Booked & Ready: Your Branding Shoot Prep Guide
Thank you for booking your personal branding shoot with me!
I am super excited to have you all in front of my camera and make some epic memories!
So you’ve booked the shoot, confirmed the date and time (or if you’re still finalising that, now’s the time to lock it in!) but now what? How do you prepare yourself and the rest of the family?
Well this is the fun bit! Deciding what to wear, where to do the shoot etc. My first suggestion would be to decide where you will be using the photos. If it’s going on a wall in your house and you want it to tie in with your decor, start there when choosing the colour scheme. That will also tie in with your chosen location.
My other suggestion would be to have your makeup professionally done (to those that would like to wear makeup). Even if you’re someone who doesn’t wear much, a natural look done professionally can make a big difference on camera. I do have vendors that I can recommend so let me know.
And then of course snacks, snacks, snacks for the kids! Even if they are a little older. Full bellies = happy faces. And it’s perfect to use some of it for bribery if needed.
If you’re feeling a bit nervous…
Especially about how your little ones might behave on the day, take a breath and please don’t stress. If you have any specific concerns, I’m always here to chat, but trust me, wrangling kids is my job on the day, not yours. I’ve worked with so many families in all their beautiful forms, and never once have we had to cancel or reschedule because of a tricky moment. The goal is to have fun — and that’s the theme of all of my family shoots.
And to the reluctant partners, I see you too. Maybe this shoot wasn’t your idea and you’re not stoked about it. And that’s okay. I promise it won’t take long, and the photos will be such a gift to your family. A gift that will last forever. Give me half a chance to make it a good time… and hey, there might be a snack waiting for you too. 😉
Now for the part I get the most questions about…
What on earth do we wear?!
Imagine that we're painting a picture...
The scene has been painted, and we're about to paint you into it!
What are we going to have you wearing in this work of art? Let's find out...
Why this matters
I created this guide with you (my clients) in mind, to bring you information that walks you through the process of choosing what you wear on your photoshoot!
Hear me out... what you wear can make or break your photos!
What you wear is like the quality of paint you use to create a piece of art. Poor quality, and the art suffers!
So get comfy, and take a few minutes to walk through this guide. I promise you, it will be every bit worth it!
At the end of the day, I want you to feel like yourself when you look back at these photos, and part of that is wearing what most feels like you!
While this isn’t the time for sweats and hoodies, we’re not aiming for red carpet either — comfort and authenticity are key.
What do you already have?
Take a look at whatever is already in your closet, and go from there! Don't immediately jump to: "Let's buy something new that I'd never wear in real life!" Totally cool if you want something new and special for your shoot, but just make sure it reflects who you've been all along!
If you want something new, maybe wear it a few times before the actual shoot day, and think about how you like it on yourself!
How does it make you feel when you are in social settings or when you look in the mirror? Same thing with something-you've-always-had, make sure you do love wearing it, and it makes you feel confident/comfortable!
MOVEMENT
Make sure you can move in your outfit very easily, and it's a huge added bonus if the piece itself moves as well!
TRY: Flowy, airy, fun, textured, soft, etc... AVOID: Stiff, crisp, business, starchy, etc...
TIMELESS
Look for a piece that you won't regret wearing in 5 years. Maybe something that has already stood the test of time. Use what I call: "The 5 and 5 rule." 5 years ago you could have probably worn it, and in 5 years you could probably still wear it!
ALL YOU
Make sure it has that classic, trademark, YOU Stamp on it! Whether it's something old or new!
Here's WHAT TO AVOID:
Avoid crisp or starchy clothes that make you feel constricted or overly formal. stay away from blazers or business-wear. We want a comfortable, cozy, fun version of you!
At all costs, avoid sports/athletic wear, gym clothes or gym shoes.
If logos or branding are bigger than a quarter, try to look for something else without any branding or words on it!
Last thing: stay away from trendy patterns and styles!
Let's talk about COLOUR...
Soft Neutrals
Pops of colour
I always recommend neutrals and earthy-toned colours that visually fit into the natural/earthy surroundings we are shooting in! You want to avoid the highly-manufactured / bright / aggressive colors and tones that just don’t look like they belong in a natural setting, because they will stand out like a sore thumb, and will end up looking out of place in the final photo.
When it comes to colour, you do want to stand out from your surroundings, but still look like you belong there.
That said, One or two pops of colour pair nicely with neutrals everywhere else. For example, If you do have a pop of colour in the outfits, it’s nice to not overcrowd that colour (or 2) with other ones. on the right are some recommended neutrals and colours!
Be ‘Family Wall’ ready
OUTFIT IDEAS for GIRLS
Flowy dresses oversized/roomy sweaters, jumpsuits/rompers
denim & tee, denim and crop top, denim and tank, Statement jacket, Winter Overcoat, wide-brim fedora hats.
Cosmetics & Footwear
Leather/suede boots, timeless sneakers (non-athletic), leather sandals, or barefoot are all recommended!
makeup should make sense with the scene/vibe.
hair needs to move. It’s best worn down!
OUTFIT IDEAS for BOYS
Statement jacket, henley or soft button-up shirt, textured sweater
flannel, denim & tee, khakis, chinos, jeans, winter overcoat
Cosmetics & Footwear
Leather/suede boots, timeless sneakers (non-athletic), leather sandals, or barefoot are all recommended!
try to wear your hair naturally or with limited product.
LOCATION and SEASON
When you think about what clothes will look best for your shoot specifically, you want to take into account the location you are shooting at and the season you are shooting in.
Location can oftentimes dictate what the best colours and outfits are going to be, because the location is bringing its own vibe, colours, textures, and theme. Back to the painting analogy at the beginning, think about your location as a painting that is already painted, and now we have to paint YOU into the picture. What are we going to have you wearing? What will look best up against that backdrop? What makes most sense in that location?
Second, take the season into account.
Some winter days don’t offer much colour (or light), so you want to add something with colour or bold texture that makes your photos POP and gives them dimension.
The summer months, on the other hand, are a completely different story! You could probably wear all whites/creams or all neutrals and still get away with it (I wouldn’t always recommend this), because the light and the colour of the season would be captivating enough on their own!
All that said, I totally realize that this is the most creative-heavy or artistic-heavy section of this guide, so I’m totally here to give the most help in this area!
TIME OF DAY
Photographers love to shoot during the golden hours…
That’s the soft, dreamy light 1 hour after sunrise or 1 hour before sunset. Both are beautiful, but personally I prefer the hour before sunset. That way, we can sometimes keep shooting into blue hour - the soft, moody light just after the sun sets.
That said, the weather plays a big role too. On overcast days, you might not see the sun at all — and that’s totally fine! Clouds act like a giant softbox, diffusing the light beautifully. This means we can shoot later in the morning or earlier in the evening and still get soft, flattering light.
If your shoot includes little ones with earlier bedtimes, we’ll plan around that too. It’s all about balancing good light with happy kids. I’ll guide you on the best time based on the season, weather, and your family’s needs — so don’t worry, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
FINAL NOTES
Bring Options!
Bring some options to the shoot! It’s always nice to have different pieces to choose from the day-of.
Keep in touch.
It’s so helpful if you can keep me in the loop about what you’re planning on wearing!
Check out Pinterest boards!
Also, check out Pinterest boards when you search for family shoot and your location ie beach/forest etc! There are lots of visual ideas!
ABOVE ALL - Don't. Stress. Seriously!
Don’t stress about this! I’ll make sure you look real goooood, so don’t worry! And as a bonus it might just be a real fun family activity xxx
