Brand Photography Brief

---
name: brand-photography-brief
description: Creates shot lists, mood board descriptions, and creative direction for brand photo shoots. Use this skill when a user needs to prepare for a professional photography session, plan visual content for their brand, or brief a photographer on the look and feel they want.
allowed-tools: Read Write Edit
---

# Brand Photography Brief

## When to Use This Skill

- User is preparing for a professional brand photo shoot
- User needs a shot list for their photographer
- User wants to define their brand's visual direction for photos
- User needs mood board descriptions without design software
- User is briefing a photographer or creative team
- User wants consistent brand photos across multiple sessions

## Core Principle

A PHOTOGRAPHY BRIEF IS A COMMUNICATION TOOL — ITS JOB IS TO GET THE EXACT PHOTOS OUT OF A PHOTOGRAPHER'S HEAD AND INTO YOURS, WITH ZERO AMBIGUITY.

## Workflow

### Phase 1: Understand the Brand and Context

1. Gather brand context by asking:
   - What is your business and who is your customer?
   - Where will these photos be used? (website, social media, ads, print)
   - What feeling should someone get when they see your brand photos?
   - Do you have examples of photos you love (from any brand)?
   - What is your shoot budget and timeline?

2. Define the visual identity:
   - Brand colors (hex codes if available)
   - Typography style (modern, classic, playful)
   - Overall aesthetic (minimal, bold, warm, editorial, lifestyle)

### Phase 2: Build the Shot List

3. Organize shots into categories:
   - **Hero shots** — primary images for homepage, ads, key pages (3-5 shots)
   - **Lifestyle shots** — product/service in real use (5-8 shots)
   - **Detail shots** — close-ups of textures, features, craftsmanship (3-5 shots)
   - **Team/founder shots** — headshots, working shots, candid moments (4-6 shots)
   - **Behind-the-scenes** — process, workspace, authenticity shots (3-4 shots)

4. For each shot, specify:
   - Shot description (one sentence of what the camera captures)
   - Framing (wide, medium, close-up, overhead)
   - Subject positioning (center, rule of thirds, negative space direction)
   - Mood/energy (calm, energetic, confident, approachable)
   - Usage destination (Instagram square, website banner, email header)

### Phase 3: Define Creative Direction

5. Write the mood board description covering:
   - Color palette (dominant, accent, and background tones)
   - Lighting style (natural window light, golden hour, studio soft box, dramatic shadow)
   - Texture and materials (matte, glossy, linen, wood, concrete)
   - Styling notes (props, wardrobe direction, set design)
   - Reference touchpoints (specific brands, magazines, or visual styles)

6. Specify what to AVOID:
   - Colors that clash with the brand
   - Poses or compositions that feel off-brand
   - Clichés in the industry

### Phase 4: Logistics and Deliverables

7. Outline practical requirements:
   - Aspect ratios needed (1:1, 4:5, 16:9, 9:16)
   - File format (RAW, JPEG, TIFF)
   - Retouching expectations (skin smoothing, background removal, color grading)
   - Delivery timeline
   - Usage rights and licensing terms

8. Format the final brief as a single document the photographer can reference on shoot day

## Example 1: Artisan Candle Brand Photography Brief

**Input:** "I need a photo shoot brief for my handmade candle company. We sell online and on Instagram. The vibe is cozy, minimal Scandinavian."

**Output:**

# Photography Brief: Nordic Glow Candles

## Brand Overview
Nordic Glow creates hand-poured soy candles in minimal ceramic vessels. Target customer: women 28-42 who value intentional living, clean aesthetics, and self-care rituals. Photos will be used across Shopify product pages, Instagram feed, and email campaigns.

## Visual Direction

**Aesthetic:** Warm minimalism — Scandinavian simplicity with inviting warmth
**Color palette:** Cream, warm white, soft sage, matte terracotta, natural wood tones
**Lighting:** Soft natural window light, golden hour warmth. No harsh shadows. Candle flame glow as accent light in evening shots.
**Textures:** Linen tablecloths, raw wood surfaces, ceramic vessels, dried botanicals
**Styling notes:** Less is more. Maximum 3 props per shot. Negative space is essential.

**Mood references:** Kinfolk magazine, Ferm Living product photography, Aesop store interiors

**AVOID:** Bright neon colors, cluttered compositions, overhead fluorescent lighting, stock photo poses, holiday-specific decorations

---

## Shot List

### Hero Shots (5 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Usage |
|---|------------|---------|------|-------|
| 1 | Single candle lit on oak side table, linen curtain in background diffusing light | Medium, rule of thirds | Calm, inviting | Homepage hero (16:9) |
| 2 | Full product line (6 candles) arranged on marble shelf, staggered heights | Wide, straight-on | Clean, curated | Collection page (4:3) |
| 3 | Hand holding candle vessel at chest height, soft sweater visible | Medium close-up | Personal, warm | Instagram ad (4:5) |
| 4 | Candle on nightstand beside open book and reading glasses, flame lit | Medium, 45-degree angle | Cozy evening ritual | Email header (3:1) |
| 5 | Overhead flat lay of candle, matches, dried eucalyptus on linen | Overhead, flat lay | Minimal, editorial | Pinterest (2:3) |

### Lifestyle Shots (6 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Usage |
|---|------------|---------|------|-------|
| 6 | Person pouring tea beside lit candle on kitchen counter | Wide, environmental | Morning ritual | Instagram feed (1:1) |
| 7 | Bath scene — candle on tub ledge, towels folded nearby | Medium, low angle | Self-care | Instagram Stories (9:16) |
| 8 | Two candles on dining table, blurred dinner setting in background | Medium, shallow depth of field | Intimate gathering | Blog post (16:9) |
| 9 | Candle on desk beside laptop and plant, work-from-home scene | Medium wide | Productive calm | Website about page (4:3) |
| 10 | Hands lighting a candle with a match, close crop on flame catching | Close-up, macro | Intentional, moment of pause | Instagram Reel cover (9:16) |
| 11 | Candle on windowsill with rain visible outside | Medium, through-window | Cozy contrast | Seasonal email (3:1) |

### Detail Shots (4 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Usage |
|---|------------|---------|------|-------|
| 12 | Ceramic vessel texture close-up showing hand-thrown marks | Macro, tight crop | Artisanal, tactile | Product page detail |
| 13 | Wax pool close-up showing clean burn and cotton wick | Overhead, macro | Quality, transparency | Product page detail |
| 14 | Label detail — brand logo on vessel | Close-up, 30-degree angle | Branded | Social media |
| 15 | Packaging unboxing — tissue paper, vessel visible | Overhead, medium | Anticipation | Email, unboxing content |

---

## Deliverables
- RAW + edited JPEG for all shots
- Color grading: warm tones, slightly desaturated, lifted shadows
- Retouching: minimal — remove dust, correct white balance, no heavy skin editing
- Aspect ratios: 1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, 2:3 crops provided for each hero shot
- Delivery: within 10 business days via shared Google Drive folder

## Example 2: Personal Brand Shoot for a Business Coach

**Input:** "I'm a business coach launching my rebrand. Need headshots and lifestyle shots that feel confident but approachable. I work with women founders."

**Output:**

# Photography Brief: Sarah Mitchell Coaching Rebrand

## Brand Overview
Sarah Mitchell is a business coach for women founders scaling from six to seven figures. Her brand voice is direct, warm, and empowering. Photos will be used for a new website, LinkedIn profile, speaking page, podcast cover, and Instagram.

## Visual Direction

**Aesthetic:** Modern professional with warmth — think polished but not corporate
**Color palette:** Navy, warm cream, blush pink accents, gold jewelry tones
**Lighting:** Studio natural light or large softbox. Bright, even, with subtle shadow for dimension. No dramatic or moody lighting.
**Wardrobe direction:** 3 outfit changes — (1) navy blazer with cream top for headshots, (2) blush blouse for approachable lifestyle, (3) all-black for speaking/authority shots
**Styling notes:** Simple gold jewelry, natural makeup with defined brows, hair styled but not stiff
**Location:** Bright co-working space or studio with clean white/cream walls, large windows

**Mood references:** Marie Forleo's website photography, Jenna Kutcher's lifestyle brand shots, Brené Brown's speaker page photos

**AVOID:** Arms crossed, pointing at camera, overly stiff corporate poses, dark moody backgrounds, heavy filters, stock photo setups like "woman laughing alone with laptop"

---

## Shot List

### Headshots (4 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Expression | Usage |
|---|------------|---------|------------|-------|
| 1 | Direct eye contact, slight smile, navy blazer | Head and shoulders, center frame | Confident, warm | LinkedIn, website about page |
| 2 | Three-quarter turn, looking just past camera, natural laugh | Head and shoulders, rule of thirds | Approachable, real | Podcast cover (1:1) |
| 3 | Straight-on, serious but kind expression, clean background | Tight crop, head only | Authority | Speaking page, press kit |
| 4 | Looking down at notes with slight smile, candid feel | Medium, environmental | Thoughtful | Email signature, bio |

### Lifestyle/Working Shots (6 shots)

| # | Description | Framing | Mood | Usage |
|---|------------|---------|------|-------|
| 5 | Writing on whiteboard, mid-sentence energy | Wide, environmental | Teaching, dynamic | Homepage hero (16:9) |
| 6 | One-on-one coaching scene across table, leaning in | Medium, over-shoulder | Engaged, present | Services page |
| 7 | Laughing while looking at phone, casual seated pose | Medium, natural light | Relatable, real | Instagram feed (4:5) |
| 8 | Walking confidently, urban background blurred | Full body, 45-degree angle | Bold, in motion | Sales page |
| 9 | Typing on laptop at styled desk, coffee beside | Medium wide, slight overhead | Productive, focused | Blog header |
| 10 | Speaking at a podium or standing with mic, gesturing | Wide, low angle | Commanding, inspiring | Speaking page (16:9) |

---

## Deliverables
- 30 final edited images from approximately 200 raw captures
- RAW + high-res JPEG + web-optimized JPEG for each final image
- Retouching: natural skin smoothing, under-eye brightening, stray hair cleanup. Maintain real skin texture.
- Color grading: bright, warm, consistent across all images
- Delivery: 14 business days, shared Dropbox folder, organized by shot category

## Recovery and Fallback

- If the user does not know their brand aesthetic, offer three visual directions (minimal, bold, editorial) with one-sentence descriptions and ask them to pick the closest match
- If the user has no reference images, ask: "Name a brand whose Instagram feed you wish yours looked like"
- If the shot list exceeds 25 shots, flag it: "This is a lot for one session. I'd recommend splitting into two shoots — product shots and lifestyle shots — to maintain quality."
- If the user's budget limits the shoot to under 1 hour, prioritize hero shots and headshots only
- After 3 failed attempts to clarify the visual direction, stop and say: "Let's start with 5 test shots in one style, review them, and then expand the full brief."

## Constraints

- **NEVER** include specific photographer rates or pricing — those vary by market
- **NEVER** promise specific equipment or lighting setups — describe the desired LOOK, let the photographer choose gear
- Always include at least 3 shot categories (hero, lifestyle, detail)
- Every shot in the list must specify framing and mood
- Include an "AVOID" section in every brief — what NOT to do is as important as what to do
- Mood board descriptions must reference real, nameable brands or publications
- Keep the total shot list between 10 and 30 shots per session