Most people picture a branding session as an hour of smiling at a camera until their face hurts. It isn't. The shoot itself is the shortest part of the whole thing. The planning is what makes the photos actually useful, and the editing is what makes them look like they belong together.
If you've been putting off a branding session because you're not sure what you're signing up for, here's the whole process, in the order it happens.
The short answer: a branding session starts with a planning call, then 1 to 4 hours of shooting across your outfits and locations, and ends with an edited gallery delivered within 14 days. Sessions start at $550.
Step 1: The planning call
Before we pick a date, we talk. It's a relaxed 20 to 30 minute call, and it's the most important part of the session.
I'll ask where the photos are going to live. Your website homepage needs wide images with room for text. Instagram wants vertical frames. LinkedIn needs a strong headshot. A speaker bio needs something that looks like you on stage. Knowing this ahead of time means I shoot for the spaces you actually have, not just for nice pictures.
We'll also talk about what you want people to feel when they see you. Approachable or authoritative? Calm or energetic? Local and grounded, or polished and corporate? Your answers shape the locations, the outfits and how I direct you.
After the call, I put together a shot list. It's your checklist and mine, so nothing important gets missed on the day.
Step 2: Choosing your locations
The best location is usually the one where you work. Your office, studio, shop, kitchen table or job site shows people what it's like to work with you, and no stock photo can fake that.
For longer sessions, we'll add a second or third spot that fits your brand. In South Delta, that might be the beach at Centennial, a coffee shop in Ladner Village, or a clean stretch of brick downtown. If your business is more urban, we can head into the city. I'll suggest places based on your colours and the feel you're after.
I'm based in South Delta and work across Tsawwassen, Ladner and the Lower Mainland. A travel fee applies beyond 50 km.
Step 3: Outfits and props
Plan two to four looks, depending on the length of your session. Think about how your clients see you: what you wear to meet them, what you wear to work, and one more dressed up option. Solid colours and simple lines photograph best. If your brand has colours, bring something in that family.
Then bring your work. Tools, products, your laptop, your notebook, samples, signage, a mug with your logo on it. The more of your real work in the frame, the less your photos look like everyone else's.
The tips in How to prepare for a headshot session apply here too.
Step 4: The day of the shoot
We start with headshots while your outfit is crisp and your energy is fresh. Then we work through the shot list: you at work, close details of your hands and tools, wider lifestyle frames, and a few candid moments in between.
Here's what a two-hour session typically looks like:
1. First 15 minutes: settle in, walk through the shot list, warm up with easy frames
2. Look one: headshots and professional photos in your main outfit
3. Look two: working shots in your space, with your tools and products
4. Move to location two: lifestyle frames, walking shots and wider images for your website
5. Look three: a final outfit, a few fun extras, and anything we haven't checked off yet
I'll direct you the whole way through and show you frames on the back of the camera as we go. Most people are stiff for the first ten minutes and completely relaxed by the second outfit.
Step 5: Your gallery
Your online gallery arrives within 14 days. Every image is edited for colour, exposure and cropping, so the whole set feels consistent. Your retouched favourites get extra care: detailed skin, stray hairs and small distractions cleaned up.
You'll get high-resolution files for print and web, and you can use them on your website, social media, email newsletters, proposals and print marketing.
A good branding gallery should carry you through the year. A practical way to use it: pick your top ten for the website, schedule the rest across your social media month by month, and keep a few in reserve for launches and announcements.
How much does a branding session cost?
Sessions start at $550. The price depends on how much time, how many locations and how much planning your brand needs.
| Brand Essentials | Brand Story | Brand Library | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $550 | $950 | $1,600 |
| Shooting time | 1 hour | 2 hours | Half day (4 hours) |
| Locations | 1 | Up to 2 | Up to 3 |
| Outfits | Up to 2 | Up to 4 | As many as we can fit |
| Planning | Planning call | Planning call and mood board | Planning call, mood board and shot list |
| Edited images | 25 | 35 | 50 |
| Fully retouched | 3 | 5 | 10 |
| Best for | Solo professionals refreshing their website and LinkedIn | Business owners who post regularly and need variety | Launches, rebrands, and businesses with a team, space or products to show |
Extra retouching is $40 per image. Galleries are delivered within 14 days.
Why the price is higher than a headshot: a branding session isn't just more time in front of the camera. It includes the planning call, scouting locations, moving between spots, and editing a much bigger gallery so every image matches. For every hour we shoot, there are two or more hours of work behind it.
How to get the most out of your session
• Know where the photos are going. Have your website pages and social channels in mind before the planning call.
• Plan for the whole year. Think about launches, seasonal promotions and events coming up, and shoot for them now.
• Don't over-polish your space. A tidy desk is good. A staged one looks staged. Leave a little real life in the frame.
• Book a refresh. A shorter session every season or once a year keeps your content current without starting from scratch.
FAQ
How long does a branding session take?
Between one and four hours of shooting, depending on the package. Add 20 to 30 minutes for the planning call beforehand.
Can I include my team or my products?
Yes. Team members, products, your storefront and your workspace can all be part of the shot list. Let me know on the planning call so we build in time.
How many outfits should I bring?
Two for a one-hour session, three or four for a two-hour session. For a half day, bring as many looks as you'd like to show.
Do I need professional hair and makeup?
It's optional. Come as your clients usually see you. If you'd like a hair and makeup artist, I can recommend one locally.
Ready to plan a branding session?
Tell me about your business, where your photos need to go, and when you'd like them. I'll put together a plan and let you know which session fits.