Table of Contents
Article Summary
Most people feel a little lost after booking their brand photography session, excited, but not sure what to actually do before the day arrives. Skipping the prep is one of the most common reasons sessions don’t produce the results people were hoping for, and it’s almost entirely avoidable. This post walks you through everything you need to do before your session so you arrive feeling ready, relaxed, and genuinely excited about what you’re about to create.
Booking your brand photography session is the exciting part. But once it’s on the calendar, a lot of people hit a wall: now what?
The good news is that a well-planned session almost always produces better images than a spontaneous one, and most of the preparation is simpler than you’d think. This checklist walks you through everything you need to do before your session day so you arrive feeling ready, relaxed, and genuinely excited about what you’re about to create.
Start With Your Brand Goals
Before you think about wardrobe or locations, start with the bigger picture. The most useful thing you can bring to a brand photography session is clarity about what you actually need the images for.
Ask yourself:
- Where am I planning to use these photos? Website, social media, email, printed materials?
- What platforms do I post on most consistently, and what kinds of images tend to perform well there?
- Is there a specific launch, rebrand, or campaign coming up that these images need to support?
- What do I want people to feel when they see my brand visuals?
You don’t need a perfectly polished answer to any of these. But having a rough sense of your goals makes the planning call much more productive, and it gives your photographer something concrete to build a shot list around. The clearer you are on what you need, the more intentional every setup can be.
If you’re working with me, we’ll go through all of this together on your pre-session planning call. But the more you’ve thought about it beforehand, the better.
Plan Your Wardrobe Carefully
Wardrobe is one of the biggest variables in a brand photography session, and it’s also one of the most common sources of last-minute stress. Getting it sorted in advance makes a significant difference.
Stick to solid colours and simple patterns. Busy prints, large logos, and bold stripes tend to draw the eye away from your face, which is where the focus should be. Solid colours, subtle textures, and simple layers generally photograph much better.
Choose colours that align with your brand palette. If your website is built around navy, cream, and gold, wearing those tones in your photos creates a natural visual consistency across your entire online presence. If you’re not sure what your brand colours are, this is a good moment to think about it.
Bring more options than you think you need. For a full brand session, three to five outfits is a good range. Having variety means you can mix up the look and feel of your images without everything blending together. Even if you don’t end up using every outfit, having options takes the pressure off any single choice.
Wear things you actually feel good in. This one sounds obvious but it matters more than most people realise. Confidence shows up in photos. If you’re wearing something that feels slightly off or that you’re constantly adjusting, that shows up too. Prioritise clothes you feel like yourself in, that fit well, and that reflect the version of your brand you want to put forward.
Think about layers and accessories. A blazer, a scarf, or a statement necklace can change the feeling of an outfit significantly without requiring a full wardrobe change. These are easy ways to add variety across your images.
If you’re working with me, you’ll receive a detailed wardrobe guide as part of your session prep. We can also talk through your choices on the planning call if you’d like a second opinion before the day.
Think About Props and Location
Props and location are two of the things that make brand photography feel personal and specific to you rather than generic.
Props don’t need to be elaborate. Think about the tools of your trade: your laptop, a notebook, a coffee mug, your product, a book you’re reading, something that says something true about how you work. The best props are the ones that would be sitting on your desk anyway.
Location depends on your brand aesthetic and what kind of images you need. Some clients love the clean, controlled feel of a studio. Others want the authenticity of their own workspace. Many sessions work well as a combination of both. If you’re shooting on location, think about whether the space feels like an extension of your brand, whether the lighting is good, and whether it photographs as well as it looks in person.
For sessions with me, location scouting and styling are part of the planning process, so you won’t be figuring this out alone.
Prepare Your Mind as Much as Your Wardrobe
This part often gets skipped, but it’s genuinely important.
A lot of people arrive at a brand photography session carrying a fair amount of anxiety, usually some version of “I’m not photogenic” or “I never know what to do in photos.” If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. It’s one of the most common things I hear from clients before their session.
Here’s what I’d encourage you to do in the day or two before your session.
Look back at your business. Spend a few minutes thinking about why you do what you do, who you help, and what you’ve built. The photos you’re about to take exist to show that story to the world. Reconnecting with your purpose tends to shift the energy from nervous to excited, which is exactly where you want to be.
Let go of the idea of a “perfect” photo. The images that resonate most are almost never the perfectly posed ones. They’re the ones where something real came through. Your job isn’t to perform. It’s to show up and let your photographer do theirs.
Get a good night’s sleep. This is practical, not philosophical. Skin, eyes, and energy all look better when you’re rested. If your session is in the morning, avoid alcohol the night before and drink plenty of water.
On the Day: A Few Final Tips
- Arrive on time, or a few minutes early. Rushing in affects how you feel for the first part of the session. Build in a buffer.
- Eat something beforehand. Low blood sugar makes everything harder, including smiling naturally.
- Bring your props and wardrobe options organised and ready. Steamed, not wrinkled. Hanging where possible.
- Trust the process. You’ve done the preparation. Now let your photographer guide you through the rest.
If you’re working with me in my Burlington studio, professional makeup and light hair styling are included in every session, so you don’t need to arrive camera-ready. Just arrive as you are and we’ll take it from there.
The Short Version: Your Pre-Session Checklist
- Get clear on your brand goals and how you’ll use the images
- Plan three to five outfits in solid colours aligned with your brand palette
- Gather props that reflect your work and personality
- Confirm your location or studio setup with your photographer
- Get a good night’s sleep and stay hydrated
- Eat before you arrive
- Bring your outfits steamed and organised
- Give yourself permission to enjoy it
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, start thinking about wardrobe, props, and brand goals at least one to two weeks before your session. This gives you enough time to pull outfits together, get anything steamed or altered if needed, and come to your planning call with a clear sense of what you need the images for. Leaving it to the night before is one of the most common sources of pre-session stress, and it’s easy to avoid.
Three to five outfits is a good range for a full brand session. You want enough variety to give your images different looks and moods without the session turning into a full wardrobe production. Aim for at least one polished, professional option, one that’s a little more relaxed or creative, and one that sits somewhere in between.
Stick to solid colours and simple patterns that align with your brand palette. Avoid busy prints, large logos, and bold stripes, which tend to draw the eye away from your face. Fit matters more than price or style, so choose pieces you feel comfortable and confident in. Layers and accessories like a blazer, scarf, or statement necklace are easy ways to add variety without needing a full outfit change.
No. Professional makeup and light hair styling are included in every session at Jenn Grachow Photography, so you don’t need to worry about arriving camera-ready. Just show up as you are and we’ll take care of the rest before we pick up the camera.
The best props are the ones that already live on your desk: your laptop, a notebook, a coffee mug, a book you’re reading, your product, or any tool that’s specific to how you work. Props don’t need to be elaborate or purchased specially for the session. They just need to say something true about you and your business.
This is one of the most common things clients mention before arriving, and it almost always fades within the first few minutes of the session. In the day or two before, spend a few minutes reconnecting with your business and why you do what you do. Remind yourself that your job on the day is simply to show up. The posing, the direction, and the guidance are what your photographer is there for.
Not at all. You don’t need a fully built-out brand or a finished website to book. Having a rough sense of your brand colours, your audience, and what you’ll use the images for is helpful, but we work through all of this together on the planning call. Many clients find that the session itself helps clarify their brand direction rather than the other way around.
The planning call is where we map out your brand goals, build your shot list, talk through wardrobe and prop options, and confirm your location or studio setup. It’s also a good chance to ask any questions before the day. The more prepared you are going in, the more intentional every setup can be during the session itself.
Ready to Book?
If you’re thinking about a brand photography session in Burlington or anywhere across the GTA, I’d love to chat. The planning call is where we pull all of this together, and it’s a good way to get your questions answered before you commit to anything.
