What to gather for your website build: brand assets, logins, and photos

If you’re getting ready for a website build, a little prep goes a long way. When everything’s in one place, the build moves faster. Decisions feel simpler. You’ll spend less time searching through old emails and more time reviewing what matters.

This checklist walks you through what to gather ahead of time.

Note: You don’t need to have everything perfect. You just need the basics easy to access.

Step 1: Create one folder for everything

Before you gather anything, make one folder on your computer or in Google Drive. Name it something simple like:

Website Build Prep

Inside that folder, add these subfolders:

01 Brand
02 Copy
03 Photos
04 Logins
05 Extras

When you find an item on this list, drop it in the right place right away.

Brand assets to gather

These are the building blocks of your visuals.

1) Logo files (if you have them)

A PNG with a transparent background
A version that works on dark backgrounds, if available
The original editable file if you have it (AI, EPS, SVG)

If you don’t have a logo yet, that’s okay. A clean text-based logo can still look professional.

2) Colors + fonts (if you have a brand guide)

Brand hex codes (example: #2F6F6B)
Primary and secondary fonts, plus any font files or links
Your brand guide PDF, if you have one

If you don’t have a guide, send a simple list of colors and the fonts you’re currently using.

3) Inspiration (optional, but helpful)

5 to 10 screenshots of websites you like
A Pinterest board link, if you made one
A short note on what you like about them (layout, mood, color, photography, spacing)

Logins and access you may need

Most build delays come from access issues. Gathering logins early prevents that.

This is where your domain is purchased and managed. Examples include Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, Squarespace Domains.

This depends on what you’re building on:

WordPress hosting login (and WordPress admin login if it exists)
Squarespace login
Showit login
Wix login

If you’re not sure which one you have, search your email for “domain”, “hosting”, or “WordPress” and look for receipts.

3) DNS access

Sometimes DNS settings live in a different place than your website hosting. If you’re not sure, don’t change anything yourself. Just share what you have access to.

4) Business email / inbox access (if needed)

If your contact form should send to a business email, we may need:

The email address that should receive form messages
Access to the email provider settings, if we’re connecting domain email

5) Analytics access (optional)

If you already have these set up, share access:

Google Analytics
Google Search Console

If you don’t have them yet, no stress. They can be set up during or after launch.

Security tip: Share passwords using a password manager, or create a temporary password you can change after launch.

Photos to gather (and what to do if you don’t have them)

Photos shape the feel of your website more than almost anything else.

1) Brand photos (if you have them)

Aim for:

10 to 25 images to start
A mix of portraits, working shots, and detail shots
A few wider images that work well as banners

2) Your best available photos (if you don’t have brand photos yet)

You can still launch a strong site with:

3 to 6 clear, well-lit photos of you
5 to 10 photos that show your space, tools, or process
A few simple “scene” photos (desk, hands at work, your studio)

Natural window light and a clean background will do most of the work.

3) Stock images (only if they fit your work)

If you use stock images:

Choose a consistent style (lighting, color, mood)
Avoid overly posed “business” photos
Keep it real and calm

Extras that make your site feel complete

These aren’t required, but they help your site feel finished.

Testimonials (even 2 or 3 is helpful)
A short bio (3 to 6 sentences)
Your service list and starting prices, if you share them
FAQs you answer often
Links to booking tools (Calendly, Acuity, Practice Better, etc.)
Social links and Google Business Profile link

A simple pre-build checklist you can copy

Next step

Set a 30-minute timer and gather what you can today. When the timer ends, stop. Make a short list of what’s missing. That’s enough to keep things moving.

This is part of the One-Day Build prep series. For the full picture of how the process works, read What is a one-day website build?, or go straight to the One-Day Website Build service page to see what’s included.