a brick and mortar or physical office space.

So many successful businesses are either 100% virtual or able to flex time between their home office and being out in the field (like photographers). Regardless of where your business falls, you’ll want (and you deserve) killer photographs that show off your product/service and - of course - YOU! 

If you have a physical space for your business - that’s the ideal location for your shoot. However, sometimes it’s not possible due to being in the middle of a transition, or your space having less-than-ideal lighting or design.

If your business doesn’t have a physical space, you have to get creative in thinking about where to hold your session. Below, I’ve listed some out-of-the-box options for locations we can use to ensure your branding photos reflect you - and communicate your business’s vibe and values.

Local Cafes & Restaurants

Many entrepreneurs work long hours at their local cafes and restaurants - especially when first starting their biz. You know the places I’m talking about. They have the best lattes and fastest wifi. Well, these local gems are often great spots to grab some branding shots (as long as we have permission, of course).  

Rent Local Studio Space 

If you live in a major metropolitan area, you probably have access to some amazing studio spaces. Two of my favs in Toronto are LOVTStudio and SolAtelierStudio. Even if you live in a small town, if you look hard enough, you’ll find an artist studio that has killer light and can be rented by the hour. Score!

Co-Working Spaces

Co-working spaces are popping up at every turn, which is a great asset when you have a business that can run from home. It’s nice to have a space (that you don’t have to clean) to work from and also to use for taking branding photos. Check to see if using the space for photographs is a part of your membership. If so, this can end up being a great (and affordable) option.  

Outdoor Shopping Spaces

This might seem like a stretch, but outdoor shopping spaces (especially in the early morning) are great spots because they offer a variety of backdrops without having to drive to multiple locations. There are usually full of architectural details and have plenty of restaurants, coffee shops boasting clean design elements. A few of my favorites in Toronto are LOV, Caliilove, and Kosttoronto. 

Local Parks and Recreation Areas

Toronto has no shortage of beautiful parks, beaches and public trails. And collectively, they provide simple and stunning solutions for your branding photos. No matter where you live, you should be able to easily find some green space. Your photographer will be able to tell you what time of day will capture the prettiest light and should scout the location before the shoot so they are familiar with it. 

Your Home

More and more customers and clients want to feel authentically connected to businesses they patron. What’s more real than having a few of your photos taken in your home?! This might be a great second location option if you are first able to shoot at another nearby location like a cafe or park.  

Moral of the story? Don’t stress over where you should take your branding photographs. As noted above - you’ve got plenty of options! Need help finding a location in Toronto? Connect with me here - I’d be happy to share my thoughts.