Quality brand photos are one of the most important aspects of your brand's overall identity, especially when it comes to online marketing. 

When people visit your website or social media, the visuals you share are often the first thing they notice. High-quality, authentic brand photos can make a lasting impression, helping you stand out and connect with your audience in a meaningful way.

While hiring a professional photographer is a great option, it’s also okay if that’s not feasible for you right now and you need to take more of a DIY route. Your smartphone can capture high-resolution images that rival professional cameras, and you have the flexibility to shoot whenever and wherever inspiration strikes… without the need for expensive equipment or extensive setup. 

So, let’s get into some of the basics you need to know for capturing great brand photography with your smartphone! 

Preparing for Your Brand Photography Photo Shoot

Before you start snapping, it’s important to define your brand’s aesthetic and goals. Think about your brand archetype—whether you’re embodying the boldness of the Hero or the elegance of the Lover, your photos should reflect that persona. 

I recommend starting with a mood board and some shot lists to keep your ideas organized and consistent. A great place to find inspiration is on Pinterest, by searching terms such as “personal brand photography ideas” and others related to your archetype like “Caregiver archetype photoshoot.”

It’s also a good idea to consider any lifestyle shots that represent your brand in action. For example, if you’re an Explorer archetype, you may want to capture some shots of yourself hiking your favorite trail. Or maybe you’re a Makeup Artist and want to have some photos of yourself working on a friend’s makeup. 

Once you have some photo ideas saved, you’ll want to practice any new facial expressions or poses in the mirror before you head out to shoot! I know it might feel silly standing in front of the mirror making faces at yourself, but this one step will help your photos look and feel so much more natural in the moment, and give you more confidence while you’re shooting!

Now that you have your photos planned out, let’s make sure you have the right equipment to actually shoot your shots…

Equipment Needed for Smartphone Brand Photography

You’re likely just one person heading out to take your brand photos with your trusty smartphone, but before you go let’s make sure you’re set up for success! 

One key necessity to successfully taking brand photos with your smartphone is having a good tripod and remote setup. This is the tripod I personally use for my photos, and I love how easy it is to set up and move around during shoots. I also recommend using a remote instead of your camera’s timer for more organic-feeling photos, and a much easier and quicker experience actually taking the photos. 

Next, clean off that camera lens and let’s talk lighting.

⬇ PIN IT ⬇

Lighting Tips for Great Photos

When taking photos, especially portraits, natural lighting is your best friend! Utilize the sunlight as much as you can when taking your photos. When it comes to using natural lighting, you want to make sure to shoot at the right time so the sun isn’t in your eyes, you aren’t partially shaded, and you get a nice, natural glow. Instead of shooting in the harsh midday sun (that is likely going to be shining right in your eyes the whole time), opt for a golden hour time frame where the light is softer and at a better angle in the sky for more flattering photos.  

If you’re shooting indoors, you can use window shades or sheer curtains to diffuse direct light so it doesn’t show up so harshly in your photos. One of my favorite tools is a softbox set up behind the tripod. Something like this gives the feel of evenly diffused, professional lighting without the pesky “ring light eye” effect that using a ring light gives. 

Photo Framing and Composition Tips

Understanding basic composition is essential to creating professional-looking images. One fundamental photography technique is the rule of thirds, which helps you achieve balanced shots that are naturally appealing to the eye. 

To put it simply, visualize your image as if it’s split into thirds both vertically and horizontally. By placing key elements of your photo along these (imaginary) lines or at their intersections, you create a more dynamic and interesting composition. Take a look at the photo below as an example. 

Positioning yourself or a product slightly off-center will result in a more engaging and balanced photo compared to directly in the middle.

Equally important is the background of your photos. A cluttered or distracting background can easily shift focus away from you, making your photo feel chaotic or unprofessional. Before snapping the picture, take a moment to assess your surroundings. Move any unnecessary objects out of the frame, or adjust your angle and zoom to minimize distractions. 

You want your audience's attention to be on you, so a clean, minimal background will help maintain that focus. Using features like portrait mode can also help blur out the background.

Negative space is another useful concept, especially if you're planning to use your photos in marketing materials or social media graphics. Negative space refers to the empty areas in your photo that surround the subject of the photo, giving it room to "breathe." This is particularly useful if you plan to overlay text or other design elements on your image. 

For example, if you need space for a caption or call-to-action, pose in front of a blank wall or use an open background to capture extra room in the shot. This intentional use of negative space keeps your photo from feeling cramped and ensures there's plenty of room for adding text without overwhelming the image.

Posing and Styling Your Brand Photos

When it comes to brand photography, how you pose and style yourself or your products can make all the difference in conveying the right message. Posing is about more than just standing in front of the camera; it’s about embodying your brand’s values and creating a connection with your audience. 

One great way to do this is to pose with your brand archetype in mind. For example, a Lover archetype brand might use soft, intimate poses that exude warmth and connection, like gently holding a product close to your heart or using relaxed, flowing movements. Whereas a Ruler archetype might opt for power stances, straight posture, and bold gazes that project authority and control. 

Understanding your archetype helps you strike poses that align with your brand identity and create photos that feel authentic and relatable to your audience.

Styling is just as important as posing when it comes to enhancing the shot. Your outfit, background, and props should reflect your brand’s aesthetic and align with your archetype. For example, a Creator archetype brand may gravitate toward vibrant colors, artistic elements, and unique props that emphasize creativity and innovation. A Caregiver archetype, on the other hand, may focus on soft textures, cozy settings, and neutral colors that evoke feelings of comfort and safety. 

The key is to style your photoshoot in a way that reinforces the mood you want to convey. Whether you're wearing a perfectly tailored outfit for a Ruler brand or casual, approachable clothing for an Everyperson brand, your styling choices should align with your overall brand identity.

Don't forget to focus on the details. Little things, like the way your hands are placed or the angle of your body, can either enhance or distract from the overall image. Paying attention to small but meaningful elements like jewelry, props, or even how you interact with your environment can add depth and storytelling to your photos. 

Whether it’s holding a cup of tea for a Caregiver brand or showcasing hands-on work for a Creator brand, the details help complete the visual narrative. Ensure that everything in your shot is intentional and supports the brand you want to communicate.

Consistency in colors, tones, and overall style also helps build brand recognition, making it easier for your audience to instantly recognize your content. Whether you’re using a specific color palette or always shooting in natural light, sticking to these visual elements helps reinforce your brand’s personality. 

How to Edit Smartphone Brand Photography 

Editing your photos is a crucial step in brand photography that ensures your images look polished, professional, and aligned with your brand’s aesthetic. At the core of photo editing are basic adjustments like brightness, contrast, and saturation. These settings allow you to control the overall look and feel of your photos. 

Adjusting brightness helps balance the exposure, making your images lighter or darker depending on the effect you want to achieve. 

Increasing the contrast can make your images pop by enhancing the difference between light and dark areas. 

Saturation controls the intensity of colors, giving your images a more vivid or muted tone based on your brand's style. These small tweaks can dramatically improve the quality of your photos.

To take your edits a step further, you can focus on enhancing colors and removing distractions from your images. Apps like Lightroom are great for fine-tuning color tones to create a more cohesive and visually appealing look. You can adjust individual colors, giving certain hues more prominence or toning them down to match your brand’s color palette. Additionally, removing distractions—like unwanted background clutter—can sharpen the focus on your subject and ensure your brand message isn’t lost in the noise. Lightroom’s spot removal tool makes this process simple, allowing you to clean up your photos with ease.

One of the most effective ways to keep a consistent aesthetic across all of your photos is by using or creating a custom filter or preset. Lightroom allows you to build custom presets that can be applied to future photos, ensuring a unified look for all your brand imagery. Consistency is key in brand visuals, as it helps build recognition and trust with your audience. Whether you want your photos to have a warm, inviting feel or a clean, minimalist look, creating a signature filter can save you time and effort while keeping your brand imagery cohesive. By setting up a consistent editing routine, your brand photos will always look professional, polished, and perfectly aligned with your overall visual identity.

If creating your own filter feels like too much of an undertaking, another option is to find a filter on Creative Market or Etsy that you like and use that consistently throughout your photo editing. 

Tips for Professional-Looking Brand Photos

Phew, we’ve just learned A LOT about brand photography! I hope this has been helpful and you’re feeling more prepared and confident to take your own brand photos on your smartphone. Before you go, I have just a couple more tips to share with you about using your brand photos and staying consistent with your visual identity. 

When it comes to taking professional-looking brand photos, one essential tip is to take multiple shots. Even if you think you've captured the perfect shot, having a variety of images to choose from allows you to select the one with the best angles, lighting, or expression. Sometimes the difference between a good shot and a great one is subtle, so snapping several photos gives you the freedom to experiment with positioning, framing, and lighting to find that ideal image. 

Another key to professional brand photos is staying consistent with your visual brand identity. By aligning your photography with your established brand aesthetic, every image you share will feel cohesive and on-brand, ensuring a seamless visual experience for your audience across all platforms.

Finally, don’t forget to regularly update your brand photos. Fresh content is vital for keeping your brand looking current and engaging. Updating your photos periodically not only reflects your brand's growth but also helps keep your audience interested. Whether you're showcasing a new service or simply refreshing your website and social media, adding new, updated brand photos ensures that your visuals remain relevant and aligned with any changes in your business.