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Jose Lara Photography
Personal Branding
Session Prep Guide
How to plan your outfits, props, and mindset so your branding session produces images that actually build your business.
02 · What to Expect
This Is Different from a Headshot
A branding session is longer, more intentional, and tells a story. Here's what that means for how you prepare.
(vs 45 min for headshots)
planned in advance
across multiple looks
A Headshot
One look. One message.
A headshot says "here's my face." It's for LinkedIn, your email signature, your website about page. One outfit, one background, one strong expression. Done in under an hour.
A Branding Session
Multiple looks. Full story.
A branding session says "here's who I am and what I do." Multiple outfits, setups, and moments — working, thinking, laughing, in action. The images fill an entire website, social feed, and press kit.
What Stays the Same
I coach you through everything.
You don't need to know how to pose. I direct every shot and every expression. My job is to make you look natural and confident — even when you're not feeling it.
What Changes
Your prep matters more.
With a headshot, I can work around an unprepared client. With a branding session, the prep IS the session. Outfits, props, and a clear brand story make the difference between good photos and great ones.
From Jose
"The clients who get the most out of their branding sessions are the ones who've thought about their brand before they walk in the door. Not perfectly — just intentionally. We'll figure out the rest together."
03 · Outfits
Plan Your Looks Before the Day
Outfits are the single highest-leverage prep item. A well-planned wardrobe turns 3 hours into 3 completely different campaigns.
Look 01
Authority
Your most polished, professional look. The one you'd wear to close a deal or speak on stage. This is your hero shot — the image that goes on your website homepage.
Blazer · Dress shirt · Structured dress · Power color
Look 02
Approachable
Smart-casual. Still polished, but relaxed enough to say "I'm a real person." Great for social media content, LinkedIn posts, and email marketing.
Blouse · Casual blazer · Clean denim · Knit sweater
Look 03
In Action
Whatever you wear when you're doing the work — coaching, creating, meeting, building. This look captures your process and makes your content feel real and relatable.
What you actually work in · Comfortable + intentional
04 · Props & Brand Items
Show What You Do, Not Just Who You Are
The right prop tells your story in a single frame. The wrong one clutters it. Here's how to think about what to bring.
Bring These
- Your laptop or tablet — especially if you work digitally or coach online
- A book — one you wrote, one that shaped your thinking, or one that represents your field
- Tools of your trade — camera, planner, calculator, stethoscope, portfolio, etc.
- A coffee or water in a clean, minimal cup — adds warmth and approachability
- Brand-colored items — a notebook, flowers, or accent piece that matches your palette
- Products you sell — physical goods, packaging, or anything tactile that shows your work
- Accessories — watches, jewelry, glasses, scarves — anything that's part of your daily look
Leave These Behind
- Cluttered or busy items — too many props compete with your face
- Generic props that don't connect to your brand (random flowers, stock-photo coffee)
- Anything with visible logos other than your own brand
- Props that require explanation — if it doesn't read instantly, it doesn't belong
- Oversized items that cover your body or distract from your expression
From Jose
"I always tell clients: bring the thing you reach for every day without thinking. A realtor reaches for their phone and a keychain. A coach reaches for their journal. That's your prop — not something you staged."
05 · Hair & Makeup
Camera-Ready Is Different from Mirror-Ready
Professional lighting flattens features and washes out color. A little extra intentionality on hair and makeup goes a long way on camera.
For Women
Consider a Professional MUA
A makeup artist who specializes in photography will apply a layer heavier than your everyday look — and it photographs perfectly. This is the single biggest upgrade most clients can make. Not required, but strongly recommended for packages of 50+ images.
For Men
Clean, Groomed, and Fresh
Shave or trim your beard the morning of. Get a haircut 3–5 days before (not the day before). Bring a small amount of product if you use it. Moisturize — dry skin reads as dull on camera. A little powder can help if you run warm.
Hair
The Way You Wear It at Your Best
Wear your hair the way you'd wear it to your most important client meeting — not a casual version of it. If you blow it out, blow it out. If you wear it natural, wear it intentionally natural. Bring touch-up products.
The Morning Of
Don't Try Anything New
This is not the day to experiment with a new hairstyle, new makeup look, or a product you've never used. Stick to what you know looks good on you. New things introduce uncertainty — and uncertainty shows in photos.
06 · The Session
What Happens on Session Day
Here's the flow from arrival to wrap so you know exactly what to expect.
Before I pick up the camera, we talk. Who are you trying to reach? What do you want people to feel when they land on your website? What does your brand sound like? This shapes every shot we take.
We start with your most polished look while you're freshest. Hair is perfect, energy is high. I'll walk you through poses, angles, and expressions. You don't need to figure anything out — just respond to my direction.
You'll change in a private space between looks. Each outfit change takes about 5 minutes. We'll do touch-ups between each look. I'll reset the lighting or move to a new setup while you're changing.
Depending on your package and brand, we may shoot you working at a desk, in conversation, walking, or interacting with your environment. These are often the images clients use most for social media.
Before you leave, I'll show you a quick preview of the selects on my screen so you leave knowing the session delivered. Full retouched images are delivered within 72 hours.
Ready to Build Your
Brand Library?
A full set of images that tells your story, fills your website, and gives you months of content. Sessions start at $699.
Brand Starter
$699
1.5–2 hr session
2 outfit changes
30 retouched images
Studio setup
Brand Builder
$999
2–2.5 hr session
3 outfit changes
50 retouched images
Studio + 1 location
Brand Premium
$1,499
3 hr session
4 outfit changes
80 retouched images
Multiple locations
@joselaraphotography · joselaraphotography.com