Dressing for a personal branding photoshoot: What to wear and how a stylist can translate your brand message into a winning outfit.
When we think of a personal branding photo shoot, whether for our website, a professional bio or to elevate our social media, one fact is true…..we want to make a good impression.
We want to look good and feel good about the photos. We also want the photos to represent who we are and accurately portray our brand ethos.
As the Stylist & Image Strategist behind Emelia Morris Stylist I work with women to define their look and build their style confidence. A personal branding photo shoot is the perfect time to create a stylish outfit that makes you feel confident…. In this blog I’m outlining five tips to get you excited and prepared for your photoshoot.
#1 Dress For Success
From a young age, I have always had a Dress For Success attitude. This is probably thanks to my high school Deputy Principal. She was the Principal who ensured all her students had freshly ironed uniforms and were dressed to perfection. It was mandatory for all the female students at my school to have knee length skirts (look out if you were caught hemming your skirt above the knee), ankle socks were never allowed, a tie was a must, and if you didn't conform to the uniform policy, it was a letter home to your parents or detention.
At the time I thought the deputy principal was the biggest ball breaker, but now as an adult I look back and think, thank you Miss Thompson…. I now understand why you wanted us to look presentable! You were actually teaching us a valuable life lesson.
Whether she realised or not, she taught us to pay attention to how we visually present our self. And she’s right, it does count, especially when it comes to business and the way we wish to be perceived within our industry.
#2 First impressions Count
I don’t need to tell you that in business, First Impressions Count. We all know this… and it goes hand in hand with Dressing For Success.
Various sources state that it takes less than ten seconds for a person to sum you up (and then instantaneously make a decision about you). And get this…most of their perception will be decided through non-verbal communication.
With this in mind, we cannot solely rely on wowing people with communication skills, business products or business offers. In our visual world, attire has power and can influence business opportunities so it’s worth investing a little thought and strategy into your look.
For example, if you run a real estate business, I wouldn't recommend dressing in active wear with a full face of glam make-up. This wouldn't really convey your business branding message. A more formal/ traditional corporate look would be more appropriate.
If you are a home based, online children’s clothing store you may want to choose a more relaxed look for a photo shoot as you probably don’t ever find yourself attending corporate business meetings that call for a suit.
If you design and make jewellery you will want to ensure you are wearing your product in the shoot… (Sounds like a no brainer but some people forget)
#3 Choose Colours That Complement
If you are looking for guidelines for best photoshoot colour palettes that’s going to be a little tricky. There are many variables such as location, clothing, hair, makeup, complexion, the industry you work in and your brand’s persona.
Here are a few colour tips to steer you in the right direction
Wear colours that complement your complexion (and the shoot location). Not sure about colours that look good on you? Ask family or friends to share the colours that make you glow.
Classic block colours never go out of style so if you're going for a more professional vibe, I would recommend wearing a solid or block colour.
If prints are your thing, by all means go for it but choose a print that isn't too busy…. Too busy means bold colours in large prints. This combo creates too much distraction for the eye.
Metallics and Sequins are always fun (believe me, as a stylist I love them) but they don’t work for every industry. They are perfect if your shoot is a more creative campaign or your brand persona calls for a glitz and glamour look. Keep in mind that patterned and shimmery fabrics can date over time.
Opt for props. If your brand has a specific colour that you want to tie into your shoot but you know you really can’t get away with wearing then add pops of your brand colour with props.
# 4 Be Authentic To You
When dressing for your shoot, never forget to be authentic to yourself AND your brand.
When we think about dressing for success we can overthink and lose our compass for what’s right for us.
You don’t need to wear an Oscar De la Renta ball gown to look good…. And if we’re honest, a ball gown is probably not the best way to tell our story to potential customers and current clients.
Finding the most authentic outfit that will make us look professional and represent our brand can fill us with anxiety but the process can be stress free if we plan ahead. My planning would look a little something like this:
Begin planning your outfit at least 2 weeks in advance.
Shop your wardrobe first… yep jump into your wardrobe and shortlist some outfit ideas.
Try on the shortlisted outfits and take some photos of yourself in them. The photos will provide some idea of how the outfits look photographed.
Send the pics to a friend/ family member whose opinion you trust. Make sure you tell them you’re considering wearing the outfit to a photoshoot.
At this stage if you’ve styled a winning outfit (or two) congratulations, you’re sorted… if nothing seems to be coming together it’s time to get shopping.
Purchase outfit/s or work with a personal stylist to create the look you are after.
Before you wear an outfit to a photoshoot, ask yourself two important questions. Is this outfit true to me as a business person? Does this outfit truthfully represent my brand?
#5 Hire A Stylist
When organising your shoot, your outfit is just as important as the photographer, location, hair & make-up.
If you aren’t sure how a fashion/personal stylist can be the perfect addition to your personal branding photoshoot here’s how I can help you:
Translating and conveying your branding message through clothing I can’t stress the power of clothing. It will affect how you are perceived. Ensuring your clothes are on brand is something I coordinate all the time for women just like you.
Sourcing Clothing For The Shoot- If you have time to plan in advance, you could book a personal shopping session which means I shop with you to find the winning look you are after.
Borrowing Your Outfit For The Shoot- If you're having a social media shoot (depending on the brief), I can pull some strings and borrow the garments for your shoot.
Visual Grooming- I ensure your clothes look super fresh and neat on the day (I’ll even have all your garments steamed). Yep you’ll feel sooooo put together.
Utilising a Network of Industry Specialists- When required, a stylist can link in with other industry creatives such as Hair, Make-up, Photographers and behind the scenes teams. We have an extensive network of creatives and we happily work collaboratively as a team to bring your shoot together.
If hiring a stylist is not in your business budget, my number one, best piece of advice is plan your outfit/s in the weeks leading up to your shoot (not the morning of). This means you’re more likely to style a winning outfit that reflects your business brand.
All that’s left to do is to go and own your shoot.
If you want to know more about how a stylist can help with your next shoot or if you have any styling questions please contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
Emelia
Emelia Morris is a Geelong based Personal Stylist offering services to women and men who are looking to define and build confidence in their style. Emelia is passionate about her clients and achieving their style goals. She provides the best tools to create innovative and exciting looks and teaches shopping mechanisms so you can shop confidently on your own. To get to know Emelia more head to her website Emelia Morris Stylist
