What to wear in a brand photo session is crucial. That’s why I pay so much attention to it during my branding photography process. One of the most common mistakes I see is people choosing outfits that clash with their brand. They often pick the wrong colours, patterns, or styles.
Sometimes a client chooses their favourite suit or dress, but it doesn’t align with their brand’s colours, values, or message. The issue is that many professionals simply don’t realise the impact of this choice. From business owners to employees, it’s easy to forget that a brand photoshoot isn’t just about looking good personally, it’s about projecting the business aesthetic that represents the company.
In some cases, people completely overlook their target market when dressing for a session. The most extreme example I’ve seen (not my client, of course) was a nutritionist who posted her boudoir session on LinkedIn as business content. Completely off-brand!
“Dress how you want to be addressed. ”
That’s why I want to help you understand how outfits affect your personal and business brand. Here’s a real example.
This particular company had a sophisticated, traditional brand identity with a touch of freshness. Their clients were high-net-worth individuals donating funds to charities, and the photo session was for top executives managing these resources. The brand colours were elegant and timeless, and I loved their choice.
This image shows the colours of my client’s logo. Based on the logo and their target audience, I created the outfit ideas for the photo session.
Therefore, I requested to see the outfits they were planning to wear, this is one of my three main pillars for the photo session process. But when they sent me their outfit options, I immediately saw the problem. Their favourite suits didn’t match the brand’s style or colours. To show them why, I placed the brand palette next to their chosen outfits, it became instantly clear that it wasn’t working.
This image shows us their outfit choices.
This is the key point of today’s blog: it’s an easy mistake to make, but a serious one. All the investment in your brand photography can be undermined by wearing the wrong outfit. Choosing something just because you like it, while ignoring your brand identity, can damage your entire brand image.
To help my clients, I always create visual examples showing how the right outfits align with their brand colours, values, and products. This way, they can see exactly why certain clothing works or doesn’t.
“Everything you do is a signature of yourself. So sign it with style. ”
These executives, who were not only highly intelligent but also emotionally aware, immediately understood. They bought new suits and carefully chosen outfits for the session, and the result was stunning. They looked professional, elegant, and completely on-brand.
This image shows my outfit suggestion.
This experience proves two important things:
Outfits play a vital role in personal and corporate branding photography.
Having the right people in your business makes all the difference. These executives cared about the company’s image more than their own egos, and that dedication produced powerful results.
When it comes to your brand photoshoot, remember: your outfit is not just for you, it’s for your business and the audience you want to reach.
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Thank you for reading.
Bye for now.