As a small business owner or online brand, it’s important to have photos to share online of yourself and on social media. Do you ever get overwhelmed when you see other content creators constantly posting photos of themselves? Or do you wonder how they manage to actually GET all of those photos? Today, I’m sharing my top tips to make sure you always have photos of yourself – and how to make getting that content easier! We’ll talk about planning your photoshoots, making the most of them, and posing yourself… all without having to be in front of the camera every single day to get the photos you need. It is totally possible to get the images you need for your business without having to show up on camera every day – trust me! 

TIPS FOR PLANNING PHOTOSHOOTS

First, I want to talk about planning out your photoshoots. When it comes to having photoshoots done, there’s a few options for you. The most obvious one is to hire a photographer. You can plan a branding session once or twice a year to provide you with high quality images of yourself and for your brand. Personally, I did this for the first time back in 2020 with a friend of mine for about 4-5 hours. It really is incredible to have a session like that done! Look up the photographers in your area and find someone with your vibe and style that you’d consider hiring and go from there. I think it’s a great investment and I plan to do it again this year (I did it in 2021, too!). 

The second and third options go together because they’re doing it yourself! The next option is to teach a family member or friend how to use your camera – and for you to do them yourself. I actually have tutorials to teach someone HERE and a behind the scenes view of self portraits HERE. Take a peek at those for more in depth tips about how to take your own content photos! These are great options if your budget isn’t as big or if you want images in between branding shoots. At this point, I do my own home photoshoots about once a month. 

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR PHOTOSHOOT

Whether you’re planning to have a brand photoshoot or you’re doing your own images, there’s a few easy ways to make the most of your time in front of the camera. Let’s be real: it’s a lot of work to be prepped, so make sure you do everything you can to maximize this time! Remember, when you plan in advance and work smarter, you’re going to save time (and energy) in the long run. When you begin to plan, plan multiple outfits and locations so that you can maximize your hair, makeup, and photoshoot time. If you plan for variety in your images, you’re going to have WAY more options to post later on. 

Think ahead…

When you’re planning, make sure to think ahead, too. If you know you have brands, collaborations, or certain things coming up that you need to showcase, don’t forget to grab images for them. I’d also encourage you to think about holidays or milestones you’re coming up on so you don’t forget to grab images for those big moments, too! Again, this just helps you maximize your time in front of the camera. Don’t forget to use your laptop, microphone, camera, or whatever tools you use in your business on a daily basis. This is an easy way to create imagery that will carry your brand forward. 

While you’re shooting, make sure to do a variety of poses for yourself. Sit, stand, walk, or work. Whatever it is, mix it up so that all of your final images don’t look the same. Remember to get shots that are up close and far away as well as with different angles. Agin, this just helps keep your images interesting! Another way to mix things up is to change your props or accessories. You don’t have to go crazy here. Sometimes, just a simple hat or some jewelry can completely change an outfit. Just aim to slightly change your look so things don’t look the same in every photo! 

USING YOUR PHOTOS

The last thing you need to think about when it comes to content images is HOW you’re going to use your images! After you’ve done this big photoshoot, you’re going to have a bunch of images you can start posting online. I have two big tips to help you use these photos. First, mix up your images. Whether it’s the pose, the location, or the outfit, just try to keep things fresh. When you step back and look at your feed as a whole, it will be easier to see that your images aren’t all the same. It’s okay if they’re the same day – but if you can mix up the actual looks, it will help keep things from feeling the same. 

Editing your own images?

If you’re editing your images, make sure you keep a consistent look for your feed. I LOVE using my mobile presets for this. Mine are light and bright, so if they’re a good fit for you – it will help make your editing easier as you take your own content images. When you keep your editing style consistent, it will help keep the flow of your profile and make sure that nothing really sticks out so that your brand stays cohesive. And, if you hired a photographer, make sure you hired someone that’s style matches your own so it’s easier to keep the flow of your feed! 

I hope these tips were helpful as you start to plan out content photos for your brand! Remember to just focus on maximizing your time and energy when planning and then work to create a variety of images every time you get in front of the camera! I can’t wait to see what you create for your brand – and please let me know if there’s anything else you want me to cover when it comes to this topic!!