So On Brand, Episode 6
TL;DR
- Answer five questions before you book a brand session.
- Give yourself 10 minutes to warm up on camera.
- Wait a day before you judge a photo or video of yourself.
A couple of sentences come up when someone reaches out about brand photos. One is “I need to lose a few pounds.” The other is “I’ll book once my business feels more established.” I understand every side of that, because I care how I show up too. So this episode is about how to feel confident on camera, at a brand session or making content at home. You can use it this week, whether you ever work with me or not.
In this episode
- [01:40] Getting clear enough to book
- [05:50] Polished vs. real
- [07:55] What to wear
- [15:50] What a session with me looks like
- [18:15] Four ways to feel confident on camera
- [26:10] A simple prep timeline
- [28:15] Good Company: Long’s Bakery
Get clear first, then book
You won’t feel fully established until you have the photos to show, and you do need a few things figured out before you book. So get clear on a handful of questions, book the session, and let the photos help with the waiting-to-feel-ready part.
Five questions to answer before you book
Open your Notes app (or record a voice memo), give yourself 10 minutes, and answer these:
- Who do you serve? Be as specific as you can.
- What does your brand focus on, and what do you want to be known for?
- What are a few of your business goals right now?
- Who will be seeing this content?
- What is the content for, and where will it live?
When you plan a session with me, those answers decide what we shoot, what you wear and whether we use photo or video. I look at every session as a content bank that can serve your goals for the foreseeable future.
Look your best, and look like yourself
If it’s something you can change or update within a week or two, great. Touch up your roots or get your nails done. I think you look great no matter what!
People also need to see who you are. AI photos have everybody looking so perfectly polished that a few wrinkles or a little root showing might add the believability we’re all looking for right now.
Why I get it
When I was a kid and a teen, I dressed up in a mascot costume for my dad’s local business. Sometimes it was kind of fun to hide behind it. Years later, wanting to look polished and put together turned into a mask of its own.
Start where you are
If you’ve been waiting to feel ready, you’re probably never going to feel ready, so I want to give you permission to start where you are.
What to wear
I’m not a stylist, though I do know what looks good on camera. Here’s the short version:
- Start with how you want to feel. Think about what you’d wear to a client meeting you’re really excited about.
- Consider your brand and your location. Pick solid colors in tones that sit well with your brand colors, plus a neutral to fall back on.
- Move around in it. Sit, stand and walk, and pick something that fits you today.
- Bring options. Pack layers and a range from casual to polished.
For the longer version, read What to Wear: Brand Photos That Actually Work for Your Business.
What a session with me looks like
A lot of nerves come from not knowing what to expect, so here’s how it goes.
Before the session
We usually do a discovery call or email back and forth about what you’re trying to accomplish, then land on the package that makes the most sense. You fill out a brand questionnaire, and I pull together a shot list and a brand guide. I also scout locations so there are no surprises.
The day of
We start out slow with some headshots, look through your outfits and go over the shot list. I direct you and give you examples of poses, so you’re never guessing what to do next.
After the session
You get your images, and depending on what we decided, you might also have video. Then I walk you through how to use them.
Four ways to feel confident on camera
Showing up on camera is part of how people decide whether they trust you, long before they ever talk to you. When I talk about confidence, I mean feeling more like yourself.
1. Give yourself 10 minutes to warm up
Nobody opens the camera and feels natural right away. If you’re making your own content, you don’t have to use the first photo or video you take. Pretend you’re telling a story to a friend and laugh a little.
Then you do have to hit publish. I’ve made some kind of content almost every week for about 10 years, and it’s still hard for me.
2. Give your hands a job
A lot of people get on camera and think, “What do I do with my hands?” At a session, I show you a pose and you copy it, or I hand you a notebook and ask you to write. On your own, hold a coffee, pick up your laptop or walk toward the camera, because movement helps you relax.
3. Get a few small reps in
Record a voice memo or a quick video on your phone that nobody ever has to see. Do that a few times and notice how much easier it gets. Then post something a little less polished than usual, like a quick behind-the-scenes video.
4. Give your content a day
After you record a video, wait a day to watch it back. Then ask yourself, “Does this look like me? Does this sound like me?” You don’t have to love how you look or sound every time you open the camera, and every rep is going to help.
A simple prep timeline
- A few weeks before: Answer the five questions and talk with your photographer about which images you need.
- A week or two before: Pick a few outfits, take some selfies and save photos of poses you like.
- The day before: Steam your clothes, and lay out your jewelry, shoes and props.
- The day of: Eat, drink water and give yourself extra time so you’re not rushing.
Good Company: Long’s Bakery
This week’s Good Company is a tried-and-true Indianapolis classic, and I’m excited that it includes donuts again! Long’s Bakery on the west side is known for hot glazed yeast donuts. It’s cash only, and there’s a second location on East Southport Road on the south side.
A donut shop and a shoe launch
Carl and Mildred Long started the bakery in 1955. On October 1, 2026, Nike and JD Sports teamed up with Long’s for the launch of Caitlin Clark’s first signature shoe, the Caitlin 1. For the day, the bakery became “Caitlin’s Extraordinary Treats,” with a Caitlin Clark donut truck outside and a claw machine for a chance to win a free pair. They dressed up for the moment, and everybody still knew it was Long’s.
Keep what people already recognize
Keep one or two things people already recognize about you in every content session, then play with everything around them.
Visit: Long’s Bakery, 1453 N. Tremont St., Indianapolis. Find Long’s Bakery on Instagram.
How to feel confident on camera, starting this week
Learning how to feel confident on camera takes reps, so start small. Answer the five questions, and record one quick video nobody has to see.
If you’d like to talk it through first, that’s what my planning call is for. I have a few sessions still open this fall, and you can reach out at kelliwhitephotography.com. Next week I’m talking about what it takes to host a branded event or retreat!
Frequently asked questions
How should I do my hair and makeup for brand photos?
Keep it close to a good hair and makeup day, like a day you’re meeting a client for lunch. The session might not be the best time to try a new routine.
Can I wear patterns or logos?
I’d normally say skip busy patterns, but if a pattern matches your brand style, I’m all for it! I do tend to tell people to avoid logos, since they pull the eye away from you and what you’re selling.
What if there’s something I’m self-conscious about?
Tell your photographer ahead of time. I’d much rather know before we take the photos than after I’ve delivered them.
What if I’ve never liked how I look in photos?
A lot of that comes down to things that can be fixed, like a stiff pose, lighting that didn’t flatter you or an outfit that didn’t feel on brand. Everyone can be photographed in a way that’s flattering.
Places and resources mentioned
- What to Wear: Brand Photos That Actually Work for Your Business
- Long’s Bakery, 1453 N. Tremont St., Indianapolis
Listen and subscribe
Catch every episode of So On Brand on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Acast, and come say hi on Instagram at @kelliwhitecreative.
Want help planning a content day that looks and feels like you? Let’s plan your content.
Kelli White is an Indianapolis-based strategic content partner for women-owned businesses across the northside, including Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Noblesville and Zionsville.
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