Creating Custom Authentic Brand Imagery (Part 4 of 4: VIPs)

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Now that you’ve read Part 1 , Part 2 and Part 3, let’s bring this tutorial home. So you’ve captured the employees and the essence of the company and perhaps you’ve taken headshots of all the key players. Now you’re challenged with perhaps the most difficult shots to capture…the co-founders. Sure, they are used to getting their headshots taken for various media outlets but they often aren’t asked to have their photos taken of them just as they are. If there are multiple co-founders, having the opportunity to capture them together can be magical. The trick is being uber-prepared before they arrive to the “set” (even if the set is their office).

Here are three tips to casually convey co-founders through lifestyle imagery:

  1. Tell them what the plan is every step of the way: Nobody wants to waste time, least of which are busy CEOs / co-founders. Their days are filled with people wanting parts of them in 15-minute increments…meetings, 1:1s, investor pitches, etc. The best investment of your time during this portion of the shoot is to share the vision with them. You don’t need to tell them every single shot you’re taking, but give them the general goal of your time together (“I want to demonstrate you working at your laptop, then reading through a proposal, then on a phone call.”). When people know exactly what you’re looking for from them, they are much more likely to cooperate.

  2. Find common ground: As you’re setting up your shot, ask about their life outside the office. Do they have a picture of kids or a dog or a boat in their office? Ask them about it and find common ground to complement the conversation.

  3. Keep it short: If their assistant gives you 30 minutes to get these shots, do all you can to get it done in 20 minutes. If you’ve got 15 minutes, get it done in 10. The CEO will appreciate (and respect) that you aren’t trying to squeeze him or her dry for every moment on their calendar.

And that’s it! Follow these tips and you’re sure to have a successful (and authentic) brand photoshoot for any company. This is part four of a four-part series on how to create authentic brand imagery for your company. If you missed the previous posts, click here to go back to the first in the series.

Brooke BryandDIY, BrandingComment