Creating stand-out personal branding photography isn’t reserved for those with mega-budgets, fancy workplaces or show homes at their disposal.
If you have a more modest workplace (like most of us), you’ll be pleased to know that shooting your brand photos in a small space is absolutely doable.
With intentional planning, thoughtful styling, a creative eye… (and a little furniture re-arranging!) your home, studio or office can become a creative space. And even better, one that’s unique to you and your personality.
How to plan a personal branding shoot in a small space
I’ve done lots of personal brand photo shoots in small spaces, especially in my freelancer clients’ homes. Here’s my guide to having a personal branding shoot in a small space…
- No matter what space you have available, proper planning will help you to get the best out of your personal branding shoot. Set a clear visual goal by choosing the mood and tone you want—authentic, professional, cozy, creative? This guides all the choices we will make for your shoot.
- Scout your small space for possible locations. Identify spots with good natural light: think big windows or skylights. It’s a great idea to send your personal branding photographer some snaps of your home or office so they can get a feel for the space available.
- Think about ‘zones’ of the room you could use for your shoot. Near a window works great for headshots, action shots could be at your desk, and informal photos could be in an armchair. Be prepared to re-arrange the furniture for each set of images to maximise the potential of the space.
- Take note of which time of the day your space gets the most natural light. Plan your shoot time accordingly if possible.
Maximising your space for a personal brand photo shoot
- Natural light is everything, and so flattering too! Be sure to clean your window(s) and declutter around them so they can be used for your headshots. The last thing you want to do when you’re at your shoot is clean grubby finger marks off glass!
- Make sure everything is tidy and in its place. A cluttered background will take away from the professionalism of your images. That said, don’t be tempted to remove all the character from your workspace. People like to see behind the scenes.
- Get some meaningful props ready, for example plants, notebook, laptop, tools etc. Props give context and add interest to your images. And will give you something to do with your hands!
- Add depth and colour to your space with candles, fairy lights and on-brand artwork in the background. This again adds interest to your images and gives an impression of space.
- Remember to change up your outfits and accessories to add variety to your personal branding images. This will distract from using the same location throughout the shoot.
Adapt, Adjust & Have Fun
You’ll get the best out of your personal branding shoot if you can stay flexible to suggestions from your photographer about how to best arrange your small space. Be prepared to move furniture around or out of the way to get the best angles and light positioning.
Your personal brand photographer may also want to experiment with additional lighting to set the vibe or brighten up the space. This can take some time, so make sure you have given yourself enough time to do this.
As with any personal branding shoot, put your trust in your photographer that they have the artistic vision to make your small space shine. Teamwork makes the dream work! Read more about collaborating with your photographer here.
Branding Shoot Checklist
Here are some things to prepare for your branding shoot in a small space:
- Mood board of ideas – keep it realistic to what can be achieved in the space!
- Quick phone photos of the space to send to your photographer
- Take note of the best time of the day for natural light
- De-clutter and clean your space so it’s photo-ready
- Gather meaningful props ready to use in your shoot
A shoot at your home or studio is showing off your brand in its most authentic form. Never be afraid to show your clients exactly who you are! I’ve written a guide to having a personal branding shoot at home here.
Personal branding photography
A small workspace doesn’t limit you. It empowers you to create visuals that are real and relatable, helping you to connect to your clients. Using the best light, on-brand props, and simple styling, you can produce a bold personal branding images in even the tiniest of spaces.
If you’d like to kick-start your ideas with a chat with me, I would love to hear from you. I can help point you in the right direction for your branding shoot and I will give you advice and guidance at every step.
You might also want to check out some of my behind the scenes videos on social media, where you can see some of the tiny spaces where I’ve shot personal branding photographs. You will be surprised at how much variety we can achieve within a small space!
