Behind the Lens: My Brand Photoshoot with Traci True Photography

I recently had the absolute best time doing a brand photoshoot with Traci True Photography, and I just have to share the experience. If you’ve ever wondered whether investing in a brand shoot is worth it — spoiler: it is. Big time. Here’s why, what the shoot was like, and my top tips to help you get the most out of your own session.

Why a brand photoshoot matters

Your visuals do a lot of heavy lifting. Professional, authentic photos make your website, social, and marketing feel trustworthy, polished, and — most importantly — real. Stock photos are fine sometimes, but REAL photos of you working, laughing, and doing the thing you love are what help customers connect with you and say “that’s the person I want to work with.”

I recommend brand shoots to every business I work with — they turn abstract brand vibes into tangible assets you can use everywhere: website hero images, team pages, social posts, email headers, printed materials, ads… the list goes on.

My experience with Traci (short version: she’s wonderful)

Traci made everything so easy and relaxed. She showed up prepared, upbeat, and totally professional. She even printed my shoot intake form and the shot ideas I’d sent — that level of prep made the whole day flow smoothly and kept us on track. If you’re nervous about photos (I was!), having a photographer who knows your vision and walks you through shots removes so much stress.

Traci’s direction was natural and encouraging — not stiff or staged. She helped me move through the poses and prompted me to talk about what I do, which created such authentic, candid moments. By the time we were a few shots in, the nerves melted away and the real me came out.

What to bring (my recommended prop list)

Bring a little kit of things you actually use — not just random props. These are gold for lifestyle and “in-action” shots:

• Papers, notepads & sticky notes

• Pens and pretty pencils

• Laptop or tablet (open to a relevant page)

• Books or magazines you reference

• Coffee cup or branded mug (very important ☕)

• Blankets (good for cozy shots)

• Any product or tool you use in your work

• A favorite jacket or accessory for quick outfit swaps

Pro tip: don’t overpack (I totally did!). Choose 4–6 meaningful items that tell your story and help you feel confident in the frame.

Nerves? Totally normal — here’s how to handle them

I was nervous before my shoot (hello, awkward camera energy), but Traci’s calm direction made it easy. Here are a few quick things that helped:

• Talk about what you do out loud — it relaxes you and creates natural expressions.

• Bring a playlist that makes you feel good and have it playing between sets.

• Move — don’t stand rigid. Walk, pour a coffee, flip through a notebook. Motion looks real.

• Bring someone supportive if it helps — a friend or assistant to hold props or fix hair.

• Trust your photographer. A prepared pro will guide you and make you look like you, but better.

  
  

How to use your brand photos (so they actually work for your business)

A brand shoot is an investment — maximize it by planning where images will live:

• Hero image on your homepage

• “About” page and team photos

• Social media content (reels cover images, post carousels)

• Email header images and newsletter graphics

• Promotional materials: business cards, flyers, portfolio PDFs

• Ads and retargeting creatives

When you have consistent, authentic images across channels, your brand presence becomes recognizable and trustworthy — which leads to more clicks, calls, and clients.

Final note + a big plug for Traci

If you’re thinking about a brand shoot, DO IT. And if you’re local (or willing to travel), Traci True Photography is someone I highly recommend — thoughtful, prepared, and an absolute joy to work with. She helped me get images that feel like me, and I’ll be using them across my website and socials for months to come.

If you want help planning how to use your photos for a website or a social content calendar, I’m always happy to help — shoot me a message or book a free 30-minute Brand & Website Audit at broaddesignco.com/book-audit. Big thanks to Traci for a fantastic shoot — can’t wait to share the photos with you (scroll down to see a few favorites)! Visit Traci Online at www.tracitruephoto.com