Choosing a location for branding photos is hard!

Having a branding photo session done is a big deal – and you can make fun of me for starting all of my posts like this, but that doesn’t make it less true!! Branding photos for your business set expectations. They communicate to your people. They set the tone for what your clients or customers will experience when they’re working with you or using your products. So like… there’s a lot that goes into making sure they’re RIGHT. Because if they’re not… they’re not going to do their jobs very well.

There’s a lot to think about

This means there’s a lot to think about before you have your session. Everything from making sure you’re having them done at a location that makes sense, to making sure you choose clothing that will line up with your business’ brand overall. Even details as small as whether you have your hair and nails done before your session will change how your audience sees your business when they’re looking at your branding images on your online presence and elsewhere!

But location is a BIG one, not a little impactful detail. The location you choose for your branding session goes a long way to set the tone of your session, because your location is going to change what’s around you in your pictures. That might sound obvious, but there’s a big difference between having a session in a local Minneapolis park, versus having your session in my studio, versus having your session at your business’ location or even your home!

So how do you choose?

Which brings us to the big question – how do you choose between potential locations for your business branding and headshot session?

First of all… maybe you don’t need to!

The first thing to know about choosing a location for your branding photo session, is kind of a cop-out, because… you might not need to choose! Before your session you can talk to your photographer about the number of locations included in your package, and you might be able to have the best of all possible worlds. For example, I have branding photo session packages that include images taken in a variety of places, and you can totally have a session that includes outdoor and indoor images. We can use parks in and around the Minneapolis area, my studio, your home, your office – everything is on the table. So if you want “all that and more” – you can absolutely have it!

But if you do, ask yourself: What are you going to use the images for?

All that being said, not everyone can make an unlimited session like that work, and not everyone NEEDS to. I’m not in the business of selling you branding images that you’re not going to use, or creating sessions that don’t make sense for your business. I want you to end up with images that will work FOR you, and do EXACTLY what you need them to.

So the first thing to think about when you’re choosing the location for your branding photo session, is what you plan on using the images for. What’s the actual goal for the session? Do you need product images to update your online gallery? In that case, it might be best to choose ONE location, and use it for ALL of the images in your gallery. If you’re booking a branding session to update the headshots of your staff on your company website, then you’re probably going to want those photos to be consistent. Meaning, again, picking ONE location will be best. There are always exceptions to every rule, and every business’ needs are unique, but you can use the intention behind the photo package you’re booking to get an idea of how many locations you’ll need to use.

What kind of brand images do you already have?

Another factor to keep in mind, is what images you already have for your business, and whether you’re going to replace them! If you are adding to a package of images you already have, you might want to keep the location consistent. If that branding session happened in your office, maybe you need this one to as well. OR, on the other hand, you might want to have some variety in what you’re adding to your photo tool box! Maybe, you need some outdoor images to compliment the indoor photos you’re already using. That would also be totally fair.

Or maybe you need that variety because of the nature of your business – if you’re a real-estate agent, for example, it might make sense to have some images taken in homes you’re permitted to photograph, and not just have images in your office space! If you own a yoga studio that hosts both indoor and outdoor classes, then again – having photos of both so that you can advertize both is a good plan. So, think about what you’ve already got. Is there somewhere you need to fill a gap in your library?

How long do you want to be able to use the photos?

If the package you’re putting together for your business is for promotional content somewhere, of even for social posting, you’re going to need to think about how long you want those photos to last you when you’re picking locations. Why? Well, more variety means more longevity!! It would be kind of weird to post photos taken the same day, in the same place, possibly with the same props and wardrobe involved, for six months of content. Your audience would catch on pretty quickly to that kind of move, right? There are a lot of other factors that can change how long your package will last for things like social promotion, but it’s definitely something to think about when you’re selecting locations!

Need to book in a branding photo session?

Is it time to add photos taken in a new location to your business’ toolbox? If it is… we should chat. I’d love to answer any and all questions you have about branding photo sessions here in Minneapolis, help you choose locations that will work amazingly for your business, and in the end… make magic happen. Because your business deserves photos that help it work FOR you!

Bonus: Take a look at just a few results that my AMAZING team of collaborators and me have gotten for our social media management clients!