Branding photography, everything you need to know.
Why telling real stories about your business is so important, how to stand out from the crowd and create powerful images that matter.
Why authenticity matters for your brand
My approach to branding photography is a documentary or reportage style, which means we’re not staging anything fake, we’re looking for real stories and authentic moments about the people, the place and the community that makes up who you are.
To capture a customer’s imagination and connect with them emotionally, a brand needs to tell a good story. Your brand story is so important when it comes to consumer loyalty and trust, it’s the thing that differentiates you from the crowd, it’s brought to life in everything you do and it’s the reason a customer will chose you over someone else.
Finding your brand story
First things first we’ll have a consultation call where we’ll chat about your business, what you do, how you do it (the processes, people, places) and why. We’ll discuss ideas, and find out what you’d like to say about your business through images.
If you have your brand values and vision all set out that’s great, I’d love to get into that with you and discuss where to take it visually. If you’re new in business and need help in talking through your vision we can start there too. I worked in the branding and advertising world for 20+ years and have a good understanding of the needs of businesses from a photography perspective and I can help you create that vision.
I love a good mood board as I think it really helps to make sure that we are on the same page visually. Some clients come equipped with these but if not we can work on these together to create a visual map which will help guide us towards that story.
What if you work in a boring office and it doesn’t look that interesting?
Again it all comes down to that story, let’s think outside the box (or office in this case) and remove ourselves from the obvious. Could it be that we look at your journey to work, the train you catch every morning where you plan your schedule for the week, a coffee shop that you have team meetings in or a walk that you do around the park at lunchtime with the squirrels. There could be an interesting story about Jean, the office chef who bakes cookies everyday and brings them round on a trolley for elevenses (this is a real, I miss jean!). It’s usually the small things that tell a bigger story about who you are as a business that will be the most interesting insight ,and will connect with your customer on a deeper level, setting you apart from everyone else.
Getting comfortable in front of the camera.
This is the concern I hear the most and it’s perfectly normal to feel this way. My documentary approach to brand photography will encourage you to become immersed in something that’s right in your comfort zone. We won’t be standing around on ceremony smiling at the camera while I fire off shots fifty to the dozen. This is a more natural / organic approach - we take our time, we’ll take a walk, pop to a coffee shop or catch a train for example, back to that story again - we’re looking to make pictures that capture the heart of who you are as a business and as people. Think of the photography session as an opportunity to ‘show and tell’ what your business is all about for everyone to see.
What about headshots for social media.
During the photoshoot we can take some time to capture some natural environmental portraits which can be used for social media and we’ll be looking at making those headshots stand out. On LinkedIn in particular let’s create something that will show a little personality, a little insight into who you are as a person within the business or brand. In the consultation we’ll talk about the types of locations that would be good for this within the context of our story so that everything links together.
How much is a branding photoshoot and what’s included?
I have a range of brand photography packages from short 1.5 hour sessions to half and full day in the business coverage and if you need something bespoke just get in touch and we’ll create something unique for your business. Within the branding photography session we can cover (but not limited to); documentary / environmental portraits*, day / half-day in the life of your business, corporate event photography coverage, office environment and culture, behind-the-scenes coverage, team building events, company days out and client stories / case study coverage…
All of the packages I have available include a consultation, a gallery of beautifully curated photographs - ready to download as high resolution and a lifetime UK license for business use. Some packages also include a slideshow / reel set to music which showcases all of the highlights from the session.
*A documentary or environmental portrait is an authentic portrait in the environment where you work, or a location that tells a wider story about who you are as a person.
Branding photography - the process step by step.
1. Consultation call
First we’ll have an online or in person (with coffee and a cake perhaps!) consultation to discuss your business, and what you would like to achieve. I want to understand not just what you do, but why you do it, who you're speaking to, and how you want to come across.
2. The brand plan
After our chat, I’ll put together mood boards to explore our approach, locations, and shot ideas. We can look at these together, make a plan, and finalise dates, times and locations.
4. Shoot day
On the day of the photoshoot I’ll arrive early – ready, and well prepared and we’ll take our time to capture the story of your brand.
6. Curated gallery of photographs
Your beautifully edited gallery will be delivered around 2 weeks after the shoot where you can download all of the web‑ready for online use and high‑res for print images. If you need the gallery for a launch or campaign date just let me know in advance and I can deliver in time for that if required.
7. Optional design service
If you require any brand identity design, layouts for social media, marketing materials, website design and build, I have a 20+ year background in brand development & visual language and have an excellent understanding about how brand can present themselves from a much wider perspective.
How to make the most of your gallery.
Once you received your images in the private online gallery, don’t let them float around in the cloud. Use them everywhere your brand shows up. Start with your website – update your homepage, about page, and contact page to create a cohesive experience. On social media, start using your branding images throughout your feed, in Instagram reels, carousels and stories and refresh all of your profile pictures and banners/cover images on Facebook and LinkedIn, making sure everything is consistent. You should also use the photographs in email newsletters, blog posts, presentations, press kits, and printed marketing materials.
Choosing a shoot location.
I am based in Yorkshire and will happily to travel to you wherever you are based in the UK & Europe. If you don’t have a location in mind and need something specific for your brand look and feel, I can help find that special place too. I regularly cover Yorkshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, County Durham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Cumbria and London.
Find out more about brand and commercial photography with Nic.
If you have any questions that I haven’t covered here or would like to have a chat to about your branding photography, get in touch and let’s discuss your story.
