Last week I had the opportunity to be in a brand photoshoot for my friend Sam’s company, Auburn Jewelry. For those who aren’t familiar with Auburn Jewelry, I wrote blog post a little while back sharing why I LOVE this brand and the pieces. I’ll also link the website here. When I got the photos back from the shoot I knew I had to share them with you guys on the blog, hence for today’s blog post! Keep reading to find out How To Prep For Your First Brand Photoshoot and for a recap of my shoot with Auburn Jewelry!

How To Prep For Your First Brand Photoshoot

One // Clear Communication Communication is key to set both yourself and the brand you’re shooting with up for a successful shoot. Make sure you go into the shoot knowing:

Before the photoshoot you should ask…

A) What the brand is & more importantly what they stand for/believe in. If you’ve shopped with the brand for a while and are familiar with them, then you’re probably good. If a brand randomly reaches out to you to model, then you definitely should spend some time on their website. Specifically check out their “About” page, and also their social media. Figure out what vibe they want, what feeling they want portrayed in their photos, and what kinds of photos they’ll want.

B) Why you’re there. Make sure you know what the photoshoot is for. If a brand reaches out to you to model flip flops, then come prepared with a pedicure!

C) What you need to bring with you. A pretty standard rule of thumb, all photoshoots are going to be different. Make sure you ask the right questions prior to the day of the photoshoot that way you don’t show up unprepared. Example: some photoshoots will provide hair and makeup, others won’t. Some photoshoots will provide the wardrobe, others will want you to bring your own clothing. Ask for specifics from the brand coordinator to avoid any confusion and any mishaps. If they say “please come with your makeup and hair done,” then you should be asking them “how should I have my hair and makeup done.”

Two // Plan Ahead I personally work backwards from the day of the photoshoot to figure out what I need to check off my to-do list. I have a “day of” to-do list, a “day before” list, and a “week of” list. A list might only have 1-2 tasks, but separating them helps me keep everything organized. Here’s an example of my to-do lists:

My Photoshoot To-Do Lists:

Week Of To-Do List:
Make appointments for my spray tan, pedicure, hair, etc…
Lay out outfits & do laundry (if need be)

Day Before To-Do List:
Get a spray tan (for all my local people, I only go to Zen Bronze in Riverside)
Get my nails done, or do them myself!
Lay out my outfits, shoes, and accessories (*this is only if the brand is asking you to bring your own clothing for the shoot…example, since the focus of Auburn Jewelry’s shoot was obviously jewelry, we provided our own clothing)

Day Of To-Do List:
Touch up nails if they chipped
Do my makeup (if required)
Do my hair (if required)
Pack my shoot bag with everything I need to bring (such as clothes, shoes, my makeup for touch-ups, hair products, etc.)

Three // Stalk Pinterest Ha, this one might seem a little silly, but at this point you should know exactly what your photoshoot is for and what will be expected of you. Because you asked for specifics from your brand coordinator, AND because you spent time researching the brand, you know what kinds of photos and feel they’re looking for. That’s when this step comes into play! Spend some time on Pinterest looking up things like “photoshoot inspiration,” “photoshoot poses,” etc… Save some of these images to your phone and review them the morning of your shoot. I like to do this over breakfast!

And lastly, don’t forget to have fun!

Last Monday I popped on over to Mount Kisco, NY for the photoshoot. I got to spend the morning with Sam (the owner of Auburn Jewelry), Robin Eden Photography, and Isabella Paone (a brand ambassador for Auburn Jewelry). We all had such a great time together creating content for the brand’s new website. I can’t wait to see the final product! All of Auburn Jewelry’s pieces are so fun that you can’t help but smile when putting them on, which made the photoshoot so natural!

Photo credit belongs to: Robin Eden Photography

Before you go, check out these other posts on Style Inherited!

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