How to Prepare for Your Creative Brand Shoot

I often hear that not many people offer the type of photography that I do. Which might be great for me but it can be a little daunting if you’re thinking about hiring a documentary photographer. With something like headshots, you know exactly what sort of thing you’re getting - the clue is in the name. So if you’re a bit dubious, confused or just plain unconvinced about working with a photographer like me, please read on:

Songsheet

Why Documentary Photography?

For me, it’s about the hard work behind the scenes you don’t usually see - that’s usually where the best stories are. Unlike posed or stylized shots, documentary photography focuses on capturing real-life moments, emotions, and experiences. It's about capturing the essence of your brand and showcasing the human side of your business. It’s about showing the tools of the trade or the rehearsals, the raw materials and the people who use them.

Define Your Brand

What are your brand's core values, it’s mission and unique selling points? You may already have a mission statement or an elevator pitch. Sharing these with me will help me to understand your brand's purpose and what you want to convey through the photographs. When you enquire about working with me I’ll send out a short questionnaire to learn more about you and your business or event and we can dive deeper on a call (or in person) before the shoot. The more I know about your brand or event, the better I can capture the moments that truly represent you.

Working Together

A successful shoot is all about collaboration. From the initial planning stages to the final day of the shoot, we can brainstorm ideas together; potential locations, your vision and any must-capture moments or people. The more I know about you as a person, community or event the better I can understand how to approach your shoot and capture more authentic and meaningful images

In rehearsal

Authentic Locations

Rather than working out of a studio, I come to your place of work, production or rehearsal. It’s a familiar and authentic setting that completely aligns with what you do. If you don’t have a regular base or location, consider shooting somewhere your brand interacts with customers naturally, such as at festivals, shows or fairs.

Real People

Having real employees, customers, or community members in your shoot adds authenticity to your photographs. Involving the people who genuinely connect or work with you and your values will resonate more with your audience, creating a sense of trust.

Expect The Unexpected

Documentary photography lives and dies on spontaneity and capturing genuine moments as they unfold. While you can plan all you like, there will be unexpected hiccups during the shoot. Embrace the perfectly imperfect and they may well be your favourite images from the shoot.

Tell Everyone and Act Natural

If you’ve booked a shoot on behalf of a group, cast or crew, please tell them I’m coming. Not everyone wants to be in front of the camera and that’s fine. But I’d rather they knew in advance than turning up and getting a nasty surprise on the day.

Encourage everyone involved in the shoot to dress normally - there’s no need to change anything just because I am lurking with a camera. Relaxed and authentic are the keywords here. Everyone needs to feel at ease, and although it’s impossible to completely forget that there is a photographer at work, it will result in a better shoot.

Be Patient and Trust the Process

Documentary photography might take more time compared to traditional staged shoots, as it relies on capturing spontaneous moments. I might be hanging around at your rehearsal or event for a couple of hours. Be patient and trust me as I hunt for the interesting angles, expressions and paraphernalia of what you do. Hopefully, by the time we’re done, you’ll have forgotten I was there and when the final shots come through you’ll have no idea I was taking them

I hope this has helped you understand how a documentary shoot with me operates. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments. If you’d like to talk about working together please drop me a line at hello@backlotphotography.co.uk and I’ll send you a link to book a call.