How To Dress For A Branding Photoshoot With Kelsey Kurtis
Friends, I am so excited to continue our Female Illuminator series with one of the most fabulous women I know! My friend Kelsey Kurtis is a branding genius. Pure and simple. She’s also an author, a speaker, an educator, a small business mentor, a consignment junkie and a corgi lover. Basically, she’s unstoppable and turns everything she touches into gold. Known for her Lifestyle Branding Photoshoots, today she is sharing with us her list of boutiques to shop for the perfect wardrobe for your branding shoot! So, if you are a business owner, leader at your company or just on the hunt for a wardrobe refresh… listen up, this is for you! This blog is chock-full of the most amazing resources and so much goodness, I can hardly stand it!
Lifestyle Branding photoshoots are one of the single most important items that a business has in their tool box. These shoots are specifically designed to be the perfect visual representation of your company. When branding photography is done well (ahem…Kelsey’s amazing sessions…), the result is a collection of images that go far beyond matching your color palette and showcasing your product or service on your website. They dig deeper and tell the story of who you really are - the face behind the brand - and the reason your community trusts you and wants to invest in what you offer. They connect your audience to you on a more personal and much deeper level.
Think for a moment…what brands do you find yourself coming back to time and time again? (I’m looking at you West Elm, Madewell, Target, Alice Lane, Magnolia, Emily Henderson!) Chances are, you are drawn to them because of a personal connection you have found with them. Not just the fact that you like their product but you feel like you click with them, like they are a trusted friend. The images from a Lifestyle Branding photoshoot reach out and create that connection. Often the first impression people see, they act as a bridge from consumer to brand and the first layer of authentic connection.
That, my friends, is the foundation of Kelsey’s work. A self-proclaimed entrepreneur at age 11, she learned from her grandfather the real secret behind the success of a business - CONNECTION. Her grandpa told her, “It’s not about the product you’re selling, it is about the story. YOUR story.” And that is exactly what Kelsey has set out to help small businesses everywhere accomplish. Her new book, The Connection Method, walks you through the entire process and is life changing! I’m currently in the middle of the process myself and it is a game changer!
Preparing for a branding photoshoot is much more work than your every day photo session. A ton of time is spent ahead of time finding the right items and wardrobe that are integral in creating that monumental connection we talked bout. One of Kelsey’s specialties is to make sure every person she photographs feels comfortable on camera. She’s THE goddess of helping you pose in ways that highlight your body type and fill you with confidence in front of the lens. Setting the scene and ensuring her clients have the resources, tips and tricks they need ahead of time is imperative to her. So, whether you are doing a photo session with Kelsey or a branding session elsewhere, today, she’s sharing her favorite shops for creating your perfect wardrobe. We’ve got them all broken down by size range, branding colors, style and price point. Scroll down for the magic!
Sizes: XS - XXXL
Branding Colors: earth tones, jewel tones, floral
Style: soft / flowy, boho
Price Point: $40-$100
Bonus: maternity, swimwear, wedding
Sizes: S-L
Branding Colors: neutrals, pastels, soft patterns
Style: soft / flowy, boho
Price Point: $20-$50
Bonus: in person boutiques in WA state, 2% to charity
Sizes: 2-22
Branding Colors: sassy, colorful, bold
Style: structured, tailored, flowy
Price Point: $50-$150
Bonus: kids, swimwear, maternity
Sizes: 0-24
Branding Colors: earth tones, pastels, patterns, bright pops
Style: romantic, classic, preppy, flirty
Price Point: $75-$150
Bonus: swim, accessories
Sizes: XXS-XXL
Branding Colors: neutrals, earth tones, pastels
Style: fun, flirty, airy, feminine
Price Point: $50-$175
Bonus: accessories, girls, home decor
Sizes: XS-XL
Branding Colors: bold, tropical inspired
Style: flowy/billowy, airy and light
Price Point: $150-$400
Bonus: kids, swimwear, responsible materials
Sizes: XS-L
Branding Colors: pastels, bright pops, earth tones, patterns
Style: form fitting, feminine, romantic
Price Point: $50-$125
Bonus: shoes, swim, accessories
Sizes: S-L
Branding Colors: earth tones, neutrals, soft patterns
Style: flowy, romantic, boho
Price Point: $30-$75
Bonus: shoes, accessories, in person shop in Bellingham, WA
Sizes: SM-3X
Branding Colors: bright colors, bold patterns
Style: edgy, form fitting, modern
Price Point: $30-$75
Bonus: shoes, accessories, Black owned business
Sizes: 14-28
Branding Colors: earth tones, pastels, patterns, brights
Style: modern, romantic, classic
Price Point: $20-$150
Bonus: accessories
Sizes: SM-XXL
Branding Colors: earth tones, pastels, neutrals
Style: fun, flirty, feminine, romantic
Price Point: $20-$75
Bonus: accessories, give back to charity
Sizes: 10-32
Branding Colors: earth tones, neutrals, patterns, bright pops
Style: fun, classic, romantic
Price Point: $50-$150
Bonus: accessories, intimates, swimwear
Sizes: S-3X
Branding Colors: bold prints, bright colors
Style: edgy, fun, modern
Price Point: $40-$100
Bonus: plus collection, Black owned business
Sizes: XS - XXXL
Branding Colors: bold prints and patterns, bright colors
Style: structured, form fitting, edgy
Price Point: $50-150
Bonus: maternity, swimwear
Sizes: 10-36
Branding Colors: earth tones, pastels, bright colors, patterns
Style: romantic, fun, flirty, preppy
Price Point: $30-$150
Bonus: swimwear, lingerie
Sizes: 2-12
Branding Colors: neutrals, brights, solid colors
Style: luxe, polished, sophisticated
Price Point: $100-$500
Bonus: belts, masks
Sizes: SM-3XL
Branding Colors: neutrals, brights, patterns
Style: structured, flowy, tailored
Price Point: $40-$100
Bonus: accessories, Black owned business
Sizes: XS-XL
Branding Colors: white, black, color pops
Style: structured, tailored, form fitting
Price Point: $75-$350
Bonus: accessories, footwear
Labels is our go-to, hands down favorite consignment shop! They are located in Bellingham, WA and also offer online shopping! Pricing is crazy reasonable and their collection is really well curated! Sizes XS-3X available. We love you Labels!
We also love Nordstrom Rack and Express when it comes to mainstream stores!
A gigantic THANK YOU to Kelsey for sharing her list of favorites with us. I hope this helps you as you prep for a photoshoot, refresh your wardrobe or just save a list of favorite boutiques to shop for an event in your future! Either way, the name of the game is building a wardrobe that is truly YOU!
Make sure you are following along with Kelsey for all kinds of great branding advice and inspiration! Find her here:
Instagram: @kelseymkurtis @kelseykurtisphoto
