How Much Does Brand Photography Cost?
Curious to know how much a professional branding photoshoot costs?
This blog will discuss in-depth about what it takes - cost wise, planning and preparation wise – of having an ideal brand photoshoot. Whether you are new any business or have been established already, this knowledge can help make your brand look great.
So let's get started by learning what's necessary for that perfect branding photoshoot!
Understanding Brand Photography and Its Importance
Brand photography is a must-have for any business, and understanding it can help you maximize the return on your investments.
Brand photography fuses creativity and expertise to capture the heart of your brand's identity while communicating your values, purpose, and message through compelling visuals. It's meant to build trust between customers and your business, as well as make an impactful first impression.
To get the most out of your brand photoshoot, it's essential to understand what they are and why they're so important nowadays. Basically, when you use photography for branding purposes it means capturing shots that will showcase your business in its best form.
How do you ensure each photo captures how passionate you feel about this project? What kind of creative direction should inform such a shoot? It's these questions (and more) that help take an ordinary brand photoshoot into something extraordinary!
Taking time to plan each photo shoot carefully is so important for a brand, as it helps the images remain consistent with their overall branding message and stand out from competitors in terms of creativity and professionalism.
As a solo entrepreneur, professional (and approachable) "headshots" provide you with a refined image that amplifies your confidence during conferences or networking gatherings. This, in turn, enhances how potential clients perceive you. Plus, having images that capture your personal brand and workspace are key. They show who you truly are and how dedicated you are to your work. And it also shines through on your social media, adding serious value to your brand with engaging stories.
Factors Influencing Brand Photoshoot Price
When it comes to brand photography, one of the biggest questions people have is: "How much does it cost?"
It's no wonder that this question arises since a lot of things influence the price - from what type of a photoshoot you need, and how much time and effort goes into making sure everything runs smoothly.
Keep in mind that there are 'invisible hours' that your photographer has to account for that go into creating incredible shots that will overhaul your marketing and online presence.
To nail down the cost of your brand photo session, it's crucial to determine the type of images your business requires and hash it out with your photographer beforehand. This process ensures that you're getting exactly what you're aiming for, both in terms of imagery and budget.
The below factors all affect your overall brand shoot investment, but when you go all in with your shoot, the higher the ROI you'll have!
Package: Depending on the amount of photos and locations needed, you'll be looking at different prices. Does the photographer need to rent additional equipment to capture your vision? Do you need anything expedited? Do you want additional photos?
Location: Where do you want the shoot? Are you renting a space? Are you flying abroad to capture a different feel? Do you need a permit to shoot in the location?
Props: What will help you tell the story? Do you need to rent or buy on-brand items to catch more attention?
Experience: More experienced photographers may have a higher rate, but that often comes with a better end product and a more holistic, well-rounded experience for you.
Usage Rights: You need to pay attention to these in brand photography to make sure you have the right to use the images in the way that best suits your business.
Your Look: Do you need to hire a stylist to help you figure out what to wear? Do you need to rent or purchase new outfits? What about a professional hair and makeup appointment? Maybe you want the MUA to spend the day with you for constant touch-ups?
Branding: If you've not developed your brand itself - theme, colors, feel, etc. - it may be worth doing this before the shoot to ensure you're heading in the correct creative direction.
All of the above can account for extra costs when booking your brand photoshoot so you'll want to take some time to assess what level of investment you're ready to make to bring your dream shoot to life and make a gorgeous impact in your industry!
Tips for a Budget-Friendly Brand Shoot
Certain things, such as usage rights and the quality and experience of your brand photographer aren't worth compromising - I've seen plenty of people book photographers without considering these and in the end their shoot did not accomplish the goals they set out to acheive. So with that in mind, here are other ways to cut costs on your shoot:
Location: If you have a friend or relative who has a gorgeous, on-brand, well-lit space, ask if you can borrow it for your shoot. Send a few snapshots of it to your photographer so they can scope it out beforehand.
Props: Borrow props, head to charity shops, or even leave the label on and return them! You could even reach out to other small business owners and strike up a deal to borrow their product for your brand shoot in return for a social media mention (take good care and make sure you return promptly!)
Your Outfits:
Check out a thrift or charity shop in a fancy neighborhood where the donations may include high-end brand-name items
Browse through some rental sites if you're not ready to purchase - here are just a few - Hurr, Hirestreet, Rotaro
Keep the tags on so you can return them after the shoot!
Head to John Lewis for a free styling session with the pros!
Or even just focus on updating wardrobe pieces that already needed updating so you'll wear the outfits in your daily life as well (with the bonus of expensing them as they were for your shoot in the first place anyway!)
Your Hair and Makeup: Head to youtube to learn how to DIY your hair and makeup or pop into a makeup stall and ask for a demo!
Compare Brand Photography Packages & Experience
When it comes to brand photography, there's plenty of choice for business owners.
All brand photographers offer different packages - some that are full days - great if you have the time and budget to invest in these ones as they allow for the most creativity, wiggle room, outfit changes, and locations.
Some photographers even offer seasonal location-specific mini-sessions that are super budget and time-friendly but don't allow for any planning, or outfit changes - really great if you just need a couple updated shots without the time commitment.
What you'll definitely want to do when shopping around for different photographers is to:
Have a look at their portfolio
Does their style suit your vision?
Do you like the energy in their images?
How well are they composed and lit?
Do their clients look comfortable and relaxed?
Read up about them
What do you have in common?
Do they give off a warm feeling?
Does their personality vibe well with yours?
Check their client testimonials - how well do their past clients feel about their experience?
Check out their packages
Do they offer what you're after?
Does it come with the usage rights you need?
Dive into their resources
Do they have a freebie that provides you value?
What kinds of tips on their blog can you find to help you prepare?
Does their social media speak to you?
To wrap it up, investing in a professional brand photoshoot is important for your business. It's also expensible, so while you'll want to be cognizant of the costs and budget, you also want to make sure you're making choices that will benefit your business in the long term. We're talking client attraction, attention-grabbing, confidence elevation, and more!
And if you want to have a nosey at all those things listed above, you can check them out here:
PORTFOLIO | ABOUT WILD KIND | TESTIMONIALS | PACKAGES | USAGE RIGHTS | FREEBIES | BLOG
Are you looking to elevate your confidence & boost your brand?
I'm here to guide compassionate entrepreneurs like you through fun and relaxed personal branding photoshoots that boost your confidence and save you time with loads of gorgeous content. Together we plan your shoot around your story and passions in order to build trust and connect you to other beautiful souls by showcasing the authentic you.
Check out what's involved in Personal Brand Photoshoots and reach out when you're ready to learn more!
It's ok (and very common) to feel nervous on camera - I'm here to support you through the whole journey!
Have a look at my FREEBIES to feel more confident on camera!
