How to develop and execute a creative, brand-aligned photoshoot on a budget.
In business, photography is important. Using your own photographs rather than stock photography helps in the development of an authentic, professional branding. Because, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, it also helps in setting the tone, personality, and overall aesthetic of your business. Photographers work in a highly valued field, and they have to have creative talent in order to transform whatever they capture into breath-taking art.
It's understood that money can be tight at times, and that paying for a professional photographer to shoot your social media material on a regular basis may be tough. If you can't afford to hire a professional photographer, we've put together some guidelines on how to take creative, brand- aligned photos on a budget below.
1. Create a mood board
A mood board is an excellent approach to set the overall aesthetic and feel of your next photoshoot. The mood board might include images of colours, wardrobe choices, props, poses, and location suggestions, depending on the purpose of the photography (profile shots, flat lays, social media material).
Here’s an example of a mood board.
I recommend using Canva.com, which offers a free account option, to design your mood board. Canva is a fantastic tool for creating mood boards since it allows you to upload images, overlay shapes and textures, add fonts, and quickly move things around until you're satisfied.
2. Choosing A Location
Home
If you are lucky enough to own or rent a house that has timber floors and white walls, excellent! If you can, choose a corner or area of your home that you can decorate with props, a cute mat, nice chair or of course, your lovely self. If you don’t have a nice chair, cover it up with throw and add some pillows to dress it up.
A Friend’s Place
Do you have a friend who has a lovely home or a room in their house that you could redecorate?
Request a photoshoot at your friend's house; all they have to do is vacuum, haha!
Visit A Café
There are several lovely cafés in Sydney where you can have a photo shoot. All you have to do is ask the café owners for permission ahead of time. Keep in mind that because of the highly public nature of this sort of photoshoot, this choice may make some people uncomfortable, so if you're not okay being seen by others, select another alternative.
Cool Local Wall Murals
In Sydney you can find gorgeous street art and murals in almost every suburb. If you Google Sydney street art you will be directed to several locations to choose from.
Even if you find a plain wall with great texture like brick, you can make the shot interesting by wearing a colourful / bright attire and adding a statement piece like a hat or purse.
3. Outfit & Props
We recommend at least two outfits for a photoshoot, so you can have a completely different look at the same location. This helps to get the most out of your photoshoot.
Wearing clothes you already have in your wardrobe is a great way to save money. Also try and wear a touch of your main brand colour because it looks great on your Instagram feed. If in doubt, wear a pair of jeans or black pants and a white / neutral top, you can’t go wrong. When it comes to props, less is more, especially if you're taking photos in a café and don't want to be hauling boxes of items about.
Tip: Gather a few products that are similar in colour to your brand's look and set them out in a test layout to ensure that all of the props match. Props that match your brand style make your images and social media feed appear polished, which helps you establish a strong brand presence since everything should be consistent so your target market knows what to expect from you.
4. Hair & Makeup
To keep the expense of the photoshoot down, it helps if you can do your own hair and makeup, but if you don't know how and are ready to learn, there are a plethora of YouTube lessons on how to apply makeup and hair for your specific face shape and colour. It will benefit you greatly to learn how to do it yourself because if you post at least once a day on social media, you’ll need a hell of a lot of photos to keep it up.
5. Models
Do you want to include some fictional clients in some of your shots? If you want to shoot a 1:1 client encounter, this is something to consider. This is wonderful for your business since it shows how approachable and great to work with you are. Rather than spending money on a model, ask a friend or family member.
However, choose your model carefully! Do not ask your boyfriend to be your model if your target market is ladies aged 25 to 45. Make sure you find a friend who is aligned with your target market. Another thing to think about is how they dress for the photoshoot; make sure they are dressed in neutral colours that match your brand's image.
6. Lighting & Time Of Day
The best form of light is natural light. So, if possible, take your photos during the day.
If you're planning an outdoor photoshoot, the greatest times of day are when the sun isn't as harsh, such as sunrise, cloudy days, and later in the evening when the sun is ready to set. Have the photoshoot during midday if you want to capture images with harsh light, however, be aware of squinty eyes and sweaty armpits.
8. Editing
Some say the editing process is the most fun! There are so many apps for editing you can choose from. There’s Lightroom, FaceTune, Polish, Snapseed, ect. Some apps you can create set filters so editing is easy breezy and consistent.
I hope you enjoyed this article and found it useful in planning your own photography on a budget!
