My Top Location Ideas for Personal Brand Photoshoots

Your home

Many work-from-home businesses like to embrace that fact, and use different rooms in their home as a backdrop. The benefits are that it helps your clients and customers really get a sense of who you are, what you do and promotes authenticity and trust.

It’s an invitation to peek into your personal world – a world which people are always interested to see.

Rooms that might be used are: lounge, dining room, work / desk area, stairs, kitchen, and perhaps your garden.

Office / studio

If you have your own office or studio this is a a great way to show people behind the scenes. People like to know about your business and what to expect if they were to visit you. Like a home photoshoot, you can use different areas in your workspace to get different image content. The doorway, window, your desk, office chair etc.

We might capture action shots as well as headshots, to show you busy doing your work. Using all your tools of the trade or props to help tell the story.

Urban locations

There is often lots of choice with urban photoshoots. In one street you might have very modern buildings with a corporate feel, whereas the next street is victorian and rustic. You might also like the idea of wall art. Some might suit your brand style better than others but you’re sure to always have interesting backdrop choices.

Towns and cities can have a business feel, or be more trendy and casual with shops and cafes as backgrounds. There is often more traffic and people about in the city so you might want to decide whether thats a good thing or not for you. Pick out landmarks or well known areas if you want to appeal to your local clients.

You might like to use co-working/rented office spaces, shopping arcades, museums, art galleries. Although you may need to seek permission from some of these places.

Places I’ve used before at Newcastle City Library, Wizu Workspace, One Strawberry Place.

Photography Studio Hire

Hiring a photography studio is always a good option as you don’t have to worry about other people being around (great if you feel bit awkward being on a shoot out in public). A studio may come equip with some coloured backgrounds or some furniture and styling. This is a good option if you want to have a room feel but don’t want to use your own home.

Places in Newcastle I’ve used before are Studio 94 and Studio Loft

Cafe headshots

Its a really popular location choice. Cafes usually make great backdrops and its easy to bring along your laptop and note books, and pretend you’re working remotely or having a client meeting. You do need to ask permission to have your portrait taken on the premises (most owners are happy as long as you buy a drink and maybe a tag on your social media). Also it’s important to consider other people in the cafe area.

Cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels symbolise being a people person, socialising, and being approachable.

Consider which cafes, opening times, how busy they are – and whether the decor and vibe suits your brand.

Parkland

Whether you’re outdoorsy or not, photoshoots in these locations always look more casual and natural. Make the most of nature and being outdoors throughout spring, summer and autumn. Winter time can look very sparse and brown.

Make the most of trees and foliage. If you want more flowers, maybe a botanical/stately garden would be a good place to visit. My go-to location is usually Plessey Woods Country park.

The beach

The beach is a great outdoor location any time of year because the colours remain the same whether it’s winter or summer.

You can use the sand and the sea as backdrops for different types of images, perhaps you can sit on drift wood or rocks or walk in the wet sand. Also sand dunes, beach huts or cafes make lovely backdrops too if your beach location has them. How would this location work with your brand message? Beaches symbolise wellbeing, nature and a love of outdoors.

Some beaches can get quite busy in the warmer months so I recommend doing a shoot on school term days or early in the day. I love Seaton Sluice, Tynemouth and Cresswell

Have you decided where you might like your brand portraits? Some people choose to have a mix of a couple. Outdoors and indoors.

Have a look at my personal brand photography page for more info on how I can help you.