You ever look at photos of yourself and immediately regret every decision that led up to that moment? Yeah. Same.

I was feeling so prepared for my brand shoot. I had my outfits picked out, my Pinterest board curated, and my “I’m a successful, put-together entrepreneur” face locked in. But then… I got the photos back. And let’s just say, mistakes were made.

If you’ve got a brand shoot coming up, learn from my pain. Here are the five biggest mistakes I made—so you don’t have to waste your time, money, or sanity.

1. I Trusted My Mirror (Big Mistake.)

Here’s the thing about mirrors: They’re liars. You stand there, thinking, “Yeah, I look cute.”
But the second those photos come back? Suddenly, you’re starring in “Expectation vs. Reality: The Brand Shoot Edition.”

Case in point: I had this gorgeous jumpsuit. It looked expensive. Chic. Date-night approved. Even my partner was like, “That’s the one.” But the moment I saw the photos? I looked like I rolled out of bed in silk pajamas and threw a blazer on top like a desperate attempt to look professional. The solution? Always, always take test photos. In different lighting. From different angles. With your actual phone camera.

Because your mirror will gaslight you. Your iPhone will tell the truth.

2. I Forgot My Business Exists

You know what’s fun? Looking like a cool, approachable entrepreneur in photos. You know what’s actually useful? Having photos that work for your business.

I was so focused on capturing my vibe that I completely forgot to capture my offers. When I got my photos back, I realized I had exactly zero shots that reflected what I actually do. Like, where were the shots of me talking into a mic? Where were the promo shots for my upcoming course launch? Oh, right. Nowhere.

Before your shoot, look at your content calendar. What offers are coming up in the next six months? What kind of visuals will you need to sell them? Plan for those. Future-you will thank you.

3. I Started My Skincare Routine… The Night Before.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but you cannot hydrate your skin in one night.

You’d think, as a person who knows how dry her skin gets in the winter, I would have started prepping a month ahead. Nope. Instead, I guzzled water and slapped on every serum I owned 24 hours before my shoot—as if that was going to erase an entire season of neglect. Spoiler: It did not.

Moral of the story? Treat your skin like a VIP at least a month before your shoot. Drink the water. Eat the veggies. Slather on the moisturizer. Because no matter how good your photographer is, Photoshop can only do so much.

4. I Let My Photographer Take the Lead (A Little Too Much.)

Listen, I had an amazing photographer. She knew what she was doing, she had the vision, and I trusted her completely. But that was the problem.

I let her take total creative control, and while the shots were beautiful, they weren’t necessarily me. They captured her vision of my brand, not my vision.

Here’s How to Avoid This:

• Make a shot list of non-negotiable photos you need.
• Create a Pinterest board with poses, lighting, and framing you love.
• Speak up! If you’re in the middle of the shoot and realize, Wait, I actually want more desk shots, say something. You’re paying for these photos—you should love them.

5. I Picked Aesthetic Over Practicality

I wanted a space that was dreamy, bright, and vibey. And I found it! But I didn’t stop to think, “Does this actually represent how I work?”

Here’s the reality: I spend most of my workdays at my desk, with my mic, recording content. Yet, I picked a studio space that had none of that. No desk. No cozy work setup. Just a whole lot of airy aesthetic that looked amazing but didn’t actually fit my business needs.

Before Choosing a Shoot Location, Ask Yourself:

✔️ Does this space reflect my brand’s daily reality?

✔️ Will these photos make sense in my marketing?

✔️ Do I need props that make my work feel more tangible?

If I had asked myself those questions, I would have chosen a space that actually looked like me—instead of just looking pretty.

Final Thoughts (Aka, What Not To Do)

At the end of the day, a brand shoot is an investment—and I definitely invested in some expensive lessons. But now? You get to skip the mistakes and go straight to the part where your brand photos actually work for you.

So tell me—which mistake surprised you the most? And if you’ve ever had a brand shoot go wrong, drop your story in the comments. Let’s swap war stories!