How to Plan a Photoshoot to Get the Best Photos for Your Website
The purpose of your photoshoot should be to help your clients feel comfortable with you and show your potential clients what it’s like to work with you. As you plan your photoshoot, you’ll want to plan to take several shots that can fully show your clients what they can expect from your work together.
By taking a variety of photos, you’ll have a good selection for your website design and a full gallery you can use when promoting your business on social media. For most of my clients, their highest Instagram engagement comes when they post photos of themselves.
Here’s are the types of photos you should plan as part of your brand photoshoot:
Lots of Landscape-Oriented Photos
Landscape photos are best for website design (as they resize best for all types of devices), so ask your photographer to capture all your desired scenes as horizontal shots. It’s great to get portrait orientation for print and Instagram.
Photos with Open Background
Get more background in the shots than you think is needed. Photos with an open background can be useful for overlaying text and design elements in the “white space.”
A Variety of Close-up Details & Far-Away Shots
Plan to get a variety of close-up details of the decor of your office or studio, services and products. These can subtly communicate who you are as a brand while also adding visual interest to your website design and Instagram feed.
You will also want far-away shots that show your office or studio’s entrance, reception area, treatment rooms or classrooms. If you’re a coach or offer services online, it would be good to get photos of where your clients will interact with you — including shots of your computer or phone if Zoom is your thing.
Demonstrations of Your Services
Make sure you capture shots of your most popular services, as well as those that are unique to your business.
If you are a consultant, coach or therapist, you might want to re-enact a session with a friend or willing client to show how working together will look and feel.
If you offer hands-on healing or bodywork, be sure to capture photos of your standard services as well as any unique or advanced modalities.
Client Experience & Interactions with You
Show new clients the experience they can expect with candid-style photos of client consultations and services.
Ask a few of your favorite clients to act as models for your photoshoot. Select clients that best represent your client community and the services you offer. Make sure you get portraits of them too! These photos can be great on Instagram and for website testimonials.
An added bonus is that having a few of your favorite clients around can often make you more relaxed for your photoshoot. This means you’ll get more natural smiles and realistic photos for your website!
Portraits of You in Your Office or Studio & Out in the Community
In addition to action shots, you’ll also want images of you in your office or studio and your community. Take a walk down your street or head to a nearby park or favorite coffee shop to get some photos that show you enjoying life in your neighborhood.
Technical Specs
Ask your photographer for both high-resolution (300 dpi) and low-resolution (72 dpi) versions of your photos, so you have quick access to them when you need them. Images for website banners should be 2000 pixels wide, so ask your photographer to provide photos at that width.
Just getting started in planning a brand photoshoot for your business? Be sure to check out How to Choose a Photographer for Your Business Photoshoot. In this post, I share a four-step common sense approach to choosing a photographer you’ll love.
