Personal Branding Vs. Traditional Headshots

May 28

Let’s talk about what kind of headshots are right for you and your personal brand. First off, many professionals looking for photography don’t know there is a difference between a traditional headshot and a personal branding session and some photographers can only offer one or the other. Both styles are equally valuable, yet both portray very different vibes! My goal is to help you determine what kind of session is right for you, so your personal photos attract the right attention.

What’s The Difference?

Formalities… Traditional headshots are typically done in-studio, or if outside, with a very non-distracting background. The main subject is the FULL focus. They work to convey personality through your expression. Personal branding, gives us a little more insight into what the person does, or their interests so the main subject AND their brand is the focus. Here is a perfect example of a session (below) where the clients company was doing a feature on her in a magazine, and wanted both traditional and personal branding images for their employee.

It was really fun being able to shoot both for one client and not only give her a great image for more formal uses like linked in, but also some great images that can give a further look into her personality, and what she does (which is design layouts and kitchens for high end restaurants).

Is there a cost difference?

Yes. Typically headshots are in-studio or at a set location and you choose a select amount of images to be edited. The sessions last about 30 minutes to an hour depending on the package you choose. However, editing for studio headshots can be more detailed as lights in the studio capture EVERYTHING and we can you to look your absolute best!

Personal branding sessions are usually longer and require more preparation. Branding packages come with a pre-consult, so I can better understand your vision for your brand and access the type of session you need, the location that best fits what you want to convey and so forth.

Let’s take a look at some of the more traditional headshots I’ve done and what their professions are…