branding session guide

This guide is here to help you get prepped, ready and excited for your upcoming portrait session! I’ll touch on everything you need to know to go into the session feeling confident and ready to get some killer portraits. Take a peek at all the tips and tricks I’ve accumulated for you and definitely reach out with any questions you may have!

branding session

What is a branding session, exactly? Well, a branding session is perfect for people who are looking to incorporate a little bit more personality and lifestyle into their sessions. It’s designed to document a bit more of your story, incorporate a relevant location or two and leave you with some additional images you can use on a more consistent basis. If you’re updating your website or social channels, wanted to showcase a bit of what you do, or just wanted to spend some additional time in front the lens then this is what you’re looking for! All the images from your session are included in your gallery and download.

LOCATION

When planning for a great session, your location choice is the perfect place to start.

Think of your job/role - What do you do for work? Where do you spend a typical workday? Is it in an office environment, or in a studio? Are you on-the-go quite in the city, or cozied up working at home? Think about the places you get inspired by when it comes to your job, or the area of expertise you’re trying to showcase.

Think of your personality - Are you someone who enjoys the outdoors or someone who would rather spend time in the comfort of your own home? Are you most comfortable in nature or do you like the urban feel of a downtown core? Start off with some general ideas of what setting would suit you and your brand and then narrow it down.

We can also think of your interests. Is visiting a favourite coffee shop, heading down an awesome trail or catching a sports game right up your alley? I also love hearing about places that are meaningful to you. Although we may not spend an entire session at one of your favourite spots, it could be a great addition to your collection and will be even more personal when you see the finished portraits!

Think of the big picture - envision your favourite portraits from the session being used online or in print. Think of the colours, the textures, and the backdrops that may work best with where you will be using them! If you have brand colours or a website or social media feed to factor in - this can also help with location selection!

If you can’t think of a location right away, don’t worry - I’m here to help with a bundle of suggestions for places we can head. We’ll find somewhere perfect for you and what you want to show off!

I even have a location “Bucket List”, so if you want to take a peek at it to spark your imagination just let me know!

STYLE

First and foremost, you should feel comfortable in and great about your outfit! Pick something from your closet that you love, and that represents YOUR style – you certainly want to look like your awesome self during your session, not someone else.

To start, let’s think of the time of year and of course dress for the weather if we will be outdoors. Next, think of where these photos will be displayed. This usually gets clients thinking of how dressed up they want to be for the session. Also, know there is no such thing as being overdressed but you want to be consistent with the brand you want to portray. I recommend that clients be as “dressed up” as they would on a typical work day. We can always bring along multiple outfits to get variety but staying true to your style and comfort level is where you want to land.

Next, know that you do want to coordinate with our location and “vibe” we’re going for. Neutrals always work in any background so maybe use one of those as your base. You can then add a pop of colour here and there if you want to, but also know sticking to more neutral colours will help with the longevity of your images as well.

Solid colours work great, and please be sure not to wear anything that will distract the viewer (ex. bright neon colours, very busy patterns, or large logos on clothing). Even in the summer heat (if we’re outdoors) it is usually best to wear long pants and avoid any cut off t-shirts – the sessions aren’t too long, so don’t worry!

You can also take the location of the photos into account and allow that to influence your choices as well! Putting in a small amount of effort before hand will pay off when you see the finished product and how great you will look! Finally, just a helpful reminder that both your hands and feet with be in a lot of the photos, so don’t neglect your shoe choice, or the opportunity to give yourself a manicure! Any jewellery choices should also be considered as large or distracting pieces can also pull the viewer’s eye if they draw too much attention. Bring some options along if you wanted some variety + input on this!

Wondering if you can do a wardrobe change half way through a session? You absolutely can! Branding sessions allow for multiple wardrobe swaps to achieve quite a bit of variety. We can swap for a more casual second or third option, one that will suit a second location, or even the extra outfit you were dying to wear. Check out some pallets as a good place to start!

EXPECTATIONS

So how do the Branding sessions work?

They are truly a ton of fun! We’ll work through the locations and outfit choices we’ve picked for the session effortlessly working our way through some loosely posed images, chatting away and just having a great time. It’s my job to give lots of direction, get variety and have you feeling comfortable and looking great!

Branding sessions normally last between 60-90 minutes and are typically scheduled within the first or last couple hours of sunlight if we’re outside, or mid-day if we’re at an indoor location. That gorgeous and glowy light that happens right after sunrise or just before sunset is PERFECT for flattering and dynamic looks to your images. It will help you look your best and is consistent with the style that may have attracted you guys to me in the first place! If we’re indoors, mid-day light is ideal as the natural sunlight coming through the windows will show off both you and our location perfectly.

If we need to coordinate a special location or obtain a rental permit or studio rental fee, this will be done prior to your session. Please note that rental fees or permits are the responsibility of the client.

Your branding gallery will be up and ready for you typically within 2 weeks of your session, followed by a digital download delivery with all of the portraits from your session. You can pick your favourites, share with family and friends and post to your heart’s desire on social media!

the classic “headshot”

The “headshot” session is for you if you’re looking for only a handful of images that you can use to update your online presence. If you need a new profile photo or main marketing image and nothing else, this option is for you. These sessions are done in studio against plain backdrop options where you really stand out. With a much shorter session there is room for 1 optional outfit change to have variety to select your images from.

EXPECTATIONS

So how do the Headshot sessions work?

They are definitely nothing to fear, even if you haven’t been in front of the camera for a fresh headshot in a while! We spend the session getting a variety of options for you to view in a proofing gallery where you can select your favourites! Within that time frame there is room for 1 outfit or top change to get some variety. It’s my job to give lots of direction, get variety and have you feeling comfortable and looking great!

Headshot sessions normally last 25 minutes and are typically scheduled mid-day at the LV Studio located in Hamilton.

If we need to coordinate a special location or obtain a rental permit or studio rental fee at an alternative spot, this will be done prior to your session. Please note that rental fees or permits are the responsibility of the client.

Your proofing gallery will be up and ready for you typically within 2 days of your session, where you can select your favourite images or “poses”. Those images you select will get full retouched and provided in high and low resolution for you to use. Packages vary, but typically there are 3 final images included in your session with the option to purchase more if desired.

EXTRA NOTES

Let me start off this section by telling you that knowing what to do in front of the camera is the number one fear of clients going into any session but it is the one thing that you definitely don’t have to worry about!

I can’t tell you how often I hear that clients haven’t been in front of a lens before, don’t like being there, and are worried about looking awkward. I think I hear it every single time, which is TOTALLY normal! It’s not your job to be a model, but it is your job to be yourself.

Take the pressure off your shoulders and know that I won’t lead you astray.

Everyone needs a little bit of guidance in terms of where to stand, how to highlight your best features and of course how to work with the setting. I’m really chatty through the sessions and will definitely help you get the hang of these things the entire time we’re together. By the time we hit the halfway mark, you’ll be a total pro!

For anyone planning to have their makeup done for the session - this is a great opportunity to take the worry of prepping for the session off your shoulders and leave it to the pros to help make you camera ready! If you needed some referrals for artists to reach out to - I have a few incredible people you can contact here (BeautyMrk - Vibrant Beauty - MakeupWorx)

If you have any hesitations, any minor insecurities or worries going into the session - I’d love to chat about them beforehand. Getting the most out of your session and ensuring you have the best time possible is my number one priority!

So let any posing nerves be gone! Let’s have some fun and make some awesome images!

Hopefully by this point you’re more excited then you were before and you’re feeling prepped and ready to go! I’m truly so thrilled I was chosen to help you refresh your portraits! Of course, if there are any additional questions please drop me a line!

If not, let’s go have some fun!!

- Lauren