How to Create a Shot List for Your Brand Photoshoot
Have you left a brand photoshoot not feeling like you captured what you needed for your business?
Creating a strategy for your shoot will help you focus on the imagery needed to establish and tell the story of your brand to potential clients. Brand photography is more than just nice headshots or photos of you posing for the camera.
Of course, it’s important to have headshots for profile photos, About pages on your website/blog and for introductory posts on social media. But, the more powerful images are those that educate, inspire and connect with those dream clients you want fo work with.
Creating a strategy will help you accomplish this, and ensure you don’t forget important images needed for an upcoming launch, rebrand or campaign. That’s why I created the Brand Story Shot List (you can access it for free) and use it with every client I work with!
During the shoot, we follow the shot list closely, and it produces amazing results! I literally check off each shot once we complete it, and it makes the time during the shoot so much more efficient.
What to Do Before Creating a Photoshoot Shot List
Before creating a shot list, do a few things first. It will save so much time and provide even more clarity on what you actually need to create.
First, establish your goals for the shoot. Is this your first ever shoot for your brand, and you want to establish your visual aesthetic? Are you planning a website launch or rebrand? Do you have a brand partnership coming up, and need imagery to promote that product or service? Establish this beforehand, so you can create images that are super targeted to your goals.
Next, jot down some details about your ideal client like their industry or niche, pain points, lifestyle or work style and brands they’re likely following or using.
Lastly, brainstorm ways your product or service solves your client’s problem, makes their life easier and builds their confidence.
How to Build a Shot List for Your Brand Photoshoot
Now that we’ve established what a shot list is and why you need it, let’s talk about how to build one! It can as simple as describing the shots you want like, “hands typing on a computer keyboard”or a bit more strategic like documenting your business process from start to finish. Some of the foundational shots I recommend for any business are:
Lifestyle headshots: this can be holding one of your business tools, your tech or just you posing in your workspace
Behind the scenes: share a day in the life in your business, your daily routine or you speaking at an event
Mock client session (virtual or in person): this can be you talking to your computer screen with hand gestures, taking notes in a notebook or sitting at a table with a client and showing them different documents, pointing to a screen, writing on a whiteboard, etc
Your business processes: create images of you using your CRM, sending an invoice, creating something for a client, brainstorming and planning, etc
Your business tools: this could be your tech, resources you’ve created, personal development and industry books/magazines, branded marketing materials, etc
Anything that relates to your personal likes (ie. props from home): your favorite coffee mug, teacup or water bottle, flowers or plants, a hobby, your favorite pair of shoes, etc
You can also categorize each shot by the location you’re shooting, which outfit you plan to wear for each scene and inspiration images for that shot.
Build a shot list every time you shoot. If you don’t get to every shot from your previous one, add it to your next shot list. Keep a running list as your business grows or changes, or an idea pops in your mind.
Need help with building a shot list for your next shoot? I’d love to help! Book a strategy call, and let’s make your next brand photoshoot more efficient and ready to create images that will attract your dream clients.
