How to Prepare for YourPersonal Branding Photoshoot
A guide from Coco Haus
Your personal brand is more than a logo or a colour palette, it is the feeling people get when they meet you. A great branding session captures that feeling in photographs that work for your website, social media, and beyond. The preparation you put in beforehand makes an enormous difference in how confident and authentic you look on camera. I’ll covers everything you need to know so you can feel relaxed and get the best photos that represent you.
What to Wear
Build Around Your Brand Colours
Your wardrobe choices should reflect the colour palette you like for your brand. If you haven’t done that yet, think about the emotion you want to convey: calm and trustworthy, bold and energetic, warm and approachable, etc. Bring that feeling into your clothing choices.
A quick note on colour theory:
Cool tones (blues, greys, soft whites) read as professional and calm.
Warm tones (terracotta, camel, rust, olive) feel grounded and approachable.
Deep, rich colours (burgundy, navy, forest green) convey authority and luxury.
Neutrals (cream, beige, grey) photograph beautifully and keep the focus on you.
✦ When in doubt, choose a colour from your brand palette and build your outfit around it.
Fit and Garment Prep
How your clothes fit matters more on camera than almost anywhere else. Before your session:
Steam, iron, or professionally press every piece — wrinkles are magnified in photographs.
Make sure jackets and blazers close smoothly and buttons are not pulling.
Avoid anything too tight, especially with structured fabric — it creates unflattering lines.
Ensure zippers lie flat and seams are not straining.
✦ Try everything on in front of a mirror a few days before (not the morning of ) so you have time to adjust if something does not feel right. It’s always better to bring more options in case something isn’t photographing right.
Patterns and Prints
The fewer patterns, the better.This is one of the most common mistakes people make when preparing for a photoshoot.
Avoid vertical stripes — they can create a moiré effect on camera and draw the eye downward rather than to your face.
Small, tight patterns (houndstooth, fine checks) can look weird on screen and in print.
If you love pattern, choose one piece with a large, simple print and keep everything else solid.
✦ Solid colours and simple textures keep the focus where it belongs — on you and your brand.
What You Wear Underneath
The right foundational garments can make as much difference as the outfit itself. Smooth, supportive undergarments that work with your clothing help everything drape properly and give you confidence in front of the camera. It is worth investing in the right pieces before your session.
Shoes
Personal branding sessions typically frame you from the waist up for headshots, so your shoes may not appear in every image. However, for full-body shots (particularly for websites, speaker bios, or event materials) your footwear matters.
Choose shoes that are true to your brand: polished and intentional.
Make sure they fit comfortably. Discomfort shows in posture and expression.
If heels are part of your brand, practice walking and standing in them beforehand.
✦ Even if your feet never appear in a single frame, wearing shoes that feel like you will put you in the right headspace.
Hair and Makeup
Camera-ready is not the same as everyday-ready. Makeup photographs slightly lighter than it appears in person, so do not be afraid to go a touch more defined than you usually would.
Ensure your skincare is consistent in the days leading up to the shoot: avoid trying new products or treatments right before.
A blowout or professional styling the day of makes a significant difference.
If you are doing your own makeup, set it well and bring touch-up essentials.
If you are hiring a makeup artist, share your brand colours and any reference images in advance.
✦ The goal is to look like the most polished version of yourself — not someone else.
What to Bring
Prepare a shoot kit the day before so nothing is forgotten on the morning of:
Two to four complete outfits, including all accessories and layers.
A garment bag to keep your clothes in good order.
Any brand props that are meaningful to your work: a notebook, a product, something that tells your story.
Blotting papers and a small makeup bag for refreshing when you arrive (if you’re doing make-up yourself)
A playlist, a mood board, or any images that capture the feeling you are going for.
✦ Bring more options than you think you need. It is always better to have choices.
On the Day
How you feel going into your session directly affects what shows up in the photographs. Give yourself time:
Eat something nourishing beforehand, low blood sugar is real and it shows.
Arrive with enough time to settle in, not rushing in at the last minute.
Stay hydrated in the days leading up — your skin will thank you.
Get a good night of sleep the night before.
✦ Trust your photographer. Your job is to show up and be present. Everything else is taken care of.
When you are prepared, you are free.
The more intentional you are in your preparation, the more relaxed and confident you will feel in front of the camera and that is exactly what makes photographs come alive.
