As a business owner, brand photography sessions are a must. Whether you are enlisting a professional for the project or DIY-ing it, posing can over feel like one of the biggest hurdles. With the pressure of the images turning out great in the back of your mind, you overthink your outfits, locations, and have no idea what to even do with your hands! Posing for these types of photos is not quite the same as that fun family barbecue photo opt you did last summer. So how can you prepare and feel confident on camera? Save these 5 poses to use for your next branding photoshoot!
1. The Casually Happy Shot
People want to work with joyful or happy people. Period. So if you can find a way to incorporate joy or happiness into your shots, you will welcome your customers into a story that they will actually want to enter into. Get photos of you joyfully doing what you love, or happily helping a customer with a service you provide or smiling working on that project. “Casually” happy just means not too forced. Looking away from the camera while smiling can be great for this as well.
2. The Sassy Serious Shot
Now it’s time for the shots that “mean business.” You want to show your potential customers that you love what you do, but you also mean business. Adding some “boss babe” serious power poses can be a great way to show authority about your work and your business. You may feel a little silly doing these, but if you commit to the pose, they will come out great!
3. The “I’m Busy Working”
Whatever it is you do for business or work, you will want to get some shots of you “in action.” Having these “working” shots allows your customers to imagine what it would be like to work with you. It helps them to enter your brand story and picture themselves in it. “Oh, that’s Hannah planning by Instagram feed for next month.” Or “She is doing market research on my competitors.” It may seem obvious, but people are visual and want to visibly see what you do in action. So even if what you do is more “abstract,” try to find a way to actualize it for photography purposes.
4. The BTS Shot
Even if you don’t use these BTS shots for your website or more “professional” marketing images, they types of photos can be so helpful to unmask certain myths or assumptions about your business. Think of these like The Great and Power Oz revealing his true self. These shots are good to add into the mix for your social media platforms from time to time to show your “humanness.”
5. The Business Headshot
Although not the “most fun” shots to get for your business, they are important. The business headshot is that professional shot that can be used for bios, Linkedin Profile Pictures, resumes, Email photos, etc. It is good to get some of just the face, like a traditional headshot. And a few that is a little farther back, but still in a more professional setting. Depending on your type of work, these photos can be slightly more casual or very business oriented.
Hope you gained some inspiration and little more confidence for your next business branding shoot. If you need a little more inspo be sure to check out Instagram for more of our branding photos and additional tips.