What is Personal Branding photography compared to Headshots?
As busy business professionals, we know we need to have an online presence. But does that stop at a LinkedIn profile photo - or is there more to it?
When it comes to weighing up getting an updated headshot versus investing in personal branding photography, we need to know what each of these is.
It also helps to get an overview of what types of people typically prefer headshot versus those who find personal branding suits their need better.
People who might want just headshots:
Corporate Professionals: Employees in traditional corporate environments, such as bankers, lawyers, accountants, or executives, who need a straightforward, professional image for LinkedIn, company websites, or business cards.
Job Seekers: Individuals looking to update their resumes and LinkedIn profiles with a polished image that reflects professionalism.
Actors / Performers: Actors who need a simple headshot for casting calls, agency submissions, or portfolios.
Public Speakers: Individuals who need a professional image for speaking engagements, conference materials, or event programs. Note that many public speaker also which to build their personal brand so they become a more desired speaker to help attract a larger audience, or add greater prestige to the event.
Medical Professionals: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who are employed and need a clean, professional image for hospital websites, publications, or business profiles.
People who might want personal branding photos:
Entrepreneurs / Business Owners: People who run their own businesses and need images that reflect their brand personality, values, and services. These photos often tell a story and show them working or engaging with clients.
Creative Professionals: Designers, artists, writers, and other creatives who want to showcase their unique style, personality, and work process.
Coaches / Consultants: Life coaches, business consultants, or fitness trainers who need to connect personally with their audience through a series of images that showcase their approach, methods, and personality.
Influencers / Bloggers: Social media influencers, bloggers, and content creators who need a variety of images to keep their content fresh and aligned with their brand aesthetic.
Personal Brands: Individuals building a personal brand, whether for thought leadership, speaking engagements, or marketing themselves in various industries, often need a diverse set of images that tell their story and connect with their audience.
Public Figures: Those who need images for book covers, media kits, speaking engagements, or public relations, where the images should convey a sense of their personal brand.
Let’s look at the key differences between each type.
Headshot photos by Tabitha Arthur Photography
Headshot photos.
One of the first places most people think about seeing a headshot photo is in their profile photo on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), etc. They’re also important to share on a company website, in resumes or business proposals, when you’ll be a keynote speaker at an event, and in your email signature, ID badge, or business card.
What a headshot is aiming to do is present a clean, professional image where you can see your face clearly. While you may get a sense of your personality, headshots tend to often be more straight-forward.
Usually headshots are more formal, and have a clean background, cropped to head and shoulders, with a focus on your face, and you’re dressed professionally.
These tend to be a quicker session, with the photographer guiding each person through a more formulaic approach to get a professional look.
A headshot is like a first-impression handshake: You are introducing yourself with your headshot. People will get a good first impression from a good headshot - but note it can only ever tell one small part of your story, inside one small frame.
The impact on business: In a world where first impressions matter, professional headshots are essential for maintaining a polished professional image.
Personal branding photos by Tabitha Arthur Photography
Personal branding photos.
These photographs are designed to showcase your brand, personality, and the story behind your work. As well as covering all the uses as with headshots, personal branding images are used for a huge variety of uses such as websites (from the home page, to the about page, banners, blogs, and more); social media - profile photos and also in your posts; marketing materials from online and print ads to out of home billboards, bus backs, and adshels, to freebies and lead magnets, and email marketing; online courses; blog posts; and anywhere you desire to build a deeper connection with your audience.
A personal branding photoshoot is usually a longer session than a headshot, and can achieve a variety of backgrounds and outfits, including props and elements that tells the story of who you are and how you work.
Along with getting headshots, these sessions can include different crops - closer or full-body - and environmental and in-action shots. This will help showcase you in different scenarios relating to your work or lifestyle. These photos are able to tell a broader story about who you are, what you do, how you do it, and who you work with. We get to see more sides of you - we get to know your authentic personality, for example, from super professional to more relaxed and fun.
These sessions are more in-depth with more planning and depth with your photographer as a creative partner, than headshots, and are more of an investment. They also give you a broader range of images you can use over time, and create a consistent brand presence.
The impact on business: Personal branding photos can significantly impact how a business or personal brand is perceived, helping to attract the right clients, build trust, and establish a strong online presence. With the world so online these days, we need to stay relevant and fresh, and look open for business - having a library of images will help you do that easily.
What’s the right sort of photoshoot for you?
When deciding between a headshot and a personal branding session, it ultimately comes down to your needs and goals for yourself professionally.
Just want a quick update to your professional profile on LinkedIn or online profile? Then a headshot might be just right for you.
Ready to take your business or personal brand to the next level? Investing in personal branding photography could be a game-changer.
Rember, your photos are often the very first interaction potential clients or business partners will have with you. Whether it’s a headshots, or a series of branding photos - make sure your first impression is one you feel proud of.
Ready to next-level your online presence with photos you love? Let’s chat about how we can can create the perfect images to represent you and your brand - fill out the form below so I can give you personalised information about the perfect photography experience for you.
