First step to creating Strategic Brand Photos - Book a Clarity Call
Everything You Need to Know & More
You have questions when it comes to your personal brand photography - I completely get it! Allow me to share the top 25 most asked questions I receive when it comes to booking and planning for your brand photography session.
Curious about a specific phase of your brand photography experience? Jump to a section:
Discover More About Brand Photography
What is personal brand photography?
Personal brand photography is the intentional creation of visuals that represent who you are, what you have to offer, and how you serve your clients. Brand photos are best used to appeal to your ideal client throughout your marketing initiatives.
What is the difference between a headshot and brand photos?
A headshot is a singular photo of yourself used to identify who you are in the corporate world. Brand photos are used as a client relationship catalyst to appeal to your ideal client, create a connection between the two of you, and build awareness about the product and services you offer as a small business.
What are the benefits of professional photos for my small business?
Professional photography instantly elevates your brand positioning with your audience. Seeing quality photography throughout your website, social media, email, and content marketing communicates that you provide a quality experience to your clients and take your own business seriously. Plus, seeing you, as the business owner, within your marketing makes a memorable impression on your potential clients.
Do I need brand photos for my website?
Yes, you do need brand photos for your website. Brand photos are a revenue-generating marketing initiative and should be used throughout all of your marketing channels like your website, email marketing, social media marketing, and marketing materials. Using your brand photos consistently throughout your marketing will reinforce your brand values and messaging.
What areas do you serve as a personal brand photographer?
Emily Marcella Brand Photography is based in Northern Virginia and serves the surrounding areas like Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, and Prince William County. If you’re located in Leesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Reston, Herndon, McLean, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Gainesville, Warrenton, or nearby, please reach out!
What is the average cost of a personal branding session?
Brand photography can range in pricing depending on what features you’d like included. Clients of Emily Marcella Brand Photography spend between $1,000 to $2,250 on personal brand photography. That range accounts for the photography fee, location rentals, and professional hair and makeup services. To learn more about the brand photography services Emily Marcella offers, please download the experience guide here.
What brand photography packages do you offer?
Brand Photography Sessions and Content Creation Sessions are the two main services that Emily Marcella Brand Photography offers. Brand photography sessions are intended to create evergreen brand photos for your business through in-depth planning. Content creation sessions are intended to support your existing marketing strategy with consumable content. Curious to learn what session is best for you? Schedule a quick clarity call with Emily.
What are commercial usage rights for brand photography? And how much do commercial usage rights cost?
Brand photos are a revenue-generating marketing initiative – that is, you use brand photos to grow your business and make money. Commercial usage rights is an agreement between the photographer (copyright holder and licensor) and the client (the licensee) that grants the client permission to use their photos to generate revenue for their business. Emily Marcella clients are not charged for the commercial usage rights and are encouraged to use their photos however they see fit to grow their business – that’s the whole point of brand photos!
What happens if I don’t like how I look in photos?
Feeling comfortable in photos can be a challenge because we’re so critical of ourselves. It’s important to remember the value brand photography holds for your business and to feel proud of yourself for taking brand photos. Finding a photographer that you feel comfortable with, trust, and like the photos they create will make it easier to be in front of the camera.
Planning For Your Brand Photos
What is included in a personal brand photography session?
A brand photography session includes a variety of features. You’ll have a planning call to understand your business, brand, and marketing goals, a customized strategy guide to help you prepare for your session, and a 90-minute photography session at the location of your choice within Northern Virginia. After your session, you’ll receive all edited high-resolution images through a digital gallery with commercial rights.
What should I wear for a branding photoshoot?
When you’re deciding what to wear for your branding photoshoot, plan outfits that you would wear in front of your clients, have a variety of coordinating on-brand outfits to improve the longevity of your photos, and wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and fit well. Depending on your industry, I recommend dressing in levels – professional, business casual, and casual – to have options when it comes to using your brand photos in your marketing.
What props should I bring to my brand photo session?
Props are an excellent way to illustrate what services and products you offer to your clients along with defining your brand in your photos. I recommend bringing props that represent what you do, props that are visually cohesive with your branding, and props that can help your content marketing. You’ll be given a list of suggested props tailored to your brand in your strategy guide prior to your brand photo session.
How should I pose for my brand photos?
I will guide you through your entire brand photography session by telling you how to pose and what emotion you should evoke. You’ll find that I talk through almost the entire session so you know what to do and what’s happening. Details like hair, hands, and how your clothes lay are always top of mind because I want you to look your best!
How should I prepare for a professional photoshoot?
You’ll want to prepare all outfits, including shoes and accessories, and props prior to your professional brand photoshoot. Determine if you’d like to have your hair and makeup done by a professional prior to your brand session and hire them, if so. The days leading up to your session, make sure you sleep well, drink water, and properly eat to keep your energy levels high.
What is a good brand photography shot list template?
When planning out your brand photography shot list, you’ll want to capture new headshots or portraits of yourself, lifestyle photos of you working, on-brand stock photography to use as graphics and backgrounds, and content-specific images to support your social media marketing.
How long does a branding session take?
Branding sessions are 90-minutes long but we plan to be together for two hours. This additional built-in time creates a relaxed, low-pressure session. The additional time is used to change outfits, talk through ideas, and change scenes to maximize variety in your brand photo gallery.
Why are your brand sessions only 90-minutes?
Based on dozens of brand sessions, the 90-minute timeframe seems to be the sweet spot for clients. You’ll find this time frame easy to plan for without getting overwhelmed. The session is long enough to capture the brand photos you need for your business without draining your energetic batteries! Plus, you’ll find after you use your brand photos for a period of time, new ideas will begin to emerge and you’ll want to have another session to create new brand photos.
Can you help me with creative direction of my brand photos or do I need to have it all figured out?
Yes, I can absolutely help you develop the creative direction of your brand photos! Before you even become a client, we have a clarity call to connect over the phone while talking through what you had in mind for your photos. This call usually turns into a brain storm session where I share what I envision for your photos or communicate how we can create your vision. Want to talk through your brand photos? Schedule a clarity call here.
What to Expect After Your Brand Session
How many brand photos do I actually get?
On average, clients can expect to receive 30 to 45 edited high-resolution images per hour of brand photography coverage. Your final gallery of brand photos should include a variety of images that may include headshots, lifestyle or working photos, branded stock photos, closeup detail photos, etc. Emily Marcella Brand Photography clients cand download and use all images that are delivered to them and it usually exceeds the estimated 30 to 45 images per hour.
How soon will I get the gallery of brand photos back?
Your brand photography gallery is usually delivered within two to three weeks of your session date. During this time, your brand photographer is curating a gallery of the best images and editing them for consistency to match your brand. Delivery time varies because of your photographer’s workload and the number of images that will be delivered.
Can I use my brand photos for my book cover, ads, physical products, etc.?
How you can use your brand photos will be determined by the commercial usage rights agreement between you and your photographer. Emily Marcella Brand Photography clients are encouraged to use their brand photos in all facets to grow their business and maintain consistency within their branding. Please share how you use your photos! It’s wildly fulfilling for a photographer to see their work in the wild and a major compliment.
