What Every Interior Designer Needs for a Standout Lifestyle Brand Shoot
Behind the scenes of planning a Lifestyle brand shoot that’s as stylish as the spaces you design
When your business is built around visual detail, styled spaces and a sense of atmosphere, your photos need to do more than just look pretty. They need to feel like your brand.
That’s why I always start with a planning call.
Ahead of her upcoming lifestyle brand shoot, I sat down with interior designer Caroline from Emerson Bailey Interiors to plan a session that feels true to her work and her aesthetic. We covered everything from location and lighting to wardrobe choices, B-roll video content and the kinds of details that will really help her audience connect.
Here’s how we planned it and what I think every interior designer should consider before stepping in front of the camera.
1. The space tells the story
Caroline’s shoot will take place inside one of her own finished design projects – a beautiful, light-filled home with a neutral, understated palette.
“I want the background to reflect the kind of work I want to attract,” she said. “It needs to look like me.”
Shooting in a space that aligns with your brand voice is essential for a lifestyle brand shoot. It gives the images cohesion, context, and authenticity – not just great lighting and clean lines, but a recognisable feel your ideal clients will connect with.
2. The styling (and the details) matter
We worked through outfits that would suit the space – tailored pieces in neutral tones, relaxed but polished. Pinterest inspiration helped Caroline find a few fresh ideas without overthinking it. She’s ordered a few options to try (and maybe return!) which is something I always recommend.
We also made a prop list that feels genuinely connected to her work:
- Tile samples and fabric swatches used in the project
- Her Little Greene paint box
- Interior design magazines and books
- A notebook, laptop, and fresh flowers
- Coffee, croissants, and a favourite (neutral!) mug
All small things, but they give so much personality and purpose to a lifestyle brand shoot. When it’s your job to notice the details, your brand photos should too.
3. Relaxed, not rigid
Caroline mentioned that she didn’t want anything to feel staged or stiff.
“I’m not into the whole ‘pretend to type on a laptop while looking at the camera’ kind of photo.”
Totally fair. That’s not what this shoot is about. We’re focusing on moments that feel real – styling a shelf, fluffing cushions, comparing samples, brewing coffee. The kinds of quiet, natural movements that show a designer in her element.
That’s the beauty of a lifestyle brand shoot. It’s not about posing. It’s about showing up in your own space, doing what you do best, and letting that speak for itself.
Thinking about your own brand photos?
If you’re an interior designer looking for images that reflect your work, your style and the feeling you create for your clients, I’d love to help.
Every shoot starts with a plan. Yours can start with a quick message. Get in touch here and let’s chat.
