A woman wearing a pink sweatshirt and pink sneakers sits cross-legged on the floor, smiling in front of a colorful, geometric mural with bold pink, yellow, teal, and lavender leaf designs. Photo by Mabyn Ludke Photography.

(Because your brand deserves more than awkward poses and cookie-cutter content.)

If the idea of how to plan a brand photoshoot makes you feel excited and slightly overwhelmed, you’re not alone. You want photos that show off your personality, support your business, and feel like something you’d actually share.

You want to feel confident.
You want to look like yourself, just the slightly-more-polished, get out of my leggings and dirty t-shirt version.
And you want your photos to actually work for your business, not just sit in a folder labeled “someday.”

That’s why I’ve built a process that’s not just about snapping pretty pictures. It’s about getting to the heart of you, your personality, your purpose, your everyday brilliance—and building a plan that reflects that from start to finish.

That’s why I created a step-by-step process for how to plan a brand photoshoot that actually reflects you.

Step 1: Discovery Call

We start with a no-pressure call where I learn about your business, your goals, and what makes you tick.

This is when I start picking up on what makes you, you—how you talk about your work, what lights you up, what you never want to see in a brand photo again. (Looking at you, generic laptop flat lays.)

If it feels like we’re a good fit, I’ll send over the booking details and we’ll lock in your shoot date. Done and dusted.

A woman in a dark blazer and white blouse talks on the phone while working at a marble desk with a laptop, documents, and calculator, seated near a sunlit window with sheer white curtains. Photo by Mabyn Ludke Photography.

A woman dressed in a blue shirt and pants stands before a desk, exemplifying suitable attire for professional headshots.

Step 2: Brand Questionnaire

This isn’t your standard “describe your brand in three words” worksheet. This is where I dig into the good stuff: your story, your audience, how you show up online, and how you want to show up.

It’s designed to pull out your brand’s personality in ways that will actually translate to camera, not just sound cute on paper.

Step 3: Pinterest Mood Board

Now we get visual. We’ll create a shared Pinterest board together so we’re on the same page before shoot day.

This isn’t a “you pin, I guess” situation. We’ll talk through what feels aligned and what doesn’t. This step makes sure we’re headed in the right direction, from the overall aesthetic to the tiny details like props or textures that tell your story.

If it doesn’t reflect you, it doesn’t make the board.

Three women stand behind a kitchen island, each with a laptop and mug in front of them. They wear sunglasses and strike playful poses in a bright, modern kitchen with white cabinets and a black range hood. Photo by Mabyn Ludke Photography.

Three women in cozy loungewear sit on a bed, smiling and posing for a selfie. One holds a phone while the others lean in, with a laptop and open notebook in front of them. A woven wall hanging decorates the white wall behind them. Photo by Mabyn Ludke Photography.

Step 4: Strategy Call

This is where we build the full game plan.

We’ll go over the best locations, outfit ideas, any props you need, and the types of shots that will actually serve your business. Think website headers, service pages, social content, and launch graphics—not just “cute pics” for Instagram.

By the end of this call, you’ll feel clear, prepared, and totally unstuck.

Step 5: Brand Plan

I’ll take everything we’ve pulled together and turn it into a full shoot plan. It includes your custom shot list, outfit guidance, location details, and all the other good stuff.

This document is your shoot-day cheat sheet and confidence booster in one.

Step 6: Photoshoot Day

You show up already knowing what we’re doing and why. No guesswork. No awkward posing. No “just act natural” nonsense.

I’ll guide you through everything—what to do with your hands, when to smile, when to laugh for real—and we’ll create images that feel relaxed, genuine, and true to you.

You’ll walk away with a gallery full of photos that look like your brand and feel like something you’re proud to share.