When I started my photography business back in 2014, the very first shoot I was hired for was a wedding. I was still in high school, and I remember how meaningful it felt to have someone believe in me — to love my work enough to say yes. To this day, I remain deeply grateful for that first wedding and for every couple who trusted me with their story after that. Wedding photography shaped me into the storyteller and photographer I am today.

Recently, while reorganizing my hard drive — carefully labelling and dating files so everything is easier to find — I found myself revisiting past client galleries. Looking through old weddings brought back so much joy and reminded me how special it was to document those days. But alongside them were my favourite brand photography projects. And when I paused on those images, I felt a stronger pull — a quiet certainty that working with entrepreneurs and bringing intention and magic to their brand visuals is where my heart now lives.

It wasn’t until I started sorting through years of work that I realized just how similar wedding photography and brand photography truly are. The skill set required is nearly identical, with only a few nuanced differences.

A Similar Shot List

Whether you’re photographing a wedding or a personal brand shoot, many of the same core images appear on every shot list. The main distinction is that weddings include a stronger event-driven component.

A typical shot list often includes:

• Portraits
• Headshots
• Group photos
• Full-body images
• Detail shots
• Services being provided
• Close-up shots of hands or process
• Equipment or props
• Workspace imagery
• Other service providers you’re working with

In both weddings and brand photography, my role as your photographer is to capture all the elements that come together to tell your story.

Portraits In Both Weddings and Brands

For weddings, portraits include headshots of the couple, the wedding party, and family. In brand photography, portraits focus on you and your team. Both can be photographed indoors or outdoors, and both typically include a mix of headshots, full-body images, and group photos when applicable.

When building a brand photography shot list, it’s important to understand who will be featured. Will extended team members — part-time staff or consultants — be present, or will it be your core team only? Knowing who will be there and how they interact within your business helps ensure the imagery accurately reflects your brand and the way you work together.

It’s All in The Details

Detail images were always one of my favourite parts of wedding photography — they’re where creativity can truly shine. Both from the photography side and from the creators of each element. From cake decoraters to custom jewelery, and dress designers. Within the wedding industy there are so many thoughtful decisions made about where items are placed, how they’re styled, and how to make them all feel cohesive. Detail images often don’t include people at all, focusing instead on tools, textures, and atmosphere.

Details for weddings, this meant jewellery, shoes, veils, florals, and dresses. For brand photography, it’s your workspace, your go-to tools — laptops, phones, favourite mugs, industry equipment — along with close-ups of hands at work or tools in motion. These details quietly tell the story of how your business comes to life.

While brand shoots don’t usually span a full day the way weddings do, they require the same level of care and attention. Flyaway hairs are smoothed, clutter is cleared, and small details like hair elastics, buttons, or zippers are checked. These details matter — regardless of the type of shoot — because the goal is always the same: for you to feel confident, seen, and proud of the images you receive.

Photographing Service Providers

An extra part of weddings that photographers keep in mind is photographing the other service providers on site. Hair dressers, make up artists, flourist, etc. Being able to photograph the service or products being provided goes a long way for being able to capture the working element and final products that need to be shared within your brand photos.

Ready For What’s Next

Although I’ve spent much of my career within the wedding industry, I truly believe those years prepared me to be a better brand photographer. Weddings taught me how to think in stories, how to guide people with ease, and how to adapt when things don’t go exactly as planned. They taught me how to create imagery that feels natural, intentional, and aligned.

Those experiences now allow me to make photography feel more approachable for entrepreneurs — to help you step into your brand with confidence and experience the power of purposeful imagery in your business.

And while brand shoots don’t usually involve weather plans the way outdoor weddings do, if the unexpected happens — rain included — just know I’ll be there, ready to roll with it.

After all, sometimes the most meaningful images come from embracing the moment exactly as it is.