Great! You finally took the plunge and booked a personal branding shoot, or you’re at least seriously considering it. Hair and makeup pros are booked, the wardrobe is carefully planned out, you have your branding colors all mapped out and how you plan to utilize them, but that isn’t all. Another really important thing to include in your personal branding images is props!
We have already talked about why personal branding is important and how it can be helpful, but let's talk a little about giving your images some relevancy and personality! Personal branding images are a great way to give customers a stylized view of what you do and how you do it. While props aren’t always necessary, they definitely add interest and character to personal branding images. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes look at your business and who you are, while also looking totally poised and polished and being photographed from all your best angles.
When it comes to utilizing props, you don’t want to overcomplicate things. Keep it simple and relevant to what you actually use in your daily life as a business owner. We recently photographed an aspiring interior designer and were able to pull together an awesome set with things we personally had on hand from our home, studio, and an already scheduled outing to Home Depot. It all came together really well, and you’d never know that the image was shot right in our tiny studio because of the use of props and how we used them.
We have also had branding shoots where clients have come with their own items to use as props, which is super helpful. Another client of ours brought her hot pink KitchenAid mixer to her recent branding shoot because it fit her brand perfectly, and because she is a baker and she wanted people to see her professional equipment.
The props each person uses will be very specific to them, their business, and what they’d like to convey. That being said, here are a few things that usually tend to work well in images across the board.
Potted plants
Books
Framed art (abstract)
Fabric (can be used as curtains, tablecloths, sofa covers, or even wrapped into a dress)
Laptop and office supplies
What props would you use during your personal branding photos? Leave a comment and let us know!
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