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7 Tips to Design a Photo Shoot that shows off your Brand

Darlene Hawley

Here are my top tips for planning out your brand photo shoot.

Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for  online service based business owners

Wheater your brand new in business or you’ve been around for a bit it always fun to do a branded photo shoot to show off you and your business. Having photos that express who you are and represent your business is extremely important in the online world, it allows you to connect and be consistent along all the platforms.


Here are my top tips for planning out your photo shoot.


1. Show off your personality. Your unique voice and personality should shine through with your photos. Think of three words that express you and your business and keep them in mind throughout your shoot.


2. Build a connection, let your audience see who you truly are. Ask yourself what do I want people to feel when they see my pictures.


3. Create an inspiration board for a visual reference for what you're trying to achieve with your brand photos. Use your Brand Board to make sure everything pulls together from your brand colors to what you want emotions people feel when they see your website.


4. Use your brand colors. It ’s a great idea to pop some of your brand colors into your shoot to tie everything together. One way to do this is through props. Do you have a favorite coffee mug, pens, journal, sunglasses, cell phone, laptop, or a purse? Add them in.


5. Pick a location that makes sense to you and your brand. I used Pinterest to create a board for location ideas and poses that inspired me. You can use your city for inspiration, coffees shops, vineyards, beach, mountains, gardens, or your home office the ideas are endless.


6. Do your research and find a photographer who gets you. Check out their work and reviews and make sure their photography style is in line with what you’re looking for. I was lucky enough to find Heather J Keys and loved her work, her passion for what she creates and had so much fun during the shoot hanging out with her.


7. Don’t stress and have fun. It’s easy to get caught up in what to wear, how many outfits do you need, how to wear your hair and do your make up. Here is my advice pick one or two outfits and a layering piece to give you a few looks, spend a little more time than usual on your hair and makeup but you want people to see the real you so don’t stress on it. The night before, do a face mask, take a hot bath and just relax and focus on feeling confident, smiling and having fun.

Download my checklist to make your brand photo shoot stress free, fun and know you'll hit on all the key points.


10 Effective Communication Tips

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Darlene Hawley, Personal Branding & Business Coach for service based entrepreneurs

Hey There!

I'm Darlene



As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.


My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.


Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.


Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.


Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.

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