We’re even more excited than usual over here at the CCHQ because two awesome things happened in the last few weeks. First of all, Claire and I got to have the biggest of hugs after having not been together in person since November 2024. Yep, a long time! And secondly, totally capitalising on being together we booked ourselves in for some brand shots in Malaga, with a friend and local photographer. We’ve not had any professional photos taken since 2019, so as you can imagine we are well overdue for some new photos.
So having been through the process of planning and capturing our new images, we thought we’d share our top tips on branding sessions and, how to go about doing them, because let’s face it, even the shyest celebrant needs to have some nice photos of themselves for marketing purposes and the great thing about it too, is that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. For example, if you’re a new celebrant, professional headshots and other photos of you can look great on your website in absence of any photos of you doing ceremonies. There really are lots of good reasons for why pro photos can be really useful and give your marketing that polished touch that you might be looking for. Read on for our top tips.
Tip 1 - What are your photos for?
Before finding a photographer (tip number 2) we recommend figuring out what it is that you want the photos for. This will really help you to then make sure that you get the right images that you can use for different purposes. Ideally you will want to maximise any session you have by taking photos that can be used for all sorts of marketing; your website, social media, online marketing, guest blogging, leaflets etc. And so once you’ve figured this out, it will give you a clearer idea of what photos you’d like, which you can communicate to your photographer.
Tip 2 - Finding the right photographer (for you)
The good thing about photographers, much like with celebrants, is that they’re not in short supply and there are lots of different types. Even if you are a wedding celebrant, you don’t have to work with a wedding photographer to create your brand images. There are lots of different photographers out there with different styles who might be able to give you the look that you want. And in many cases, there are photographers out there who actually specialise in brand shoots and so will be full of ideas for the best way forward for you.
And let’s just talk about price for a minute. Whilst branded photos are actually a good investment for your business, they don't have to cost a fortune and in some cases might not be as expensive as you think. If your funds are tight you can look out in Facebook groups for any offers that photographers make, or special brand packages that they have. Sometimes, photographers are looking for models for certain shoots, which might be a great way of getting professional shots, as with styled wedding shoots as well, which are relatively easy to be a part of. Or you could contact local photography courses and clubs and see about amateur or student photographers who might be interested in using their skills for a brand shoot. Or you may know someone who has a good eye and a good camera who’s happy to be your photographer! There are lots of clever ways of getting branded photos without having to spend lots of money.
Tip 3 - plan your shots
It really helps to go into a branded shoot knowing exactly what photos you want and where you want them taken. Do you want some of you in your home office? Sitting at your desk? Or some nice ones of you in your garden or at a local beauty spot or some urban shots with city backdrops? Do you want headshots and full body shots? Walking shots or you in a cafe having a coffee? So you see how it helps to plan your shots and locations to at least be able to talk them through with your photographer, so you’re both on the right page.
Claire and I discussed the kind of shots that we wanted before hand, what we would use them for (ie website, social media, newsletter etc) and we even created a mood board of brand photos we'd seen online. It's funny now to see our own version of some of the photos that we had bookmarked for inspiration. Also having a lot of desirable images and poses really does help not to waste time on the day too. A list helps you and the photographer to be more efficient with the time and to tick off everything as you go so that nothing is forgotten.
Tip 4 - Take a wardrobe!
Okay, not a literal wardrobe. No one needs to lug heavy furniture around! If you really want to maximise your brand shoot, take several changes of clothing with you. Wearing different outfits for different photos and even different times of the year (where possible!) can mean that you can get yourself a great set of images that will last a long time and can be used across your different platforms. If you’re going to spend a good few hours with a camera in your face, you may as well plan to get lots from it! With good planning, a brand photo session could see you with a great selection of photos that you can use for a nice few years to come for lots of different purposes.
And clothes aside, you may want to think about any props that you want to have in your photos. Maybe you want to take a few of you in ceremony mode (without actually being at a ceremony), so you'll need a tablet or folder to pose with. Think about what other props might come in handy!
We had fun on our shoot and we’re glad we took the time to plan what we wanted and what we were going to wear so as to not waste so much time on the day. You can take a look at some of our photos below. Let us know what you think!
And just to give you an idea, our photographer managed to get 150 photos of us in 2.5 hours! Not bad eh? Prepare to see these photos everywhere!
A huge shout out to my dear friend, Ávaro from 3H visual who not only made our session so much fun but captured our spirit and nailed our brief perfectly.
