Launching a Brand with Contemporary Portrait Photography
Client Profile: OMB Wallpaper Consultants
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of working with a client on their brand launch photography. We had a great experience that translated into even more amazing results, so much that I thought I’d share the details here.
Your brand identity is a complex, multilayered part of your business, and creating visual assets for it is no small task. This is a glimpse into what goes into planning and executing a successful branding photoshoot.
Objective: Yolanda of OMB Wallpaper Consultants wanted to launch her new brand with powerful, editorial style portraits that reflected her dynamic personality and professional expertise, as well as showcase her product in a subtle, indirect fashion. The goal was to create images for her website, social media, and promotional materials.
Step 1: Planning and Concept Development
Initial Consultation:
Understanding the Client's Vision: The initial consultation is a critical phase where understanding the client's needs and vision is paramount. This goes beyond a simple conversation; it's about diving deep into what the client hopes to achieve with their portraits.
Comprehensive Discussion: During my multiple meetings with Yolanda, we explored her brand’s core values, target audience, and the specific message she wanted to convey through her images. This involved discussing her motivations, her business goals, and how she envisioned her brand evolving.
Visual Preferences: I asked Yolanda to share any visual inspiration she had, such as images from magazines, Pinterest boards, or other branding materials she gravitated towards. This helped me understand her aesthetic preferences and ensured we were aligned in terms of style and tone.
Creating a Mood Board:
Visual Blueprint: Based on our discussions, Yolanda developed a mood board that visually represented the creative direction for the shoot. This included color palettes, potential wardrobe ideas, prop suggestions, and sample portraits that captured the essence of what she was looking for.
My Feedback: Yolanda shared the mood board with me, and together we ensured every element resonated with her vision, and came up with a practical plan of how to bring those ideas to visual form.
Goal Setting:
Defining Success: Right from the very beginning, Yolanda and I set clear goals for the shoot. This included identifying the key platforms where the images would be used (e.g., website, social media, promotional materials) and specific outcomes she hoped to achieve.
Shot List Creation: We created a detailed shot list outlining the different types of images needed, including headshots, action shots, and lifestyle images. This list served as a guide to ensure all of Yolanda’s needs were met during the shoot.
Step 2: Pre-Production
Location Scouting:
Choosing Locations: We selected one main location: Wade Studios for its size and versatility, allowing us to create multiple sets within the space.
Wardrobe and Styling:
Outfit Coordination: Yolanda chose outfits that reflected her brand colors and personal style, emphasizing vibrant, energetic pieces suitable for both professional and lifestyle shots.
Professional Makeup and Hair: Yolanda arranged for a professional makeup artist to provide a natural, yet polished look that would withstand the active shoot (completed pre arrival at the studio).
Step 3: The Photoshoot
Setup and Lighting:
Creating Multiple Sets: While Yolanda and her team worked on installing the wallpaper on the wall, my assistant, Tristan, and I worked on building, lighting, and testing the sets before getting our subject in front of the camera.
Background Variety: At the studio, we created multiple sets with different backgrounds for each look. By doing that, the client is able to walk away with different looks, which ultimately increases the longevity of the images as promotional material.
Shooting Process:
Creative Angles: Experimented with dynamic poses and creative angles to add energy and movement to the shots. Included props related to her brand such as wallpaper rolls, sample books, and more.
Candid Moments: Captured Yolanda interacting with her professional print and presentation material naturally, aligning with the candid and lifestyle trend.
Unplanned Ideas: During every shoot, I leave room for unplanned ideas to come into play. Trying a different angle or pose can often work better than the ones planned in advance. If you don’t try – you don’t know.
Step 4: Post-Production
Editing and Selection:
Initial Review: After receiving her proofs, the client goes through the full collection in order to select the best shots that align with the project goals.
Professional Retouching: Focused on enhancing colors, adjusting lighting, and ensuring a cohesive look across all images. Additionally, the retouching process includes all problem solving that couldn’t happen on set.
Client Review:
Feedback Loop: At this stage, I share a preliminary edit with the client’s selections for feedback, making any necessary adjustments based on their input.
Final Touches: Final edits are applied and preparation of the images in multiple formats suitable for web and print use.
Final Results
Deliverables:
Comprehensive Image Package: The very last production stage is providing the client with a diverse set of high-quality images that showcased her personality and professionalism.
Usage: The images will be used on the website, social media profiles, marketing materials, and promotional content, significantly enhancing the brand’s visual identity.
To sum things up…
This branding shoot for Yolanda exemplifies how modern trends in portrait photography, combined with meticulous planning and execution, can significantly elevate a personal brand. It takes time and effort but every bit of it is worth it at the end.
Ready to transform your brand with a professional shoot? Let’s get started!