Making the most of your team photoshoot
By Zakiya Johnson | September 13, 2024
Reflecting our Brand Identity Inside and Out
Recently we produced a photoshoot for the new website! We featured the entire team of creators and many of The Nest’s core collaborators. Not only did this photoshoot function as a way for us to capture a unified look for website refresh, but it was an opportunity for team building amongst our remote team of designers, producers and strategists. We shared food, danced together, created a group altar, made art, and laughed a ton – turning the photoshoot into more than just picture day, but an event designed to forge new connections and enhance the rich work that we already do!
When creating a front facing platform for your brand, business, or organization, documentation is key! And documentation that truly captures your values is what will make you stand out! Photos tell a story, and give viewers a feel for your work, whether you’re selling a product, promoting a campaign, or providing a community service. They are also an opportunity for folks to see how your values are upheld through action.
Does a Photoshoot really make a difference?
Before The Nest’s photoshoot, our website photos were a little haphazard, and our values were not as clearly reflected in the images we featured on the site. Like many new businesses, our first website was populated with the photos we had on hand! And while they were thoughtfully curated, no amount of collecting photos from our personal photo albums was going to give the clarity that a professional photoshoot could offer. After our photoshoot our website’s photos now express who we are and what’s important to us, at The Nest. But maybe you’re wondering just how we got there?
1. Creating the Vision: mood boarding
Our Chief Creative Officer, Leigh Robbie Gaymon-Jones worked with Communications Director, Anchal Bibra, to craft a detailed mood board and photo shoot guide which inspired everything from the venue search to the shot list! Using the brand framework and messaging they curated a list of key words that they reference as anchors to reflect the vibe and feel of the brand, website, and photoshoot:
Warm, Nurturing, Inviting, Belonging
Creative, Generative, Imaginative, Vibrant
Skillful, yet Welcoming
Very California/ West Coast/ Southwest
Nature-Forward, People-Forward
Not your typical Design Studio
2. Finding the Backdrop: Venue Search
Once the vibe was established, Leigh Robbie scoured the internet for the right venue. We wanted a space that conveyed a workplace without feeling corporate. And although we don’t have our own brick mortar location, we wanted a setting that felt like you might be getting a glimpse into our cool office space. When she found a peerspace venue that was the perfect mix of professional and cozy, indoor and outdoor, and super southern california vibes… she knew they had the best backdrop for the new brand identity! It was also really important that the venue offered several shooting locations onsite that allowed for a diversity of images.
3. Prepping the crew: Orienting the Documentation Team and Your Staff
Leigh Robbie and Anchal folded the documentation team into the photoshoot pre during planning meeting with the photographer Qurissy and our in-house videographer, Lø, where they shared the mood board and photoshoot guide! The mood board included our new color palette, logo and fonts, as well as photos we found online that inspired us, and patterns and illustrations that reflected the feeling we were aiming for! We also provided them with details about the venue, info about the goals for the shoot and how the photos would be used, a schedule of activities for the day, and a shot list detailing all the shots they hoped to capture.
The Nest team members were folded in with a comprehensive email sharing some of the same info, and also asking that they each wear clothing that fell roughly into The Nest brand color palette. We were also asked to bring a couple outfits – because who doesn’t love a wardrobe change?! – and the ‘materials of their craft’ that we could use as props. Since the shoot was going to be used to populate our company website, we wanted to be sure to capture shots of us working… which meant lots laptops, ipads, sketch pads, flip chart paper and for some reason, Leigh Robbie brought lots and lots of post it notes! She also gathered several other materials that could be used for decor – like samples of some of printed client materials, a type writer, a chalkboard easel and beautiful dishware for our shared meals.
4. Designing the Vibe: Curating Activities to Bring the Brand to Life!
The day kicked off with a shared meal, which wasn’t photographed, but gave us all a chance to settle into the space. Because everyone on our team works remotely, several team members hadn’t ever met in person, so starting with a low-stakes social activity like coffee, fruit and pastries was a great way to get warmed up and comfortable. Shout out to our fav vegan bakery – Baker’s Bench.
We were sure to get in some staged group shots and solo headshots, but we wanted a lot of organic photography to capture our central vibes: ‘inviting, vibrant, welcoming, not your typical design studio’. So integrating activities like collective altar building, collaging and screen printing allowed us to get shots of us being creative in different ways, and allowed us to connect with one another in the process. And from a logistical standpoint, because the shoot made for a long day, it was also nice to have different activities for everyone to engage with even when they weren’t on camera.
Outside of The Nest, I’m a dancer and choreographer, so when Leigh Robbie asked if I would create a simple dance to teach the team, I was all in !The dancing wasn’t required, but was super fun for everyone who gave it a go! And of course we couldn’t just work through lunch, so there was more good food, and this time we caught our delicious meal from Dune on camera! All of these activities made for such a great day, and for incredible photos that really tell the story of our work and who we are!
What activities would help tell the story of your work in a photoshoot?
5. Ringing it Dry: Adding a Videographer to Documentation Team
Between the creative activities, group meals and coordinated wardrobes, our photoshoot transformed from a typical day in front of the camera, to a whole team retreat! And the team got to experience the care and attention that our clients and guests experience at our events! As a remote team, we have to make the most of our time together, so we were happy to have Lø on site to capture video documentation for video content on our social media! In addition to recording the fun dance I put together, we created a Behind The Scenes reel of the whole shoot, which social media audiences love to see! We can create gifs and memes from some of the other videos! Basically we ended up with a content gold mine from having a videographer present for 1 shoot! We had a professional videographer on site, but you could even ask a friend to bring their cell phone to a shoot and capture a lot of quality footage that you could use on social media.
After the shoot, The Nest team is closer and our sense of connection and belonging is solidified! And you can see that connection shining off the pages of our new website.
A photoshoot is not just a means to creating a marketing asset, an end, but a means to furthering connecting your team, and uplifting your vision.
Let’s talk about how to bring your brand to life!