Do your research before you make decisions about the artistic and/or technical direction of your band's photo shoot. Go to a record store and take note of CD covers you like, and ones you don't. Notice common poses or expressions (like the band members facing the camera in angst) and try to avoid them in your photo shoot. For any band, projecting an image of individuality is essential.
Look at music magazines and gain inspiration from photo shoots in their pages. Talk with your band members about their ideas for the photo shoot and what your band's music represents to each of them. Bring to the shoot objects that each band member suggests make an appearance in the photos. They could be objects that relate to lyrics of the music, private jokes of the band or simply their favorite instruments. Talk with the photographer about how these objects might be incorporated in the shoot in unique ways.
You and the band members will have to decide on a location for the shoot. There are a few main categories to pick from and then narrow down. Choose whether you'd rather have the shoot outdoors, indoors or in a venue while your band is playing music. Shooting in the venue can be tricky because of lighting, angles and placement. But, good action-packed shots will eliminate any worry about photos that seem posed and unnatural. One option is to shoot the band while they're playing in an unconventional place, such as a field or a bedroom. Another option is to re-create an iconic album cover with your band members in place of the re-created scene and location.
Another important consideration is how the band members want to be perceived in their photo shoot. This will help determine the wardrobe and their facial expressions. Consider what kind of music you play and the personality of your members. Are you a playful band playing pop music? Are you a heavy metal band whose music is serious? Do you want to represent the band literally, or be ironic? One risk you take in doing a posed shoot is coming off as contrived, cheesy or taking yourselves too seriously (ref 1). One way to avoid this is to create a shoot that is obviously posed. For example, a heavy metal band could do a photo shoot as a playful pop band or vice versa.