Does a brand photo session take a full day, or is a 30-minute mini session enough?
For my sessions, it’s somewhere in the middle. My full brand photo session usually takes about 3 hours on set, and a smaller, focused session runs about 1 hour.
But here’s the part that really takes time: the shoot day is only about half the work. The planning before and the editing after take every bit as much time.
And it’s that planning part that takes your brand session from a bunch of “nice photos,” to a library of images that will do actual work for your business.
So if you’re trying to figure out how much of your calendar to block off, you’re asking a great question. Let’s walk through where all that time goes, with a few stories from my clients along the way.
How Long Is a Brand Photo Session, Really?
Here’s the quick version for my sessions:
- Signature Brand Session: usually about 3 hours on set, several storylines, plus a handful of B-roll clips
- Power Hour Session: 1 focused hour on set, one storyline, no video
- From booking your date to getting the final gallery: about 10-12 weeks for a Signature session, Power Hour sessions can be a couple weeks less.
The bigger question is what’s happening on either side of shoot day.
Why Time on Set Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story
Picture this: you’re hosting Thanksgiving and you plan that dinner will take about two hours. But that doesn’t take into consideration the menu planning, the decor for the table, the myriad of grocery runs, and the cooking spread over a couple days. Oh, and let’s not even talk about the dishes afterward!
A brand session works the same way. With my brand sessions, the time I spend on set with you is only about 40-50% of the work that goes into your photos. The rest happens before you ever step in front of the camera, and after you’ve gone home and kicked off your shoes.
That’s also why the number of hours on set isn’t a great way to compare photographers. Two sessions can both be “3 hours” and look completely different once you uncover what happens beforehand.
In fact, I break down how that affects pricing in what brand photos cost in Chicago.
What Happens Before Shoot Day?
Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening before your brand session day… I’m:
- Getting to know your business, your audience, and your offers
- Figuring out where your photos are going to live (your website, social, launches, a podcast page, wherever you need them)
- Building a plan around your storylines, so every setup has a job to do
- Finding a location that actually fits your brand
- Coming up with a loose plan of what to wear and which props to bring
- Connecting you with hair and makeup or a stylist if you want them
- Meeting up with you on a Zoom call a couple weeks before your session to go over the plan, show you mood boards, and get your input
- Designing your custom creative brief, that will guide you to getting prepared for shoot day
With all this planning, when shoot day arrives, we both know exactly what we’re making, and why. And that’s what will make your brand session day fun, and not confusing or stressful.
Kari with Wedding Day Chicago is a wedding coordinator here in Chicago, and she LOVES this city. It’s the heartbeat of her brand, so during planning we knew getting photos outside with Chicago vibes had to be part of the day. But driving around Chicago to different spots takes time! So Kari added an extra hour to her session. After about 2 hours in a studio, we spent another couple of hours out in the city, and now Chicago shows up all over her photos.
What Fills Three Hours on Set?
Three hours sounds like a lot until you’re in it. Here’s what’s usually happening:
- Moving through a few different storylines (working with a client, behind the scenes, the “this is me” portraits)
- Outfit changes, plus a few minutes to fix your hair and grab some water or a snack
- Resetting the room or moving to a new corner of the space
- Capturing B-roll clips in between photo setups
- Room to breathe, laugh, and settle in
- Coordinating models and others on set (if it’s not just you)
My session with Ellen at Target Training had a lot of moving parts. Ellen needed plenty of photos of herself for various uses, but we needed shots of her two other coaches, also. And we agreed during the planning process that having some of her students on set for dancing photos would make the whole shoot come alive. That’s a lot of people and a lot of setups, and every minute on set was devoted to moving through our plan.
Is a 1-Hour Brand Session Enough?
Sometimes, yes! My Power Hour Session is one focused hour that uses all the same planning I do for my Signature Brand Sessions, built around one storyline. It’s a great fit when you’re getting started or need to refresh a few images from a past session.
One hour probably won’t cover everything if you’re:
- Rebuilding your whole website
- Showing more than one offer or service
- Hoping for video
- Planning more than one outfit or location
- Planning on having more than one person or location involved in the session
This means that you don’t need to choose the biggest brand session out there. What it does mean is that the goals and the plan should determine the length of your session, not the other way around.
Sarah Wagoner is a career and leadership coach who was in the early phase of her business, and on our discovery call we agreed a Power Hour Session would be enough for her. We focused on one storyline, and she didn’t need any B-roll video. The 1-hour session was perfect, and we got so many photos for her asset library.
What Happens After the Shoot?
Shoot day ends, and that’s where my next round of work begins. After your session, I’m:
- Sending sneak peeks so you get a taste right away (one of my favorite parts!)
- Going through every image, so you’re only getting the best of the best
- Editing your photos and your B-roll clips
- Delivering your full gallery in about 3-4 weeks
- Customizing your Client Portal, with tips on using your photos
And I don’t disappear once your gallery lands in your email. I want to see you use these photos, so I’m still here to answer questions, cheer you on, and point you in the right direction.
Wendy Valentine is a coach, podcaster, and author, and she has used the photos and video from our sessions together in so many ways. They’re on her podcast cover, all over her website, and on her very active social media. She’s even used the B-roll we created to promote her book release and as visual ads for her top-rated podcast.
What Makes a Brand Session Take Longer?
A few things can determine how long your brand session should be:
- More storylines. Each offer or part of your business needs its own setups.
- Outfit changes. Every change is a few minutes, and they add up fast.
- More than one location. Travel time is real, especially with Chicago traffic.
- Video. Every video setup is time we’re not using for photos.
- Products or lots of item details. These photos need their own styling and lighting.
- Other people. Team members or clients in the shots need their own time on set.
Good planning keeps all of this from feeling like a scramble. When we know the plan going in, a long day goes so quickly, and feels easy instead of exhausting.
How Much of Your Time Does a Brand Shoot Take?
Good news: way less than mine! Here’s roughly how much time you’ll spend on your brand shoot:
- A brief Discovery Call so we can get to know one another and find out if we’re a fit before you book me and pick a date
- Filling out the Deep Dive questionnaire
- Hopping on a brief planning call 2 weeks before your session so I can go over the plan and mood boards with you
- Pulling together outfits and props (I’ll send you guidance for both)
- Hair and makeup before your session
- Shoot day itself
- Looking at your gallery, deciding what you love, and using it right away!
My one piece of advice? Block off your whole shoot day, even if we’re only on set for 3 hours. Hair and makeup takes a couple hours, and you have to account for travel. You don’t want to rush off to a meeting when you’re still on a post shoot buzz! Instead, plan to go out for dinner with your friends or a loved one – you earned it!
Ready to see which session fits you?
My Investment Guide walks you through my Power Hour and Signature Brand Sessions, so you can see what each one includes before we hop on a discovery call.
Brand Session Length: Quick Answers
How long does a brand photo session take?
A full brand photo session usually takes about 3 hours on set, and a focused shorter session runs about 1 hour. Planning before the shoot and editing after take about as much time as shoot day itself.
Is a 1-hour brand session enough?
It can be, if you need one storyline and a smaller set of images. If you’re rebuilding your website, showing more than one offer, or want video, a longer session is usually a better fit.
How long does it take to get brand photos back?
For my sessions, you’ll get sneak peeks first and your full gallery in about 3-4 weeks. From booking to final gallery, plan on about 10-12 weeks for a full session. Ask your photographer up front so you can plan your website or launch around it.
How far in advance should I book a brand photo session?
Plan on at least 6-8 weeks ahead. That gives you and your photographer time to plan your shoot without rushing.
How much time should I block off for shoot day?
Plan on the whole day. Between hair and makeup, the session itself, and a little recovery time, it’s nice not to rush off to anything else.
Why do brand photographers spend so much time planning?
Because the planning is what makes your photos useful. Knowing where your photos will live and what they need to say is what turns a nice set of pictures into images that work for your business.
