Last year one of our goals at Emerald's was to add photos to our website. We were looking to add a more human element to our brand and emphasis our small but mighty team! We ended up getting that and more from our brand shoot with the lovely JustJess!
JustJess is an Indy based wedding and brand photographer.
We asked Jess about how to prepare for a photoshoot, feel less awkward, and what she loves about the midwest.
Why should businesses get professional brand or team photos?
Having professional branding photos for your business can really up-level your online appearance. I especially think that incorporating your brand's aesthetics is important to achieving a uniform look to your website & social materials. Having a gallery of professional images can also uplevel your social media & have a cohesive uniform look to everything, also letting some of the stress go of having to create new content consistently.
What’s the best way to prepare for a photoshoot?
I would say some great ways to prepare for a photoshoot is to first communicate with your photographer about what kind of look / vibes you're going for. Providing mood boards with reference images is so helpful for both you and the photographer to know what kind of imagery and feeling you're going for so that it leads the photoshoot with a good idea right off the bat. This helps with time management so you and the photographer are not trying to create ideas in the moment.
Tips for feeling less… awkward in front of the camera?
The first few minutes of any photoshoot can feel a little awkward if you've never been in front of the camera, but usually once you settle in the awkwardness vanishes. My tips for helping with feeling less awkward is to dress comfortably - you don't want your clothes making you feel uncomfortable which can lead to feeling awkward in them. Dress in clothing that you usually feel comfortable in, this isn't the time to try out high heels if you don't usually wear them. I also would suggest to create a playlist of songs or suggest to play some music you love that make you happy, and will be a distraction from the camera a little bit.
What’s your dream project?
That is a tough question for sure. I think for me, my dream projects always involve traveling somewhere new. One of my dreams is to photograph an Icelandic elopement.
Who is a creative you admire?
I really admire so many, since there are so many creative outlets out there. I really admire this artist who's art goes by Real Fun, Wow! I love his illustrations and the way he designs.
Favorite part of living in the midwest?
I love that most people are pretty nice in the midwest, and I love all of our words we use here like Ope! Also... pork tenderloins.
Thank you, Jess! You can check out more of her work here.
We love working with big thinkers, dreamers and doers.
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