The Ultimate Branding Shoot Checklist for Personal and Business Coaches

How Personal and Business Coaches Can Prepare for Their Branding Photoshoot

Whether you're a mindset coach helping clients break through limiting beliefs or a savvy business strategist leading entrepreneurs to making six figures, your brand is the guide you give to your potential clients- the road map of the journey when you two join forces. And in the ocean of today’s visual world, one of the best ways to convey your credibility, expertise, and unique touch is through a thoughtful and well mapped out branding photoshoot.

If you’ve already booked (or are contemplating about booking a shoot) a branding session, you might be wondering: “How am I even supposed to prepare for this?"

This post will walk you through exactly how you, a personal or business coaches can get ready for their branding photoshoot—from wardrobe to mindset and props—and leave you with a boatload of inspo and clarity for when you boldly step in front of the lens

1. Define Your Brand Vibe + Visual Story

Before you even think about outfits or locations, take a pause and get grounded in your brand.

Ask yourself:

How do I want my audience to feel when they see my photos? What emotions do I to bubble to the surface?
What three words best describe my coaching style? //Fun Exercise: Don't think too much about this one. Write the first three things and see what comes up.
What’s the energy I bring into a session? Are you a loud and in your face cheerleader? Do you approach coaching with mindfulness? Or do you take a more academic route to working with people?

Pro Tip: Share your brand colors, website, logo, and even your favorite Spotify playlist (I literally ask for this when you start working together!) with your photographer. Let them know the VIBE! These details give tons of insight into your brand personality (which IS YOU!) and help can guide craft the photoshoot with suggesitons such as location (conference room? home office? wellness studio?), lighting (harsh or soft), and mood choices (loud, soft, laid back, no bs, etc etc).

2. Get Clear on Where You’ll Use the Photos

Understanding the purpose of your branding images helps shape the content we create together. Consider:

Are these photos for your website homepage, about page, or service pages?
Will they be used in a launch campaign, digital products, or on social media? Do you have a YouTube channel?
Do you need horizontal images for banners or vertical ones for Instagram? What's your preference?

This helps your photographer (oh heyyyyy, that’s me 👋) compose the right variety of shots: headshots, lifestyle photos, you interacting with your clients, behind-the-scenes setups, etc.

3. Outfits that Align with You (Not Just the Brand)

We all can get stuck in the “What should I wear?” loop.

The short answer? Wear what you feel confident, comfortable, and yourself in—while making sure your outfits align with your brand aesthetic.

Some ideas to get you started:

Choose 2–3 outfits for variety (think: one casual, one polished, one with color/pop).
Avoid tiny patterns or overly trendy items that might not age well.
Bring accessories like glasses, jewelry, or props (think: your journal, laptop, a mug, tarot cards, post-its—whatever you actually use in your work).

✨ Style Bonus: Stick to a color palette that complements your brand colors and your skin tone. If you’ve done a color analysis, this is where it comes in clutch. We recommend our friends over at House of Colour!

4. Location Matters (Even If It’s Just a Corner)

Your photoshoot doesn’t have to happen in a huge studio. In fact, some of the most impactful branding sessions happen in:

Home offices or cozy corners of your house// if you work from home, it could be a great idea to start there
A rented Airbnb or styled coworking space // i love doing this! there are so many cute airbnb's that can really fit the vibe
Favorite outdoor spots, coffee shops, or bookshops// honestly, i love to mix all three ideas

The key is to pick spaces that look natural to your lifestyle and your business voice. I will be with you ever step of the way to scout locations that look stunning and feel authentic. Luckily for you, I've been doing this for a while and have a long list of places we can use to get your vibe.

5. Mindset: Show Up Like You're the Brand (Because You Are)

Here’s the part no one talks about: prepping your energy is just as important as prepping your outfits.

Get good sleep the night before //take a bath, wear an eye mask, use ear plugs
Hydrate and fuel yourself // prep and plan a week or two a head of time
Schedule downtime the day of or after your shoot//this is a big deal, and you should celebrate it! we encourage you to take a rest day
Visualize your best, most magnetic self showing up on camera// don't worry, i'll take care of the rest

Remember: this isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real, and giving people a window into what it’s like to work with you, and who you are as a person. Making sure you take care of yourself is part of the prep. Give yourself some grace kindness around it.

6. What to Bring to Your Branding Session

Here’s a quick packing list you can screenshot:

✔️ Outfits (etc: one profesh, one casual, one feminine)
✔️ Accessories (jewelry, scarves, glasses, etc.)
✔️ Props that reflect your brand (laptop, books, coffee mug, planner, any branded swag etc.)
✔️ Hydration + snacks (you will get hungry and we will have multiple snack breaks- any maybe dance breaks)
✔️ Makeup for touchups (if doing your own)
✔️ A good playlist (we will most definitely blast the tunes during your session!)

Bonus: bring a friend or VA for moral support and behind-the-scenes video content!

7. Work with a Photographer Who Gets Coaching Brands

Last but definitely not least—hire a photographer who understands you and your work, that really gets what you do and how you do it. What you do can be deeply personal (I was kind of shocked how personal working with a branding coach can be!), and your photographer should know how to hold space for that- and I think I'm pretty good at that if I do say so myself!

Someone who can say, “Yes, let’s get the shot of you journaling with your candles lit,” or “Let’s show the CEO vibes with that power pose” will help you tell the full spectrum of your brand.

I love working with coaches for exactly this reason—we get to translate energy, emotion, and strategy into imagery that sells.

Final Thoughts

Your branding photoshoot is more than just a day with a person and a camera. It’s an investment in your business, IN YOU, and in your alignment with the clients that you truly want to work with. This works. I've done it.

So if you’ve been wondering how personal and business coaches can prepare for their branding photoshoot, let this be your permission slip to show up with clarity, confidence, and a little sparkle ✨

Want to book your own session or ask questions about the process?
[Reach out here] or send me a DM—I’d love to help bring your brand to life on camera.