How to Pick: Branding Photography Vs. Professional Headshots

What Are Standard Professional Headshots?

What do we actually mean when we say headshots? There is a wide variety of images when you look this up. Some include a 3/4 body, some show arms and hands, and others are tight from about mid-chest and up. For me, a headshot is a shot of your head! So, mid-chest up. We want the focus to be on your face and your expression. 3/4, full body, showing arms and hands falls more into the business portrait category. Both are great and honestly, you should have both in your image portfolio. Standard headshots are what you will want to use on your Linkedin profile or your business card or email signature. When you start using full body or 3/4 body images in those spots you'll be too small to really be seen. Better to save those for your Instagram and website.

What Are Branding Images?

Branding images are a much larger collection of images of which headshots are one small part. Branding images see to show your audience what it’s like to work with you. They show what your process looks like from brainstorming to delivering the final product. These types of images are perfect for service-based businesses, public speakers, educators, and anyone that gives keynote speeches or holds masterminds. My branding photography sessions, I like to call them branded lifestyle portrait sessions, are separated into different portrait types. We start with taking standard headshots, then move into direct address portraits. These are basically 3/4 body portraits. I like to shoot these standing, sitting, and leaning against a wall.

Each of these two images shows the difference between a standard headshot and a branding image. With the doctor, we get some sense of place and context as to what he does.

Which One Should You Choose?

When considering which way to go, standard professional headshots or a branding photography session it’s important to think about how you want to use these images. Are you looking for a more professional headshot for your Linkedin or company website, or are you looking for a wide variety of images to create a portfolio that you’ll use across all your digital platforms?

One thing that remains constant between the two is how I shoot them. I’m always focused on expression. We want confident approachable expressions in your images no matter how you’ll use them. With branding sessions, we just take it a step further. I like to capture a variety of expressions from defeat to victory. Owning and running a business is not always rainbows and butterflies, sometimes it kicks you in the ass. Having images that show these different perspectives helps to make you more relatable. That equals trust in the eyes of your potential clients.

With standard headshots, we’re not capturing such a wide variety of images. Though often we do want to have a more buttoned-up, serious expression and a more relatable smiley image.

If you’d like to reach out and chat about which option would be best for you, click below and we can have a free consultation to get to know you and your business and see which would be the best option for you.