You’re ready to finally face the lens and get yourself an awesome set of images that you can use for all the things in your business and then you wonder, “Who can actually take all the photos I need? Who understands what I need? Who can I trust with my insecurities in front of a camera?”

Do NOT just go for the first photographer you come across. When it comes to getting brand photos that you not only adore, but are also ridiculously useful, it’s really important to make sure that your brand photographer totally gets your brand AND that you get along with him/her.

Here are three stellar tips to help you choose the perfect brand photographer for you.

1 - Only use a brand photographer.

This is KEY. Seriously. Your wedding photographer, family photographer or newborn photographer may be award-winning, but that doesn’t mean she understands all the photos that you need to launch your course, for example. It’s so important to realize that being able to take good photos is NOT ENOUGH. You need someone who has been working with brands for a while and who can hear about your brand/business and discern what you do and don’t need, and come to the table with lots of visual ideas.

2 - Look at their portfolios with a discerning eye.

It’s easy for a photographer to put “brand photographer” on their website and still not be as useful as you need them to be. When it comes to creating a bank of images for you - especially if you’re going to be using them for something as visual and in need of regular updating as Instagram - the last thing you want is 30 images of you standing in the center of the frame smiling. You need VARIETY! It’s the spice of life, right? Oh, and also of your website and your Instagram feed and anything else you plan on putting more than 2 photos on.

So, be on the lookout for variety in their portfolio. Look to see that the subject isn’t always in the center. Look for creative angles. Look for creative use of of objects, color and texture. Make sure that there is a variety of EMOTION in their portfolio. It shouldn’t all just be standing and smiling - you want to be able to tell ALL the pieces of your brand story as well as speak to your client’s pain points. Think of the things you want to talk about in your business and look at a photographer’s photos while asking yourself, “Does it look like she could photograph everything I need?”

3 - Get on a discovery call.

Hopefully, you’ve found a few personal brand photographers that look like they can give you what you need! Whoop! But now it’s time to hop on a discovery call with each of them. None of this, “I don’t feel like talking on the phone” stuff. The two of you will be spending several hours together creating images that you’re hoping to use for months (or longer). The last thing you want is to get together and realize that she is NOT your cup of tea. Your photos will look forced, stiff, uninviting - and you’ll probably hate using them, and that’s just a waste of money and time.

So, take advantage of that discovery call, share your vision, your hopes and your worries and make sure that you vibe with your photographer. You want to be as comfortable as possible in front of the camera and have tons of fun, so take the time to find a brand photographer who’s your kind of people!

And that’s it! Looking for more brand photos and tips? Come follow me on Instagram!

Local to Nashville or coming for a visit and ready for a brand shoot?! Contact me to set up a discovery call!