Preparing for a brand photography session isn’t just about outfits and poses, it’s the small details that often make the biggest difference.
As a brand photographer working with small business owners, entrepreneurs and coaches, I see first-hand how a little preparation can completely transform how relaxed, confident and polished you can feel on camera.
Here are five simple things to do before your brand photography session that will help you look and feel your best and get the most from your investment.
Why Preparation Matters for Brand Photography
Brand photography is about more than just a good headshot. It’s about capturing you, your personality and your business in a way that feels authentic and professional.
When you prepare properly:
- You feel more confident in front of the camera
- You arrive relaxed instead of rushed
- Your images look polished and intentional
- We can focus on creativity, not corrections
1. Moisturise Your Skin
Hydrated skin photographs beautifully. Moisturising in the days leading up to your shoot (not just the morning of) helps your skin look fresh, smooth, healthy and even-toned. This is especially important for close-up brand headshots, where natural skin texure is more visible. Well-hydrated skin reduces dryness and allows makeup to sit better, meaning your final images need less retrouching.
2. Avoid Tight Socks, Bras or Clothing Beforehand
This is a small often overlooked detail that makes a big difference.
Tight socks, bras or fitted clothing worn before your shoot can leave marks on your skin that take time to fade. These lines can be visible in photos, particularly around ankles, shoulders and waistlines.
To avoid this, wear loose, comfortable clothing before your session, change into your shoot outfit once you arrive and choose comfort over compression earlier in the day. Your future photos will thank you (and me your photographer who won’t have the edit the marks out!)
3. Wear Seamless or Nude Underwear
Seamless or nude underwear helps ensure your clothing sits smoothly and looks clean on camera. This is especially important if you’re wearing light coloured clothing, tailored outfits or dresses.
Visible seams or bold colours underneath clothing can distract from the overall image and from you. Choosing neutral, seamless pieces helps keep the focus exactly where it should be.
4. Remove Hairbands, Watches and Tight Jewellery
Hairbands on wrists and tight watches are common habits and very easy to forget about. Before your shoot remove hairbanrds from wrists, take off watches and tight bracelets and avoid jewellery that leaves pressure marks.
Even if you don’t plan to wear these items in your photos, they can leave subtle indentations that appear in images. A quick check before we start ensures clean, polished results.
5. Clean Your Tech and Workspace Props
Brand photography often includes lifestyle details – laptops, phones, notebooks, mugs or workspaces. Take a moment to clean your phone and laptop screens, remove stickers or clutter and bring a fresh notebook or clear pages.
These small touches elevate your images and make them feel intentional, professional and high-end – perfect for websites, social edial and marketing materials.
Small Details, Big Impact
These five simple steps don’t take much time, but they have a huge impact on how your brand photos look and how you feel during your session.
My role as a brand photographer isn’t just to take your photos, it’s to guide you through the entire experience so you feel confident, prepared and supported from start to finish.
When you arrive knowing you’ve prepared well, you can relax and enjoy the process and truly show up as yourself.
Ready to Book Your Brand Photography Session?
If you’re a small business owner, coach or entrepreneur looking for brand photography that feels professional, authentic and aligned with your business, I’d love to help.
Every session inicludes guidance on preparation, styling and planning so you’re never left wondering what to do.
Get in touch to book your brand photography session here or learn more about working together on my brand photography page https://www.hannahphipps.com/services/branding/