You’ve got your brand. You’ve got your website. But what about all the stuff that helps people experience your brand beyond the screen?
That’s where brand collateral comes in! This post breaks down what brand collateral actually is (no design degree required), why it matters for photographers, and examples of our clients’ brand collateral here at Inkpot Creative.
What the Heck Is Brand Collateral Anyways?
You’re probably asking yourself what brand collateral is, so let’s talk about it! Basically, brand collateral is anything physical or digital that represents your brand and keeps it consistent. For photographers, it’s how your brand shows up at every step of the client journey, not just online!
Your brand collateral is alllll of the different things that your clients touch, scroll past, open up, or walk away with, and it’s the extras that carry your vibe from your website into real-life moments.
9 Types of Brand Collateral Photographers Might Use
So what exactly constitutes as brand collateral? Here are some examples:
Business cards
You might think business cards are a thing of the past, but they actually are still super useful, especially for in-person networking, vendor referrals, and wedding expos – so definitely make sure that you have some on hand!
Thank you cards
Thank you cards are a meaningful and personal way to show your clients how much you care. Be sure to keep in stock some beautiful branded cards to send to your clients as part of your post-session wrap-up – we know they’ll love and appreciate them!
Welcome guides
Welcome guides set expectations while showing off your style and process, and should absolutely be a crucial part of your onboarding process. Want your welcome guides to be even more eye-catching? Add in your branding for an elevated client experience!
Client gift boxes
Who doesn’t love receiving a gift in pretty wrapping? To make it even more special, you can keep the packaging on-brand with custom tape, stickers, or tissue paper – another great way to put your branding in the spotlight and wow your clients.
Wedding expo signage
Think bold banners, foam boards, or table signage that stop people in their tracks and will get more eyes on your business!
USB or photo delivery packaging
Did you know that you can make even your file handoff look high-end? Adding your brand collateral to USB or photo delivery packaging is another amazinggg way to give your clients a high-touch experience from start to finish.
Social media templates
Branded social media templates are game-changing – trust us! Imagine showing up consistently online without starting from scratch every time and not having boring, generic templates that look like everyone else in your industry.
Pricing guides or investment PDFs
Keep your visuals as strong as your rates with branded pricing guides or investment PDFs.
Email signature or newsletter headers
We always say your branding should be everywhere, and that means it should be inside your inbox, too! Your email signatures and newsletter headers shouldn’t be overlooked – make sure they feature your branding.
Why Brand Collateral Matters
While all of what we’ve mentioned might sound nice in theory, let’s break down why brand collateral should be a non-negotiable for your business:
It creates consistency across every touchpoint
Consistent branding makes it easier to build trust with your audience, which is one of the strongest foundations for increasing inbound leads and income.
Also, when you’re branding looks cohesive, your business will also feel much more put together and genuine. You definitely won’t have to worry about explaining who you are because your branding will speak for itself.
It helps you stand out
In a saturated market, having visually appealing brand collateral will help you make a name for yourself and break through all the noise. When you do something that’s different, people will pay more attention!
Also, for luxury or non-traditional clients, the small details are very important, and with your brand collateral, you’re showing that you’re the real deal.
It turns a photo shoot into a full-on experience
You can plan your photo shoot with your brand collateral in mind—what type of photos do you want, and what story do you want your images to tell?
Don’t hesitate to get creative with your session and also think about the type of photos you want featured on your business cards, welcome packet, email signature, etc.
Real Brand Collateral Examples from Inkpot Creative
Here are some examples of recent brand collateral we’ve created for our clients:
Box Design for Love & Latitudes
With this box design, we used Love & Latitudes’ natural, desert-inspired branding to create a beautiful, on-brand design for gifting and packaging. This is a perfect example of how packaging can match your photography style and your values.
Stickers for Katie MacDonald Photography
For Katie, we designed custom stickers using her bold, edgy branding to bring her brand to life. The stickers featured brand phrases, playful icons, and her signature color palette. She can use these customized stickers on client gift boxes and thank you notes (because yes, your brand can be that versatile)!
Welcome Guide for Light My Love Photo Film
Kendahl’s vibe is warm, candid, and heartfelt. We designed a full PDF welcome guide that walks clients through what to expect, how to prep, and what makes them different. It’s branded, it’s functional, and it saves them time with every new inquiry.
Want Brand Collateral That Matches Your Website AND Your Vibe?
We hope you found this info on brand collateral and brand collateral examples helpful! Brand collateral is truly the key to keeping your brand recognizable, consistent, and leaving a lasting impression.
When you book our signature offer, The Rebrand Edit, you’re not just getting a logo and website; you’re getting a full brand system you can actually use. Want to add brand collateral design to your project? Let’s talk! You can get in contact with us here or learn more about our services here. We can’t wait to work with you!
Check out these posts next:
How to Avoid These 8 Common Branding Mistakes
Branding for Wedding Professionals – Why It Matters and How to Get It Right
KP’s design journey began in book publishing, but she fell in love with the truly limitless possibilities that web design presents. Since then, she’s been helping photographers and creatives become the no-brainer option for their dream clients before they even get on a call.
- What Is Brand Collateral for Photographers? - June 17, 2025
- How to Give Constructive Design Feedback - May 28, 2025
- Naming Images for SEO: What Photographers Need to Know - May 12, 2025
6/17/25
Published On:
Krystianna Pietrzak
