One of the questions I ask my clients during their branding pre-shoot consultation is “How do you think you are going to use the images?” or “Where are you going to use your brand photoshoot pictures?”. 

I ask them a lot of things to better understand their business such as what problem they solve for their clients, their unique way to do it and much more! My questionnaire also includes a question related to the future use and potential cropping of the pictures.

Depending if you need it for your website banner, your LinkedIn profile, or an Instagram post, I won’t take a picture the same way. The cropping, and so the composition, will be very different.

What is “cropping” in brand photography?

Let’s start at the beginning shall we? What does cropping a brand picture mean? 

Cropping in the branding photography world is framing an image for the best composition and maximum impact. 

Depending on how you decide to use the picture and the message you want to convey with it, it will be framed different ways.

Knowing where you will use your brand photoshoot pictures with help me compose them

Me questionnaire question “How do you think you are going to use the images?” is followed by a list of options to select from: Instagram stories, social media feed, blog, website, YouTube, newsletter headers… Do you need content for your podcast? or a website launch page? Are you starting a YouTube channel?… The answer will directly influence how I’m shooting on the day of your session. 

For example, pictures are composed very differently for a website photo with space for text overlay versus a portrait for your Instagram feed. In the first case, you need negative space on top or on the side of it so you can put text over. I’m going to compose shots with my subject to the side of the frame, not directly centered.

When I shoot knowing how my client is going to use the pictures, I can do it with dimensions in mind. It gives you a maximum of flexibility and variety.

If you are not sure how to answer that question, another way to do is by sharing some of your photo gaps. For example, if you lack a header for your newsletter, I will create a wide shot that can have half of the image cropped. 

Example – Use your brand pictures for social media

Here is the example of some social media’s formats. Each social media platform uses different aspect ratios for posts, headers, reels and stories…

Instagram: vertical, landscape and square images

YouTube: landscape format

Facebook: landscape or portrait

Pinterest: portrait format

Social media headers: very narrow landscape panoramic format for facebook, a little wider of LinkedIn…

You see the number of formats that exist just for social media!

I hope this blog post will help you prepare for your next branding photoshoot. 

Try to communicate as much as possible with your photographer before your session. Be very clear on the compositions you need. It will help get useful pictures to showcase your activity, attract new clients and stand out.

Find more about me and my brand photoshoots

If you have any question on brand photography or if you want to know more about my sessions, Contact me! I would be happy to help you have an easy and relaxed experience as well as provide you with images you will be proud to share.

I also have other blog posts that will interest and help you!