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When it comes to an a photo shoot, location is everything. This is true whether you are taking photos indoors or outdoors. However, it can be trickier to pick an indoor location. Most options, like a studio or an AirBnB, you’ll need to pay for. If you’re looking for a more cost effective option, taking the photos in your own office, apartment, or home is usually your best option. However, that can feel like an overwhelming task on top of everything else that needs to get done in order to prep for a photo session.

However, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed by at the thought of setting up a branding shoot in your home. There are some simple things you can do to help make sure the photos turn out great without having to hire a cleaning service or totally redecorate. Here are my three tips for setting up a branding shoot in your home.

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• Decide which areas of your house you’re going to use (In terms of light) – For photography purposes, not all rooms are created equal. When walking around your house, look for rooms that have good natural light. Windows, or even a door that you can open, are both great options to fill a room with soft, natural light. Rooms painted in lighter colors are also going to be a better option for photography. This does not mean that you need to panic paint your entire house white. It also doesn’t meant that a room with a darker wall will completely ruin your photos. It is just another factor consider when choosing a room.

• Decide which areas of your house you’re going to use (In terms of background) – Now that you’ve considered the rooms in your house from a lighting perspective, you need to think through what rooms will be the best background. I recommend choosing from the rooms with the best lighting options. Obviously it somewhat depends on what your business does, but kitchen islands or counters can easily become a place to work on a laptop. Dining room tables are perfect for laying out products or branding materials.

The above photo was taken in Ally’s dining room. The window is directly across from her, so she’s getting natural light on her face. Angling the camera so her kitchen isn’t visible behind her takes this from obviously being her home to being ambiguous enough that it could be an office. (Check out Ally’s business here.)

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• Organize your belongings – Now, this is not a requirement that you clean your entire house. It isn’t even saying that you need to get rid of every knick knack or photo. It is just a plea to make it look like everything is in its place. And move out anything that very obviously doesn’t belong. Even if you think it won’t be seen, it is much easier to move something out of the room than it is to try to edit something out after the fact. Pesky things like cardboard boxes, coats, and cluttered tables are the top offenders for making your photos look distracted or disorganized. You can also feel free to move things around so your favorite objects or decorations make an appearance in the photos!

There’s a bar cart in the corner of this shot of Sarah’s floral arrangement. Everything on the bar cart is in order and in line, so it doesn’t distract your eye away from the flowers, which are the subject of the picture. We didn’t need to move the bar cart out of the room, we just needed to make sure it was organized enough to fade into the background. (Check out Sarah’s work here.)

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• Change the background and your outfit – Whether your are doing a branding session inside or outside, I always recommend multiple background and outfit changes. Even the nicest photos can start to look repetitive and boring if you don’t change up the main components. However, this does not mean that you need to use every room in your house or have a fifteen outfit shoot. It just means that you should have two rooms prepped for photos and two to three outfits ready to go. Taking tighter photos (aka ones with less background) can also help you to make one room look like two different spaces.

In the photos above, Ally and Sarah are in the same room, at the same table. However, because of how they are positioned, what is in the background, and props they are using, the photos have some variety.

If you’re looking for an example of an outfit change, here’s Ally’s second look from the shoot. She opted for a more casual look.

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With these tips in mind, you’ll be able more than capable of setting up a branding shoot in your home. Aside from the benefit of being cost effective, taking photos in your home allows you to show off your personality and a piece of your life! Your audience (and future clients) will feel like they got to know you a little better, while also learning more about your brand!