Creating a Shot List For Your Branding Shoot
When it comes to a branding shoot, it's not just about snapping photos; it's about telling your brand's story through images. And to make sure your branding shoot really captures your brand's vibe, you will need a shot list.
Why a Shot List Matters
A shot list is basically your game plan for the shoot. It's a list of all the specific shots you want to get. This helps you and your photographer make sure you don't miss any important shots, stay on track and make the most of your shoot time. Here's how to craft the perfect shot list for your branding shoot:
1. Clarify your Brand Voice and Message
Before you get into the nitty-gritty of the shot list, think about what your brand is all about. Really give thought to your brand and the messages you are trying to relay to your audience as this forms the basis of the whole look of images.
Are you fun and crafty, or professional and polished? Do you like clean and simple images, or colourful and bold? What do you want people to feel and think when they see your images? What's the main message you want to get across?
Think about the types of captions and stories you want to tell on social media, and think about what images you need to share those stories.
Once you've got that clear, you're ready to move on. (If you need more help then read more about it here.)
2. Where Will You Use Your Images?
Yes you know that you need branding images to elevate your online presence, but where will you actually be using them?
Are they for your website, social media, print ads, podcast covers or something else? Do you need white space for graphics, or wide banner images?
Different platforms need different kinds of photos, so keep that in mind when you're making your shot list.
3. Create an inspiration board
If you are not sure about what images you need, then take a look around at what other people are doing to get some inspiration. They could be in the same industry or a different one, but have alook around and see what captures your eye. You might like the location, the pose, the wardrobe of certain images and this is a great starting point to determine what type of images you want and then visualising how you could make them work for your brand.
Pinterest is a good place for this, or you could use an app like Milanote to collate all of your ideas.
This could then be used to share with your photographer the types of images that you want to capture for your own business.
4. What Kind of Shots Do You Need?
Think about all the different types of shots that could show off your business in the best way (click here to read more about shot ideas):
Headshots: Great for websites and social media profiles.
Lifestyle Shots: Get shots of your products or services being used in real life, or some behind the scenes of how you work.
Teams Shots: Show off your team or anyone else who's part of your brand, showing how you work together can demonstrate your company culture and values.
Location Shots: Get shots in places that are relevant to your brand. it could be your workspace, park, or a local cafe.
Client Shots: Do you work 1:1 or online? Capture the details of how you actually work with people.
Tools of your trade: Items you use to do your job that are unique to you .
When you book a shoot with me I provide a list of suggested shots, and a comprehensive prop list aswel.
5. Prioritise Your Shots
Some shots are more important than others. Make sure you've got the ‘must have’ at the top of your list so you don't forget them. You don't want to run out of time and miss getting the shots you really need.
6. Leave Room for Creativity
Even though you've got a plan, don't be afraid to go with the flow and try new things. Some of the best shots happen when you're not sticking too rigidly to the plan. Let your photographer play around with different angles and ideas to really bring your brand to life.
Wrapping Up
Crafting your shot list is all about working together with your photographer to make sure your branding shoot turns out just right. Once you've got your brand's story down, and figured out the types of shots you need, you're ready to make your shot list. With a bit of planning and creativity, you'll end up with a set of photos that really capture the heart of your brand.
Of course as your branding photographer, I am there with you everystep of the way, and we work together to create the shotlist that will best represent your brand.
If you are ready to get started on your branding shoot journey then book a call here.
Or if you are still a bit overwhelmed the download ‘The Ultimate Planning Guide’ to take you step by step through the process to give more of an idea of what to expect.