Can we talk about brand photography for a second? Because I feel like there’s this idea that they’re stiff and corporate and a little awkward, like standing in front of a blank wall holding a mug of coffee, looking vaguely enthusiastic about your job. And listen, that is NOT what we’re doing here.

What we’re doing is building you a whole visual world that actually looks like your brand, tells your story, and makes people stop scrolling. And this session with Studio Zested was exactly that — fun, edgy, playful, colorful, and sooo completely her. I could not have loved it more.

Why Brand Photography Is One of the Best Things You Can Invest In

Here’s the thing about your online presence… your potential clients are forming an opinion about you before they ever reach out. Your website photos, your Instagram grid, your headshot on your about page — all of it is making an impression, and that impression is either building trust or losing it.

If your visuals don’t match the quality of the work you actually do, you’re leaving clients (and money!) on the table. Investing in professional brand photography is investing in your business’s future. It gives you a cohesive, high-quality visual library to pull from across your website, social media, marketing materials, email campaigns, literally everywhere your brand shows up.

And the best part is that you only have to do it once, and you’ll have content for months!!

Why We Shot at The Sunroom Studio

Here’s something I love to recommend when a business owner doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar location (or when their space just isn’t quite the right fit for the vibe they’re going for): my studio.

The Sunroom Studio in downtown Bemidji, MN, is a completely clean, bright, white-walled space that is basically a blank canvas. And blank canvases are incredibly powerful for branding work because we can build the entire atmosphere from scratch around your brand colors, props, personality, and vibe. 

For Studio Zested, that clean space was the perfect fit. She’s a branding and strategy agency with a bold, graphic, colorful identity, and having that white backdrop let her brand materials absolutely pop. The olive green, the chartreuse yellow, the tulips, the stickers, the branded notebooks! Every single prop felt intentional!

What This Brand Photography Session Actually Looked Like

Studio Zested came in with an ARSENAL of brand props, and we played with every single one of them.

Vision board pinned to the wall with her brand mood boards and “Zested” logo posters. Her Canon camera, her laptop with Zested stickers on it, color swatch printouts, Studio Zested notebooks, iced coffee (obviously), a mini ring light, branded business cards, tulips, stacked books she loves. Multiple outfit changes — from a clean cream sweater and wide-leg trousers, to denim overalls, to a brown blazer with a silk scarf, to a full editorial look with tiny sunglasses.

We did flat lays, overhead shots, floor-level styled spreads, close-up detail shots of her hands and rings typing on the keyboard — every angle, every mood, every facet of what her business actually is. The whole session had a joyful energy, which is exactly who Studio Zested is as a brand.

What to Bring to Your Branding Session

If you’re prepping for your own session, here’s what I always encourage people to think about:

• Outfits. Plan for at least 2-3 outfit changes, and think about how they represent different sides of your brand. A polished look, a casual/approachable look, and maybe something with a little more personality or color. Solid colors and clean patterns photograph best, and layers and accessories like jewelry, scarves, and hats add so much visual variety.
  
• Props that tell your story. What do you actually use in your business every day? Your laptop, notebook, camera, tools, and products all help clients immediately understand what you do. Also bring anything with your branding on it: stickers, notebooks, packaging, business cards. Brand recognition in your own content is powerful.
  
• The fun texture details. A favorite coffee cup, fresh flowers, books you love, a bag you always carry. Your clients want to see YOU, not just a logo, so don’t be afraid to show your personality.
  
• A rough idea for your shot list. Think about where you’ll actually use these images. Website hero? Instagram grid? Different placements need different compositions, and coming in with a plan means we get all the pics you may need for showcasing your brand and business!

Ready to Book Your Own Branding Session in Minnesota?

Whether we shoot on-location at your business or you want the clean, flexible, weather-proof magic of The Sunroom Studio, I would love to help you build a visual brand presence that actually represents how incredible your work is.

Sessions typically run 1-3 hours depending on how many outfits, locations, and image types we’re going for, and I’ll help you prep every single thing so you walk in feeling ready and walk out with a full library of content you’re completely obsessed with.

Your brand called. It wants better photos. Let’s make it happen! Reach out here, and let’s start planning. 🤍