What Comes First: Your Brand Identity or a Brand Photoshoot?

When you’re building or evolving your business there’s a lot to think about! Two big pieces of the puzzle? Your brand identity and your brand photography.Both are absolutely crucial,  but which one should you prioritise first? Here’s the simple answer: where possible, start with your brand identity. Let’s dive into why.

Your Brand Identity Sets the Foundation

Think of your brand identity as the soul of your business. It’s more than just a logo,  it’s your fonts, colours, tone of voice, visual style and the feeling you want people to experience when they interact with you.

Your brand identity provides the blueprint. Without it, trying to create brand photos would be like building a house without a plan… you can do it, but it’ll lack consistency, clarity and direction.

When you have a clear brand identity in place first you can:

• Choose brand photography locations that match your style and story

• Select outfits, props and backdrops that reflect your brand colours and vibe

• Create imagery that feels cohesive across your website, social media and marketing

  
  

Without that brand foundation your brand shoot could end up looking lovely... but generic. It won't connect with the right audience or help your business stand out. Even worse, the images might end up clashing with your final branding.

Why Jumping Into a Brand Shoot Too Soon Can Backfire

I’ve seen it before where businesses book a brand shoot before doing the strategy work.The photos come out great... but later they realise the visuals don’t match the branding they want to build. The result? They often have to reshoot everything, wasting time and money. Getting your brand identity set first saves you from these (very common!) missteps and ensures your brand photos work for you, not against you.

So, When Should You Book Your Brand Shoot?

Once your brand identity is signed off and you’re clear on your visual style, colours, vibe and audience then that’s the perfect time to get your brand shoot booked in. At Moonglow Studio we are set up to help clients with both the branding and the photography side so everything feels effortless and beautifully cohesive. When we work with you on your brand identity and shoot planning we can time everything perfectly, making sure your brand shines consistently across every platform.

Looking for some further guidance with your brand?

If you're ready to build a brand you're proud to show off (and get dreamy photos to match) I would love to hear from you! My team and I are here to support and guide you through the whole process from branding and website design to copywriting and brand shoots,  making sure everything happens in the right order for the best possible results.