How to Prepare for a Personal Brand Photoshoot in Liverpool
Do you find preparing for your photo shoot intimidating or overwhelming? You're not alone.
Preparing for your brand photoshoot, whether in Liverpool or not (especially if it's your first one), can be quite intimidating because, as they say, "you don't know, what you don't know."
I've had so many clients show up for their first shoot, thinking they had it all sorted, without having read or taken into account all the tips on the prep emails I sent. And that meant before long, they had another shoot booked to cover all the things that hadn't nailed the first time.
To be clear, I do all that I can to make up the difference on shoot day; however, there are some things I just can't fix on shoot day without the proper prep on my client's end.
Get Clear on your Brand First
Before you touch Pinterest or your wardrobe, get clear on the brand itself.
Who are these photos for?
What do you want someone to feel when they land on your website or scroll past your face on Instagram?
What's the one thing you want people to remember about you?
If you're a client of mine, this is baked into your planning guides, and we work through it together on your Visual Strategy Call.
But if you're just starting out and haven't booked yet, my Brand Photography Intro Kit walks you through your brand, your message, and your visuals in plain, doable steps for £7, so you're not guessing at any of it later.
Build out your Inspiration for your Liverpool Photoshoot
Once you know your direction, start collecting images that speak to it. Pinterest is basically a visual search engine, and it's the fastest way to find what you want without having to explain it in words.
Here's how I get my clients to do it: create a board, name it something like "[Your Name] Brand Shoot," and if you don't want anyone to know you're planning a shoot, tick it as secret.
Then pin 10 to 20 images that catch your eye:
Locations, outfits, colors, poses, textures, energy.
This isn't about copy-pasting someone else's shoot. It's about giving your photographer a feel for you, so we co-create something aligned instead of guessing.
Seen a brand or a feed whose vibe you love? Note the handle and what caught your eye about it. That's just as useful as a Pinterest board.
Build your Shotlist
A shoot without a shot list is how you end up with 90 gorgeous images but none of the ones you actually needed for your website and content strategy.
Start with the story, not the pose.
Think about your morning routine, your actual work day, how you spend time outside of work, the quiet self-care moments.
Ask yourself what offers or launches are coming up and what images would help them land.
Think about the headshots you want (relaxed and smiling at the lens builds trust faster than a stiff, posed one).
If you're stuck, grab a notebook and write A to Z down the side, then fill in a term for each letter that matters in your field. You'll be shocked how much you actually know, and every one of those terms is a potential shot, caption, or piece of content.
Don't overpack the list. A shot list that's too heavy kills creativity on the day.
Choose your Location
Location shapes the whole feel of your shoot, and Liverpool gives you plenty to work with.
City streets, the waterfront, studios, your own home, even a rented space if you want a full reset before shoot day.
If you're shooting outdoors, look for spots close together so you're not burning the day driving between them, and keep an eye on timing. Golden hour is your best friend, especially near the water.
If the great British weather has other plans (and let's be honest, it usually does), a studio takes that worry off the table entirely.
I shoot a lot of my Liverpool sessions at No Filter Studios in Birkenhead, just across the water from the city centre. It's flooded with natural light, has a huge range of sets under one roof, and means the weather can do whatever it wants outside while we keep shooting. This post covers exactly what I look for in a studio and why I'd pick one over a cafe or an outdoor spot most of the time.
Sort your Hair and Makeup
What may seem like another additional expense in your growing brand shoot budget has proven, time and time again, to help my clients show up feeling like the most confident version of themselves.
When they get their photos back, they're 100% happy they spent a few extra pounds to have a professional help them get photo-ready. It's not just about the look. It's about how they feel when the camera comes out.
If you're booking a stylist, go a touch bolder than usual.
Makeup tends to look lighter once the camera's on you, so a little extra definition photographs better than your everyday look (and the MUA pros know how to get this done).
Plan your timing with room to spare (traffic and running over time are basically guaranteed), bring photo references so they know exactly what you're after, and if they're happy to come along and touch up your look between outfit changes, even better.
If you're using fake tan, apply it a few days ahead so it settles evenly, and pay extra attention to hands, elbows, and knees.
And if you're doing your own makeup, bring your bag along for touch-ups mid-shoot.
Plan your Outfits
This is where, if you're like me, you're likely to overthink it, so give yourself a bit of a break.
On a Full Brand Shoot, plan for 4 to 6 outfit changes.
Bring layers and accessories so there's room to play, and dress with the story in mind: cozy loungewear for a slow morning scene, something elevated but warm for a "client call" shot, your work look if you have one (aprons, tools, whatever's actually yours).
A few things to steer clear of: busy patterns, neons, skin-toned clothing (it edits badly), branded logos that aren't your own, too much black in one shot, and slogan tees that don't actually reflect your brand.
Pack by location, in separate bags, so you're not digging through everything mid-shoot. And if you need somewhere to change, we can duck into a cafe, rig up a quick privacy screen, or I'll bring my pop-up tent. It's genuinely no big deal.
If budget's a factor, charity shops in nicer neighborhoods, Vinted, and rental sites like Hurr, Hirestreet, and Rotaro are all worth a look. Keep the tags on anything new so you can return it after. And yes, outfits bought for a shoot are usually a deductible business expense, just check with your accountant.
Practice your Posing
This is the bit almost everyone skips, and it's the bit that can make a MASSIVE difference to how you actually feel on the day.
Posing is a skill. Nobody's born knowing what to do with their hands in front of a camera.
Here are a few quick tips to give you a head start:
Crossing your legs at the ankle while standing creates a natural curve the camera loves.
Walking shots look better when you crisscross your feet with every step instead of landing them side by side.
Sitting down can shrink you if not done right, so lean, elongate, and throw a leg over the arm of the chair.
And please, put the mug down. Everyone has that shot.
My full posing guide covers all of this properly: standing, walking, sitting, and the big statement poses, so you've already got the shapes in your body before I say a word on shoot day.
➝ READ MORE: "How to Pose for Your Brand Photoshoot"
Do a Final Prep Pass
A few days out, run through the practical stuff.
Steam your outfits so nothing's arriving creased.
Pack your bag by location.
If you're heading to Birkenhead, know that the tunnel isn't free, so have change or your card ready.
Get a proper night's sleep, eat something before you leave the house, and give yourself more time than you think you need to get there.
There's always a bit of a warm-up period in the beginning, so know that any nerves will settle once the music's on and we get moving.
Final Thoughts
None of this has to be perfect.
You don't need a flawless Pinterest board or the exact right outfit combination to have a great shoot. What matters is showing up in a way that feels great, so we can create a gallery together that draws your audience in, and you can't wait to share!
That's the whole point of investing with a professional. I've directed hundreds of women through this exact process, most of whom walked in nervous and walked out buzzing.
You don't have to know how to pose or where to put your hands. You just have to show up, and I'll take it from there.
If you've been putting off a brand shoot because your photos haven't caught up with where your business is, this is your sign. Let's build a day that reflects where you're going!
Not sure where to begin?
I’ve got a dedicated Personal Brand Photoshoot Checklist blog post designed to help you plan every step, so you can show up with clarity.
✺ Ready to plan a branding shoot that feels aligned and impactful? Book your shoot here.
✺ Want to grow your brand photography business with guidance and strategy? Book a 1:1 mentoring session.
✺ Want a step-by-step system for planning your brand shoots? Explore the Brand Shoot Blueprint.
