We love to bang on about how important professional photography is for a small business, especially when it comes to building a website – bookmark our blog post 6 very big things a brand new top-of-the-range website can’t fix in a small business to read after this one.
The crux of it is, amongst other things, it’s very hard to make a website look good if the photos aren’t serving. Same goes for your small business social media accounts.
Whether you’re the owner of a product-based or service-based small business, brand lifestyle photography which includes you is super important for connecting to your customer base, and for populating your website and social media. It’s also really handy to have for any PR opportunities.
A personal brand or lifestyle brand photoshoot aims to capture what a (really good) day in the life of your business looks like. As well as casual and candid shots of people, we like to see the clutter of your small business life – interiors, shelfies, grabbing a latte and defo typing on a laptop. That kinda thing.
We’ve popped together a list of photographers that have personal brand and/or brand lifestyle photography packages in various styles and for various budgets, and have the info on their websites – it’s a pet peeve of ours that so many photographers have so few words on their website, let alone prices…
Let’s pop that aside for now, and get straight into our list of talented branding and lifestyle photographers from around the UK.
1. Meg Lovell for sensitive storytelling imagery and video
Location: Bristol
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Meg is a Bristol based photographer and videographer working primarily with creative small businesses – so if you want to add some professional video to your website or socials, she’s the one.
She figures out exactly what your brand needs during her planning process, and makes sure you get the results.
She’s passionate about helping small creative business owners communicate their value and working processes, and she takes some really lovely relaxed portraits. Each of Meg’s images tells a story and helps to build a brand.
“We’ll create aspirational brand photos and video to elevate your brand and engage your clients and customers.”
Meg Lovell Photography and Film website
Photography services page
2. Megan Gisborne for bright and relaxed branding photography
Location: The Cotswolds
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Cotswolds-based Megan is a branding photographer for creative-led small business owners who want to elevate their brand image. Her images tell stories, communicate passions and attract clients.
She takes really beautiful bright and relaxed brand photography, which is truly engaging and timeless.
“I help my clients show up, tell their story and grow their business through beautiful branding photography.”
Megan Gisborne Photography website
Personal Branding Photography packages
3. Stories by Chloe for a personality-filled and natural brand shoot
Location: Hertfordshire & London
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Chloe is a storyteller for small businesses and brands based between Hertfordshire and London, but works all over the UK and sometimes beyond. Her photography is natural, authentic and personality-filled.
She very clearly loves lots of light, and says she enjoys photographing unique and magic elements. Chloe sees her work as collecting moments and building a narrative out of photos.
“My shoot style is candid to capture the true magic of your story; so whether that’s grabbing a coffee together, a chat in your studio, or at a workshop, event, retreat or somewhere else, I’m all about capturing those honest moments to showcase the essence of you and your brand; the story and the lifestyle.”
Stories by Chloe
Brand shoot packages
4. Diana Stainton for playful and colourful branding portraits
Location: London
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Diana is primarily a product photographer, creating colourful and playful imagery for creative brands, like our former client and favourite sustainable haircare brand Hairy Jayne.
Alongside her amazing product photography she also takes gorgeous branding portrait photographs, and offers DIY photography courses.
Based in North London, Diana works from her bright studio creating soft and lovely photos which elevate your small business’ brand identity.
“I help brands to grow their business, connect with their customers and sell their products with creative lifestyle photography.”
Diana Stainton
Personal branding portrait packages
5. Headcake Photo for earthy and magical brand lifestyle photos
Location: Devon
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Tessa Bricknell is a branding photographer, and her photos are truly gorgeous – they’re full of magical light and personality, and maybe I’m biased (being from the area myself) but I can see the beauty of Devon shining through in a lot of them.
I’m totally obsessed with this shoot in the shallows at Staverton – upriver from where I grew up.
After selling landscape photographs locally, she moved towards tailoring her photography packages for creative small business owners in 2018, to help them share their individuality and passion through a calm and fun photoshoot experience.
“I create natural looking, earthy imagery that builds a narrative and helps to tell a unique brand story.”
Headcake Photo website
Behind the brand and lifestyle photoshoots
6. Holly Booth for clarity and light in a branding package
Location: Derbyshire
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Holly Booth has been on our radar for quite a while, and was one of the top picks in our previous blog post from back in 2020, 5 incredible photographers who are still shooting products for small businesses.
Holly’s photos are lovely and bright, and her brand shoots always look like a lot of fun. Studio Cotton Clubhouse member Sarah Stanyon who runs hand embroidery kit business Go With The Sew has worked with Holly on a Behind The Brand shoot and recommended her.
“Seeing the face Behind The Brand, visualising your processes, or simply having a look around the place where the magic happens, can really give depth and clarity to your marketing.”
Holly Booth website
Holly Booth’s Behind the Brand package
7. Thyme Lane Lifestyle for branding photography with depth and soul
Location: Cambridge
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Thyme Lane Lifestyle is based in Cambridge and owned by Noemi. She was recommended by Clubhouse member and Studio Cotton Content SEO client Ramona from Alderdoodle, “I use Noemi for product photography, but she does lifestyle shoots too!”
With an eye for detail and capturing the real people behind small businesses in an honest way, Noemi’s aim is to help your brand bloom. Her soulful, earthy photos have depth and an almost fine art feel to them.
“It is all about authenticity and creativity. You being true to yourself and your beautiful images that reflect your brand, your values to help your business be more visible.”
Thyme Lane Lifestyle website
Lifestyle photoshoot pricing
8. Karen Young for sharp imagery and private tuition
Location: London
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Karen Young was recommended by Clubhouse member Militza Ortiz who makes and sells beautiful jewellery, and is also pictured in this Instagram post. As well as offering Behind the Brand shoots, she teaches other jewellers how to photograph their products.
Karen primarily works with jewellers, designers and handmade artists, as she used to be a jeweller herself and saw how clear, sharp, styled photos of her creations helped build her brand and grow her engagement on social media effortlessly.
“This shoot helps your customers get to know you, like you and trust you. We will show you at work, you doing your own unique thing so they can visualise you crafting and creating your beautiful products just for them!”
Karen Young
Behind the Brand Shoot
It’s important to find the right photographer for your small business’ aesthetics and budget, and as you can see, there are so many talented photographers with varying styles and fees. We hope this will help you find the perfect fit.
Thanks to the members of the Studio Cotton Clubhouse for a few extra suggestions too 🙂
