Virtual photoshoots are incredibly exciting. They really launched into the mainstream when the pandemic hit and they aren’t going away any time soon. Virtual personal branding photoshoots are a great way for brands to get new images for their library to use on social media, newsletters, and more. These shoots are more affordable than a full personal branding photography package which takes place in person and allows the participants to live on opposite ends of the world.
But, what do you need to do to prepare for a virtual personal branding photoshoot?
Make sure you have the tech!
The number one most important thing to check BEFORE you even book your virtual personal branding photoshoot is to make sure that you have the right tech. Your phone needs to be able to support one of two apps in order for us to have a successful shoot together.
You will need either an iPhone and the app, Clos. Download here.
OR an android and the Shutter app. Download here.
Clean your phone camera
The most important part of any camera is the lens! So make sure that your phone camera lens (the one on the back of the camera that does the majority of your picture taking) is clean of any finger marks and handbag grime.
Choose Your Location
If shooting in your home, choose one, maybe two, rooms to photograph in. Make sure that this room has a window otherwise your images may be very dark. Once you have a rough idea of which room(s) you would like to photograph in, keep a mental note (or you can actually write it down) of the light within this room at different times of the day. This will help you to determine what time is best to book your virtual brand photoshoot. Ideally, the room with windows will have curtains or shutters so that we can adjust the amount of light coming into the room if needed.
What time is best for my virtual shoot?
This will depend entirely on where you live, what time of year it is, and what room(s) you want to photograph in. For bright photos with rich quality, we ideally want to photograph at the brightest time of day indoors. We need light, so book your virtual brand photoshoot at a time when YOU have light.
Plan your set ups, but have an open mind
To get the most out of your virtual personal branding photoshoot, I recommend planning two to three different set ups you might like to capture. For example, sitting on your sofa with a cup of tea, writing in your journal on your bed, headshot of you laughing, etc. However, have an open mind that the set ups you envision might not pan out and we might have to get a bit creative to achieve what you want. This is because everything is about the light and if there isn’t light to achieve what you want, then we need to adapt and get creative with our set up. This is why a pre-session consultation is so valuable because we can plan our set ups a bit better and maximise our time together on the actual session.
Gather Props
Alongside planning your set ups, have a think about what props you might like to incorporate. Having your props nearby and ready will help to save time during your session. Some prop ideas include: your favourite mug, a notebook or journal, a laptop or computer, tools of your trade (paint brushes if you’re an artist, etc), plants to set some scenery, etc.
What to Wear
Since our virtual personal branding photoshoot is only 30 minutes, I recommend keeping your outfit choices simple or minimal. Often people opt for jeans and a shirt so that they can quickly put on a jumper or swap out the shirt for a fast outfit change during the session.
Things to remember for your virtual photoshoot:
The quality of the image is determined by your phone, internet connection, and available light. Light is determined on when you book the shoot, your space, and how big your windows are. All images are shot in portrait orientation, not landscape. This makes images perfect for use on Instagram stories or reels. Virtual personal branding photoshoots are a great opportunity to receive images that are affordable and work well if you don’t live locally to me in South Yorkshire.