Headshot Photography vs. Branding Photography – Which is Right For You?

Photography can be complex, especially when it comes to the differences between headshot photography and branding photography. For many people, it’s hard to tell them apart. However, knowing the differences is important for anyone who wants a professional online presence.

As a professional photographer with more than 15 years of experience, I specialize in creating custom headshots and branding photos for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses.

As a business owner myself, I understand how important it is to have a great headshot and marketing assets to stand out from the competition.

That’s why I’m going to help you understand the differences between headshot photography and branding photography in this blog post. We’ll explore what each type of photography is, and I’ll share examples of each.

By the end of this post, you’ll be able to decide which option is best for you and your business needs. So, let’s dive in!

Headshot photography is professional photos of individuals in a posed situation, either in a professional environment or in front of a backdrop. These photos are usually only head and shoulders photos. Think of these as something you would see on business cards, resumes, and LinkedIn profiles.

The goal of headshot photography is to capture a person looking like the professional they are. They’re pretty straightforward and don’t usually provide too much context about their line of work. Both images below are great examples of a typical headshot.

Brand or branding photography usually includes individual headshots of a person as well as action shots of them.

Brand photos showcase more about what the person does in their line of work and pulls out more of their personality than a standard headshot photo.

The goal of branding photography is to showcase the person or people behind the brand and their unique qualities. These photos are often used in marketing materials, on social media platforms, and on a company’s website.

When done properly, brand photography is a great way to create brand awareness. It helps to “humanize” a brand and create an emotional connection with its target audience. We want this in business!

The photos below would be considered branding photos since they’re more than a head and shoulders photo and tell a story about her line of work through the imagery.

Brand photography can also include team members of a company to highlight them in a unified setting. This would look like using the same background or location for each person’s photo for a cohesive quality across the company. I’ll share examples of that further down.

Okay, so now that we’ve talked about both headshots and brand photography – which is the right fit for you and your business?

Headshots are a great choice if you want a professional photo that captures you from the shoulders up and shows you looking polished and confident.

Branding photography is ideal if you want to showcase yourself in action, in multiple poses, and highlight your line of work.

Ultimately, the choice between headshots and branding photography depends on your goals and the message you want to convey.

Both are great for looking more professional, marketing, and networking. But if you want action shots or multiple images to create a cohesive online presence, you might want to opt for branding photography, like the images here.

For businesses with 4 or more team members, I always recommend team photos to highlight their entire team. With the combination of individual headshots and matching team photos, we start to create brand awareness.

By featuring photos of the whole team on a company website or social media, customers and clients can see the faces behind the business and get a sense of the company culture and values.

Team photos build trust and credibility with potential customers by showing that the business is made up of real people, just like them.

This can be especially important for small businesses or startups that are trying to establish themselves in a competitive market.

I mean, take one look at this fun group of therapists below. It is filled with personality, joy, and shows how fun they are to work with. We did a few group photos and also took individual headshots of each member to create a cohesive feel across their marketing assets.

In addition to providing customized headshots and branding photos, I also provide on-site services for team photos for a more personalized and elevated look.

So if you’re a busy CEO and there’s no way you’re dragging everyone in the office to my studio (I don’t blame you), I can come to you!

I bring my professional lights, backdrops (if needed), and a hair and makeup artist (if needed) to create a customized photoshoot for you and your entire team.

On-location photography adds creativity to the photoshoot and shows intentional photos of your team in their element, like the group below.

I traveled to this architectural firm’s office to create their on-location brand imagery and team photos. These can’t be replicated anywhere else because it’s THEIR OFFICE. These photos help them stand apart against their competition and show their audience what it might be like to work with them.

If you’re looking for a photographer who can capture professional headshots or branding photos that truly represent you or your business, look no further. I can help you stand out from the competition and make a lasting impression on potential clients and customers.

My goal is to capture your authenticity, so you’re excited to share your new photos with your network!

And if you’re camera shy, that’s okay. I have a knack for helping even the most anxious people have a great time.