Website content photoshoot ideas
Website content is an important component of any good site. Photos have special way of communicating so much and if done well, they captivate their viewer no end. It then goes without saying that a bit of planning is needed to get the right photos for your website.
Hire a brand photographer whose style aligns with your brand
Of course, when hiring a brand photographer, find someone who matches your aesthetic, or who will adjust their editing style to match your brand. In business it plays to surround yourself with people who have the skills that complement yours. A key asset for your business is a photographer who is local, has the style that matches your brand and who is able to make you comfortable in front of the camera. Not every photographer will be your perfect match.
Remember who your target audience is
What kind of photos do your clients want to see? Have photos taken that make your clients picture themselves working with you. Your location and props play into that too. If you’re a luxury brand, wear something sophisticated that’s still you. If you’re a more easygoing brand, you might wear something a little more casual.
Website Content Shot List
Horizontal and vertical images
Desktop websites need mostly horizontal images, and yet, most photographers revert to vertical images when taking creative headshots. Avoid this by asking your photographer to take horizontal and vertical images. If you plan on using any banners on your website (or even for social media and ads), make sure you ask for plenty of horizontal (or landscape) shots. Portrait shots can work great on your “About” page or sidebar but you will most likely need more “horizontal” photos. Another tip is to ask your photographer to keep you in one third of the frame (whether it’s left or right). This will save you time in the future should you ever want to add text to your images without covering your face and ensuring you have enough room.
Headshots and candid poses
You will want images of you in a few variations: Looking directly at the camera, away from the camera and in action while doing your work. It’s not ideal to use a photo of you in every spot possible on your website. Your desk, cute work spaces and any other behind-the-scenes kind of photos work wonders.
Images for every page of your website
Don’t go into the shoot assuming that you’ll get a variety of images to scatter throughout your website. Instead, plan the actual image types you want on every page.
Example: Home page — headshot, background image, portfolio samples, call to action background, etc.
You can get even more specific, such as — working on laptop, smiling with and without teeth, chatting with a client and so on.
Images with white space
White space — a must for websites — also needs to be part of your intention with your website photoshoot. Take photos a little further back, or with a unique crop, so that there’s an empty part of the photo or in other words, white space! These are the kinds of photos you can overlay text on when you use the image on your website!
The Props
Props help to create balance in your photos and are a way of communicating qualities of your brand. Based on your branding information, what types of props would be perfect to fit your business’ style? Things to bring to your photoshoot: Books, Stationary, coffee or tea cups, favorite comfy pillow, plants and of course any printed materials with your branding on them.
The Wardrobe
Choosing the right clothes that will convey what you’re all about can be a tricky thing. Engaging the services of a professional stylist would be the ideal way to achieve your look. If that’s outside your budget, checking in your brand will point you in the right direction.
Think about the your brand colors. Consider your brand positioning (professional or casual, classic or contemporary, affordable or upmarket). Above all, what do you feel the most comfortable in while still being the face of your brand?
Have a few outfits chosen so that you can create a few different looks during the photoshoot. Make it easy to change as well. For example, wearing your pants or skirt of choice and have a few different tops can easily mix things up.
Hair and Makeup
We all want to feel confident in front of the camera and there is nothing worse for that then having your hair and make-up turn out wrong the day of your shoot. Whether you are having your hair and make-up done professionally or you are doing it yourself, try to get a practice “run” in before the actual day.
The Final Product
Are you even more excited now? A website photoshoot is an amazing opportunity to level up your look without redesigning an entire website. And of course, if you are redesigning an entire website, new photos will make it feel brand new. Once you have your beautiful photos, you’re ready to hand them onto your web designer to bring it all to life on your new website. Interested in seeing how we creatively use professional photos in our designs? Click HERE to view our design portfolio.
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