Brand Shoot Planning Guide

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Brand Shoot Planning Guide *

Helping you get the most from your shoot with Justine Desmond

Brand Photoshoot Guide & Prep Form

Story, Strategy & Substance

Make your brand photoshoot simple, clear, and useful.

This guide explains how we’ll approach your brand shoot. It’s designed to help me understand your business and your audience, so that every image we capture is purposeful and works across your website, social media, and marketing.

You don’t need to have everything figured out — just provide enough information so I know what to focus on and what’s important to you.

1. What the Photos Are For

Please think about where these images will be used. This helps me prioritise what we shoot and how the images should feel.

  • Website (home, about, services)

  • Social media

  • Marketing or press

  • Internal / behind-the-scenes

2. What You Do (Plain English)

Tell me what you sell and who it’s for. No buzzwords — just a clear explanation anyone could understand.

3. How You Want to Come Across

Choose the tone you want for your photos. No right or wrong answers.

  • Professional / Approachable

  • Polished / Natural

  • Calm / Energetic

4. What Builds Trust With Your Clients

Think about what reassures your audience before they book or buy from you. This could be seeing your face, your process, your space, or results.

5. Behind the Scenes (Optional)

If relevant, we can capture preparation, process, or team moments to give people insight into how you work.

6. Keeping It Manageable

You don’t need to have all the answers. Answering the short form below is enough to get us started and make the shoot effective.

Fill In Your Brand Shoot Prep Form

To make the most of your shoot, please complete the Brand Shoot Preparation Form below. This will give me the information I need to plan and capture images that truly represent your business.

Person holding an abstract colorful painting with pink, blue, yellow, and black brushstrokes against a white textured wall.
Close-up of pink cherry blossoms on a tree branch against a blue sky.
A woman holding a tray of wooden bowls outdoors, standing on a patio with plants, in front of a black wooden wall with a large window.
Fresh orange wedges garnished with a sprig of rosemary in a wooden bowl.
Woman smiling while holding a red pair of pants in front of a clothing rack with various garments.
A woman wearing a floral headwrap and yellow striped swimwear sitting on the beach with the ocean in the background.

Finding Your Visual Style with a Mood Board

Once we understand story, strategy & substance we can start thinking about the visuals and use a Pinterest board to collect inspiration.

What to Pin

  • Moods or colours that feel like you

  • Outfits or props that reflect your style

  • Photography styles you like (light + airy, bold, moody, editorial etc.)

  • Poses or setups that catch your eye

💡 Tip: Don’t overthink it — just pin what you love. Patterns will appear naturally, and that’s your visual identity forming.

A collage of various autumn-themed and nature photographs, including people outdoors, fall leaves, raindrops on window, close-ups of leaves, and scenic landscapes.

On the Day

Your brand shoot will be relaxed and collaborative. I’ll guide you through poses, expressions, and setups — you don’t need to worry about knowing what to do. We’ll follow a plan based on your form responses, but we’ll also leave room for spontaneous moments that feel authentic.

After You Submit the Form

Once I receive your completed form, I’ll review your answers to understand your priorities, tone, and focus. If needed, we can have a short Zoom call to go through your answers in more detail. This helps me create a clear, practical shoot plan tailored to your business and goals.

After Your Shoot

Within a seven days, you’ll an online gallery of images which have been hand retouched by me, you will be able to download them in two formats:

  • High-resolution – suitable for print and press

  • Web-ready – optimised for your website and social media

📤 Tip: Keep your new brand photos in a dedicated folder for easy access when updating your site, pitching, or posting.

Final Thoughts

Brand photography is a collaboration: your ideas and my creative direction combine to create images that truly represent your business. The process is structured but flexible, ensuring your shoot is productive, enjoyable, and produces images you can use immediately.

A woman in a patterned dress tending to colorful flowers in a garden with tall trees and a large, rounded bush.
Woman in a long button-down dress stands outdoors with arms crossed, looking upward, next to a stone sculpture with two faces, in a garden with lush green foliage.
A garden pathway leading to an arched brick gate covered in ivy, with colorful flowering plants and greenery on either side.
A woman in a patterned dress is examining colorful flowers in a garden during daytime.