Six Mistakes to Avoid in Your Brand Photoshoot Pictures With Your Brand Photography Outfits Guest Expert Swapna Patel

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then your outfit in your brand photos is contributing to at least 800 of those words. The clothes you wear are a form of non verbal communication and before your audience has even read the first few words of your fancy copy, your pictures have already spoken volumes about you.

As business owners in the online world, a professional photoshoot is becoming a standard business need. You’ll use brand pictures on your websites, on social media and in press features to tell your stories, attract your dream clients and help your clients choose YOU over your competitors!

Do not underestimate the power of the right outfit to create a memorable personal brand, tell your authentic story and become a magnet to attracting dream boat clients.

However, most women treat their photoshoot wardrobe as an afterthought and not a key component of their branding.

In my years of experience as a brand photoshoot stylist, these are the most common mistakes I have seen women making. Today I am going to share with you, how to avoid these common pitfalls.

• Mistake #1: Waiting till the last minute to plan your looks. You should plan your photoshoot wardrobe 3-4 weeks in advance. The most common reason women delay the wardrobe is because they are waiting to lose a few more pounds before their shoot day. Unless you are going to lose 15-20 lbs in a month, don’t  bother waiting that long. There are ways to dress and pose 10 lbs lighter . But waiting till the last minute will surely leave you stressed and not in love with the way you look in your pictures. 

• Mistake #2: Wear neutral clothes because you want to look classic and timeless. All neutral looks can fall flat pretty quickly especially on camera. If you must do an all neutral look, try adding pattern and texture such as lace, fur, embossed fabrics and sweater knits.

When you wear a well styled outfit, place yourself against darker backgrounds so you are the focal point of your photo.

• Mistake #3: Wear all black because it’s slimming. 

This is a myth. Unless you are going for a very glam and highly stylized look, avoid head to toe black. Instead, try monochromatic looks which look powerful and make a statement while being figure flattering. 

• Mistake #4: Skip accessories because you want a minimalist look or you don’t have accessories.

Never underestimate the power of a necklace, earrings or bracelet to instantly elevate your look! Minimalist and no accessories is a look that happens because people are afraid to try and are often confused. Accessories are also a great way to bring in your brand colors and tell a story. A well chosen piece can do all that and more! It also anchors the photograph. Vast expanses of skin, such as bare arms or an unadorned decolletage draw attention to those spots, and detract from your story.

• Mistake #5: They want to use what they have in their closet. 

Unless you have been curating photoshoot worthy clothes for the last several months, this can be tricky! 

Your closet may be  overflowing but it doesn’t mean you have an on brand wardrobe.The clothes that support you in your daily life, are not necessarily photoshoot worthy.

If this is your second or third photoshoot, you’ll want new looks to create a nice variety of looks. Your clothes have to be relatable but aspirational! They also need to convey your brand values and attract the right audience. If your body has undergone big changes, the fit will change too. Investing in a few great pieces will elevate the photographs. 

• Mistake #6: They have no budget for styling, hair or make up. 

New entrepreneurs spend an arm and a leg on designing their logo and picking the right fonts with a designer, then they spend a pretty penny on a fantastic photographer. But this leaves them with no room for wardrobe, hair and make up. It is important to have a vision for your brand and a budget to bring it to life. Your audience will remember your face more than your logo! Women often think they can do their own hair and make up. But on camera makeup requires a special skill. Having professional help such as a makeup artist, a hair stylist and a wardrobe stylist on the day of your shoot can truly help you relax and enjoy your big day. This way you and your photographer can focus on creating the best images and not worry about loose threads on your jacket or the shiny spot on your forehead. 

• Mistake #7: They wear their brand colors in every single photo.

While having brand colors is an important part of the branding and marketing process, wearing all 6 looks in your brand colors at your shoot is not required. 

If you wear one color in all your pictures, you won’t get a nice variety of pictures to use in your marketing. Unless you want to look the same in all your photos, you will want to have a nice assortment of outfits in a variety of colors that support your vision for your business. 

Other ways to bring in your brand colors into your photos is through the use of accessories- a statement necklace, a bold pair of earrings can go a long way in hinting at your brand colors. Props such as flowers, pencils, notepads, a mug or a coffee cup are other fun ways to bring in your brand colors without wearing the colors. 

Ready to rock your next photoshoot? Book a free 15 minute call to see how you can benefit from professional styling here or email me [email protected]

Not ready for a photoshoot but want to level up your camera presence on Zoom, IGTV and Facebook live? Download my FREE guide to looking good on camera in less than 6 minutes. 

You can find me on Instagram at @style.remixx  or connect with me on Facebook www.facebook.com/swapnastyleremixx. 

Learn more about Swapna and her work at www.styleremixx.com

BIO: Swapna Patel is a New York City Area based personal style expert who teaches women entrepreneurs to boost their confidence and online presence through their personal style. When she’s not remixing the perfect outfit, this former NYC fashion designer enjoys a glass of pink champagne reruns of Schitt’s Creek and a good book. Between the hours of 4-7 pm you’ll find her driving  her “Mom-Uber” to after school activities and playing short order cook to her resident picky eaters.