Headshots vs Personal Branding

One of the most impactful things you can do for your business is to work with a professional photographer, and there are two main ways to do that. Headshots, and Personal Branding, but what’s the difference? Now I like to think of headshots as just one aspect of your personal brand, even if you’re a small business rather than an individual, you’ll still want headshots of each member of your team. Now whereas a headshot is just a simple portrait of your head and shoulders, a full personal branding session goes far beyond and includes images of your business and your brand personality.

If you’re an actor, or maybe you have a corporate job, you might only need a headshot for your LinkedIn, but the headshots themselves needn’t be boring! I love to play with creative styles to elevate even the simplest of headshot sessions, there’s still a lot of scope to bring out your personality. Headshots serve as an introduction to who you are, a way to put a face to the name, which is particularly useful when you’re client or customer facing.

In a personal branding session, we have a lot more time to really dig deep into your brand and make sure your imagery is representing you clearly. This leaves us with so much scope from using your day to day materials or products, your place of work, and more. Beyond just an introduction, personal branding serves to tell your target audience exactly who you are, what you do, and whether you might fit their vibe.

In my New Starter branding package, I create a shoot based on all the information you give me about your brand, yourself and your style, your influences. I take all this and either put together the perfect location near you, or I create a full set in my Stockport photo studio where we’ll spend a full day getting images that’ll draw your ideal client. You’ll leave with a bank of imagery to use across any scenario you could think of across your business.

So what are they used for?

Headshots are super versatile and can be used any place you showcase your face, whether that’s for a social media profile, on LinkedIn, a theatre programme, or your CV. If you’re an in-person service provider, headshots can be a great way to let your clients know what you look like before you meet in person.

If you have a small business, or a larger online presence, a simple headshot may not be enough, and might leave you wanting more to weave into your content. In a Personal Branding session, we can capture a wide bank of imagery that’s easy to implement and gives you plenty of choice. Moving up from a headshot, full body images let your audience know more about you and your style, getting images that feature you but contain plenty of negative space can be great for headers and hero images.

Detail shots can make fantastic background photos for your social media posts or your website. No longer do you have to use stock photos that don’t truly represent your brand, these will shine through as authentically yours.

If you’re worried you don’t know how best to use your images, the support doesn’t stop there, in my New Starter package, you’ll also get a brand support call with me, where I’ll walk you through a mock-up of your images in templates to show you how they fit with your brand. Then you can launch straight into using your images with confidence and instantly elevate your brand.

So what kind of brand support is included in my top two packages? This can vary slightly depending on how far along in your brand journey you are. Now I’m no brand designer, so I can’t make you a logo or put your brand together for you, but I can give plenty of tips and tricks to elevate it yourself. This support starts from the moment I get to know you and your brand, suggesting outfits and colours that will blend seamlessly. I can also give you advice on how to use and format the images, if I understand how you’ll be using the pictures, I can take them to spec so they’ll fit perfectly by the time you come to slot them in. I’m also well versed in digital accessibility and can give you plenty of advice on how to make your brand more accessible. If you haven’t already, you can sign up to my mailing list at the bottom of this page to receive my brand accessibility guide for yourself!

In conclusion, while personal brand photography and headshots both serve to visually represent individuals or businesses, they differ in their scope and purpose. Personal brand photography goes beyond traditional headshots by capturing the essence and personality of the individual or brand, telling a story, and creating a deeper connection with the audience. On the other hand, headshots focus primarily on a clean, professional image that conveys a sense of confidence and reliability. Recognizing the distinction between personal brand photography and headshots is crucial in ensuring that your visual content effectively communicates your unique identity and message. By investing in the right type of photography for your needs, you can elevate your brand presence and make a memorable impression on your audience. It's all about showcasing your authenticity and standing out from the crowd through compelling visuals that resonate with your target audience.

If you’re ready to upgrade your business’ branding, contact me to get the ball rolling on your brand journey with me! If you want to know a bit more about me and my processes, you can book a free call with me here to chat about your brand goals! I can’t wait to connect with you!