Your Vision & Goals

Great photos transform how the world sees you and what you offer.

This guide will help you create photos that honor your authentic self, and help you look and feel your best, while providing beautiful images you can enjoy for years to come.  I will work closely with you on your ideas to make sure your vision becomes a reality.

Think of the photoshoot like a time to celebrate and honor you, who you are today, and your goals and dreams. 

You can just show up as your beautiful self or you can plan it out. It will work out well either way! 

If you’d like to plan out your shoots, below are some tips. These steps are not mandatory, but can help you create a clearer vision, intention, and actions. 

Consider what photos you want

Here are some guiding questions. Feel free to explore any questions that feel constructive and nurturing. Be gentle with yourself during this process.

When you think about your dreams and goals:

• What do you want to create? 
• What do you want to communicate? What messages and stories are important?
• What are the feelings and values you want to express?
• What kinds of images are meaningful to you? What kinds of images would you feel confident and proud to share? 

Try to set an intention, or a mantra for your photography. 

If your images are being used to market you, your work, and your business, you can also consider your audience, clients, tone, and message. 

“Shots I Want” List

To take this one step further, you can create a “shot list” which is a list of photography ideas or “shots” that you want, listed in terms of priority (most important listed first). 

The shot list is our strategic plan, roadmap, and script that will ensure we clarify and meet your needs and dreams. 

You might not have time for all, so it helps to be clear about which are most important. Consider what you truly need and where you will need to use them.

Please keep in mind that often the more variety (such as different locations, outfits, hairstyles, poses), the more time will be spent shooting.

Practical Planning:

Consider Where Your Photos Will Live or Be Shown

Consider where you need to use your images

What will you do with the photos? Who will see them and where?

Consider what types of photos you need for different purposes. Begin by focusing on where you most urgently need photos.

For example: your website, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, blog, advertising, publications, articles, press kit, headshots for speaking and consulting, shots for conference websites, keynote slides, affiliate promotions, workshops, retreats, webinars and other promo materials, etc..

Consider photo orientation and dimensions: which images need to be horizontal (such as a “website header” / large image on top of a website) versus vertical orientation? 

For example, if you want to use photos for social sharing of articles, landscape layout is usually what’s used.

Do you need shots with a blank background, and/ or in an environment?

For example, if you want to put text on your photos, you can create images with blank space to add “headers," headlines, logos, etc. 

Consider how images can support your message(s) and words / copy.

Write out your key message(s). 

Decide if you want photos to illustrate your message(s), and if so, what kinds of images.

For example:

If you talk about your work, you may want photos of you working.

If you talk about your lifestyle, you may want photos of you doing lifestyle activities.

Often my clients will create a media draft (such as website, presentation, or brochure) so they can plan their words and messages, including headlines, taglines. You can plug photos into the marketing materials (website, etc) as placeholders to see what kind of shots make sense with your words.

Note which messages need to be shot with a blank (seamless) background (for example, if you want the text to go over the image) and or in an environment.