Behind the Scenes of a Personal Branding Photoshoot – With a Brilliant Marketing Consultant from Swadlincote!

One of my favourite things about being a photographer is capturing the heart behind a brand. So when a local marketing consultant (and an old school friend!) reached out for a personal branding photoshoot, I was all in. She’d recently rebranded her business and knew it was time to upgrade from DIY selfies to professional images that truly reflected her expertise, personality, and professionalism. And honestly? We had the BEST time creating them.

If you’re a small business owner in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, or surrounding areas and you’re thinking about booking your own branding session, here’s a peek at what to expect from a shoot with me!

Why Professional Branding Photography Matters

These days, your face is your brand. People want to connect with the person behind the business – whether that’s on Instagram, LinkedIn, or your website. Great brand photography builds trust, shows off your style, and sets the tone for your whole business. I always take time before a shoot to really understand what you do, who your audience is, and how we can capture that visually. It’s more than just “nice photos” it’s visual storytelling that speaks to your clients.

Planning the Branding Session

We chose Skye Studios in Leicester for this session because it offers loads of variety, clean backdrops, natural light, and styled spaces that help tell a story without overpowering the subject. Before the shoot, we planned outfits, talked about props, and chatted through her content goals. She wanted photos she could use across her website, social media, proposals, and newsletters, and I made sure we got a mix of professional, relaxed, and personality filled images to cover all of that.

What to Wear for a Branding Shoot

She came with a great selection of outfits that represented all the different facets of her business:

• A polished, professional look for LinkedIn and client work

• A casual work-from-home outfit (because that’s real life!)

• Something fun and colourful that showed off her personality

• A feminine dress in one of her brand colours

If you’re prepping for your own personal branding photoshoot, my advice is: wear what feels like YOU. Go easy on the patterns, stick to your brand palette, and choose outfits that make you feel confident.

The Photoshoot Experience

From the moment we started, my goal was to make her feel relaxed, confident, and completely herself. We laughed, we chatted, and I hyped her up the entire time, because that’s what I do! Even though she was battling with her hair and doing her own makeup, you’d never tell from the final images. She totally nailed it, and I made sure to give her space to shine while guiding her through flattering poses and natural movements.

Yes, I was nine months pregnant at the time. Yes, I was still crawling around on the floor to get the perfect angles. That’s how dedicated I am to making sure you get scroll-stopping shots that feel authentic and look amazing.

What to Bring to Your Branding Shoot

For this session, she kept it simple, just her laptop, phone, and a notebook. Those little details matter because they’re what she actually uses every day in her business. Props aren’t always necessary, but they can add a lovely touch of personality. Whether it’s a camera, planner, coffee mug, or paintbrush, bring whatever tells the story of YOU.

How Long Does a Branding Shoot Take?

We had the studio booked for two hours but finished in about 90 minutes thanks to the amazing natural light (and a bit of pre-shoot planning!). I always allow plenty of time so we’re never rushed, and I’ll guide you every step of the way.

When Do You Get Your Photos?

Turnaround time is usually within 3 weeks, every image is carefully selected and hand edited by me. No filters or batch edits, just clean, polished images that reflect your brand at its best. For this shoot, I delivered a full gallery of beautiful images ready for use across her marketing materials.

The Result? Confidence & Connection

Since receiving her final images, she’s already started using them to level up her content and marketing. The best part? She said they’ve boosted her confidence in herself and her business – and that’s exactly what branding photography should do.

Ready to Elevate Your Brand?

If you're a small business owner in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, or the East Midlands and you're ready to create visuals that feel like YOU, I’d love to help. Whether you’re rebranding, starting out, or just need a fresh set of professional images, I offer relaxed, story-led personal branding photoshoots that capture the heart behind your business.

Get in touch to chat about your session, or check out more behind-the-scenes on Instagram or Facebook @Kerarobsonphoto