I'm Michele

Headshots or brand photos — what is the difference and which one do you need?

I’ve written this post to help answer that question, and help you decide which type of photo shoot is right for your next session.

First, headshots (and why you need them)

A headshot is a single image, usually head and shoulders only, that shows your face to the world.

A good headshot will be clear and well-lit, with eyes looking at the camera, as if you were meeting someone for the first time.

When I shoot headshots, I take a variety of angles and poses to give you several options to choose from. Then, you’ll get one final retouched, high resolution image to use in your social media profiles, on your website, and in your business correspondence.

Second, brand photos (and when you need them)

Brand photography is designed to create a complete library of images that represent your brand.

Brand photos include traditional headshots, of course, as well as what I call “lifestyle” photos. Lifestyle photos include action shots, shots of you interacting with your product or business tools, detail shots representing your brand and your business lifestyle, and even photos with customers or your team.

I also encourage my clients to incorporate their more personal side in their sessions — things they’re passionate about or do when they’re not working.

By working with my clients ahead of time to understand their brand messaging, I’m able to create imagery they’ll be able to use over the course of six months or a year to connect with their audience.

I think of brand photography as a cohesive and compelling imagery that tells the story of your brand and communicates more about who you are personally to your clients. After all, people work with people they like, know, and trust, and getting in front of the camera is the best way to build trust with your potential clients.

Your final branding photo gallery will provide months of content for all of your marketing channels, including your website, blog, and social media. 

So, which do you need — a new headshot or a full brand session?

Now that you know the difference between headshot and branding photography, here are five questions I ask my clients to help them determine which is best for them. 

1. Do you work for a company in a job where you’d consider your role to be mostly behind-the-scenes?

Is the answer yes? Then there’s a good chance a headshot is the way to go. 

You need an image to go in your email signature line, and to post in the online or internal company directory. Chances are, one professional, well-lit, engaging headshot will serve you well.

If, however, you use social media for your personal passions and projects, where it’s important to grow a community of online followers or even friends, then you still may want to consider a branding session relating to your outside-of-work activities.

2. Does your ability to do your job depend on your visibility to clients? 

Are you in a business ownership or sales role where you are constantly communicating with your clients and potential clients? 

If so, I recommend a brand session as the best way to extend your reach and keep yourself visible. It’s the best way to communicate with clients even on the days you don’t see them in person. 

Since you don’t want to share the same photos day after day, having a library of professional images at your fingertips is the easiest way to share branded content on a regular basis — and to keep you top-of-mind with your customer base.

3. Do you need to build trust with your clients online?

If the answer is yes, a personal brand session is the way to go. Showing your face regularly on social media is one of the best ways to build trust with potential clients. 

Having fresh, updated brand photos can help you showcase your professionalism and expertise, create trust, and build stronger relationships.

People buy from people they know, like, and trust. And the more you share of yourself, the more you increase the know-like-trust factor!

4. Do you have a personal brand?

In this day and age of social media marketing, people often have what is referred to as a personal brand. In other words, people recognize you personally and are loyal to you because of who you are.

Here are some ways to determine whether you have a personal brand: 

If you’re a solopreneur or own your own business, and people do business with you because of you, you probably have a personal brand. If people recognize your name and trust you as an expert in your field, you probably have a personal brand. If you regularly communicate with your audience, and they look forward to hearing from you, you probably have a personal brand. If people refer you to others because they like doing business with you, you probably have a personal brand.

Think of a personal brand as a business asset — the more you build it, the more valuable it becomes.

And because people are so visual, brand photography is one of the best ways to help grow a consistent and recognizable personal brand. 

5. Do you find yourself struggling to post unique social media content online? 

It could be that you don’t have enough images to pull from. And that’s when a personal brand session is one way to jumpstart your social media and content marketing campaigns. 

Ever wonder how your favorite blogger or Instagrammer posts such amazing content every single day? The secret is they create all of their visual content just a few times a year, then pull images from their own personal branded photo library during their regular workdays.

When you work with me on your brand session, we’ll make a list of the different ways you want your clients to get to know you. Then we’ll create specific shots that will go with specific content and messaging you want to share.

Want to talk about how you write blog posts while sipping oat milk lattes at Harriett & Oak in downtown Rapid? Let’s walk to the coffee shop and take some action shots that are true to life. Plus we’ll also craft some details shots of you working on your laptop while sipping your favorite drink. And of course we’ll also create a well-lit detailed shot of your favorite coffee drink.

Now that all of these images are in your brand photo library, you’ll be able to pull from them on the daily to keep all of your content fresh and new! 

If you’d like more information about headshots or brand photos for you (or your team), head over to my contact page and let’s connect!