What is the Difference Between Headshots and Personal Brand Photo Sessions?
If you need some new photos for your business or work life, but are unsure what type of session is suitable for you… read on! Personal brand photo sessions aren’t a completely new concept, but they certainly haven’t been around as long as headshots. Both types of sessions are business-focused, but have differences in their purposes and their implementation.
Small business owners and all kinds of entrepreneurs are now realizing that it is important to show their face as the face of their business. It’s not enough anymore to hide behind your products or services. Although you may have something amazing to share with your potential clients, they simply won’t be as interested if they don’t also have an idea of who you are. This is especially true in the service sector. If someone is planning to hire you for a job that will require that you eventually spend time together, why would they want to hire a complete stranger? This is where your social media presence, including your photos, comes into play.
Whether you use your photos on your website, social media or anywhere else (and preferably all of these places), your potential clients generally need to be able to put a face to your name before they will even consider you. Your photos should be updated regularly, instead of being some that you took 5 years ago! Now let’s get on to the differences between headshots and personal brand photos!
Headshots are great for when you simply need some photos of yourself without any intense planning. You’ll wear an outfit that you can layer for different looks, or perhaps bring a few different outfits if the session takes place somewhere with privacy where you can change clothing easily. The photos from your headshot session will focus on you, and will give you a variety of looks without us going too deeply together into the details of your business. Headshots can include a variety of facial expressions, tend to be mostly photos of you making eye contact with the camera, and the majority are taken as close-up images. They can be done with studio lighting and a backdrop, or with natural lighting and a more environmental feel in an outdoor setting, or indoors if there is good natural lighting.
A personal brand photo session, on the other hand, is a complete immersion into your business by both you and I. As a team, we will explore all the “whys” of your business and figure out who you are trying to reach, what the best way to reach them is, and how our photo session can help you get there. It includes a full questionnaire that will help me to understand everything about you and your business, and will also help you define your goals. Your personal brand photo session includes an hour-long planning call between you and I to discuss our goals and vision for the session and make sure we are on the same page. After the call, I will create a planned shot list which I will send to you for your approval or revision. Your personal brand photo session will involve props that you will bring to help your audience see a glimpse into your daily life. Your session will be a combination of headshots, lifestyle portraits, action photos of you at work, flatlays and even product shots if you own a product-based business. You will bring several outfits in order to capture your various looks, activities and personal qualities. A personal brand photo session will leave you with a wide variety of images which could include portraits, you at work, you meeting with a client, and even you doing a workout or sipping your favourite coffee. The session will help you share what you have in common with your intended audience including your personality, hobbies, interests, and what you have to offer them with your line of work! There is a lot of variety in the final images you will receive. We will discuss and choose a variety of locations to most effectively bring your vision to life!
Both my headshot sessions as well as my personal brand photo sessions include commercial usage rights, which means you can legally use your photos for business purposes! Sometimes when you look at a photo, it’s difficult to know whether it was from a headshot session or a personal brand session. This is because personal brand sessions do include headshots, and some of the photos taken at each of the sessions can overlap. The main difference is that with a headshot session, we will not have the extensive planning of the personal brand photo sessions, nor the wide variety of image types. If you are simply wanting to update your photo for your website, book or upcoming speaking engagement, then a headshot session is probably right for you! If you wish to create a strong brand online and want a full, brand-centred experience, then a personal brand photo session is likely the ideal choice for you!
If you are an entrepreneur in the Calgary area and you are considering headshots or a personal brand photo session, I would love to chat with you! Click the link below so we can set up a complimentary phone consultation to discuss which option is the right fit for you!