When you book a brand photo session, you’re investing more than your money—you’re investing your time. In fact it takes about 8 weeks to plan a strategic brand session with me.

Why? We’re creating a powerful visual story that will help elevate your business and connect with your ideal clients.

While I handle much of the creative planning process, the success of the shoot ultimately depends on your collaboration and effort. It’s a partnership! Think of it like making a great dish—if you bring the right ingredients and prepare them well, the outcome will be amazing. But if the planning and prep are lacking, the final result might not hit the mark.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my 6 to 8-week process that leads to a gallery of incredible brand photos. Whether you just launched your business, or you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, understanding what’s involved can help set you up for success.

Week 1-2: Defining Your Brand Vision

A successful brand photo shoot starts with clarity. This is where you and I get on the same page about your brand’s purpose, audience, and message. What do you want your photos to say about your business? Who are you trying to attract? These are the big questions we’ll tackle in the first couple of weeks.

While I guide you through the process with my Deep Dive questionnaire, it’s important that you come prepared with a clear mind about your brand. I’ll ask you a bunch of questions to help uncover some of those thoughts, and share with me future business plans, upcoming launches, colors, styles, or anything else that brings clarity to your brand.

This phase is also about setting intentions. A photo shoot is not just about “looking good”; it’s about telling a strategic story that resonates with your audience. This stage sets the tone for what’s to come.

What You Need to Do:

• Set aside a time to complete my Deep Dive questionnaire.
• Begin to think about the location for your session. I’ll send you my suggestions and resources to guide you.

Week 3-4: Planning the Details

Once we have your brand vision locked in, it’s time for me to start the creative planning process. I do lots of work behind the scenes to design a strategic plan that’s in line with where you are now, but more importantly, where your business is going.

This is also when you’ll need to dive into some of the practicals: wardrobe and hair/makeup.

What you wear is just as important as the location and style of your shoot. Your clothing should reflect your brand’s colors, tone, and overall feel. Whether it’s professional, casual, or creative, your wardrobe needs to support the brand image we’re crafting.

What You Need to Do:

• Finalize your outfits (and consider getting a stylist if needed).
• Book hair and makeup artists (I can recommend professionals).
• Lock in the location for your photo shoot.

Week 5-6: Fine-Tuning & Preparation

Once I’ve created a plan (complete with mood boards!), we’ll meet to discuss it and make sure the overall plan aligns with the hopes you have for your session. We’ll make sure we’re aligned and make adjustments to the plan if needed.

This is where most people really start to get excited about the shoot because they’re beginning to see the vision for what will happen on shoot day.

During out planning call, we’ll also go over the props you’ll bring to your shoot.

Props are an important detail. Whether it’s a daily journal, some books you love, your laptop, or something personal, bringing props into your shoot can make it feel more authentic and impactful…and unique to you.

Preparation here is key, which is why I spend so much time helping you feel prepared. The more comfortable and confident you feel, the better your photos will turn out.

What You Need to Do:

• Meet with me to go over the creative plan (and make needed adjustments).
• Continue to finalize your wardrobe.
• Gather any props that we decide will be part of your shoot.

Week 7-8: Shoot Day!

It’s finally here—the moment we’ve been preparing for! By now, you’ve done the hard work, and I’ll make sure everything runs smoothly on the day of the shoot.

On the day of your photo session, you’ll arrive feeling prepared and ready to go. I’ll guide you through each setup, making sure your poses, expressions, and energy align with your brand story.

We’ll make sure we get everything on the shot list, but I’ll also encourage you to let go and embrace the spontaneity of the moment. Some of the best images happen when we go off-script and capture those real, authentic moments.

The key to a successful brand shoot is confidence. The more relaxed and natural you are, the better your photos will turn out. Trust the process, and let’s make some photo magic happen!

What You Need to Do:

• Show up ready to have fun and be in the moment.
• Relax and trust me to guide you through the process.
• Smile and enjoy the experience!

Post-Shoot: The Editing Process

Once the shoot is over, it’s time for me to work my magic behind the scenes. During this editing phase, I carefully select the best shots from our session. When I’m finished, your images will be delivered in high-quality formats, ready for use on your website, social media, and marketing materials.

After I deliver your photo gallery, I’ll also provide guidance on how to make the most of your new brand photos. Whether it’s for an upcoming launch or an ongoing content strategy, I’m here as a resource to make sure your photos are put to good use!

What You Need to Do:

• Wait eagerly for the sneak peek of your edited images.
• Start planning how to incorporate your photos into your brand strategy.
• Download and begin to use your images!

What Happens If You Skip the Work?

It’s tempting to think that a brand photo shoot is just about showing up and looking good in front of the camera. But without careful planning, you may end up with photos that don’t fully represent your brand or don’t connect with your audience.

But don’t worry—when you invest the time to plan, you’re investing in photos that will serve your brand for a few years to come. The good news? We’re in this together, and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.

Ready to get started? Let’s chat about how we can create brand images that will elevate your business!