What is personal branding photography? Personal branding photography reflects the spirit of the business and brand. It's the overall image of what you or your business represents.

There are many types of branding photos styles: Professional headshots, Lifestyle headshots, behind-the-scenes, client interaction, detail shots, interiors and exteriors, logo and branding, products, and any services your label offers that can be implemented in personal branding photography.

Why Does Personal Branding Matter?

Visual communication is essential; it helps consumers or clients create an emotional connection with the service offered by your business. Understanding a brand's unique identity makes it easier for clients and potential clients to understand and relate to the brand.

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Having brand consistency help shape brand recognition. Having high-quality and consistent photographs for equilibrium across all social platforms is essential. Personal branding photography will help a brand define its look and be recognizable among competitors.

Personal branding photography helps visually communicate your brand's story, maintain consistency, differentiate your brand from competitors, engage and connect with your audience or ideal clients, instill trust, and provide versatile visual images for various marketing channels, including the website. It is a powerful tool in shaping and strengthening your business brand identity.

Here are seven tips and ideas on how to show personality in professional brand photos.

1. Storytelling

Photography can tell stories, evoke emotions, and engage audiences in a way that words alone cannot. Through carefully curated images, you can tell your brand's narrative, share its values, and connect with customers on a deeper level. Well-executed branding photography can create an emotional bond between your brand and its target audience, leading to increased client brand loyalty and advocacy.

Besides having professional headshots, having various branding photos on the website is equally important. Other photos that should be included with personal branding images are lifestyle portraits, behind-the-scenes, detail shots, logos, branding, interior and exterior photography, and if your brand offers any service, to have that in action.

You can create a vision board or calendar about Facebook and Instagram posts you have planned out. Consider the different looks, including the holidays, if you want to give your clients shoutouts or wishes.

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2. Choose a Location That Represents You and Your Business

Decide the type of storytelling you want in your business branding session beforehand. Choose a location that will represent that best.

The most common options are to either be photographed in a professional studio or on location. The photography studio is often more convenient because all the lighting is set up (meaning more controlled light and less dependency on weather), and various backdrops are available.

If you don't have a specific physical location that clients can come to, choosing to have personal branding photography taken at the studio makes sense. Podcasters, authors, lawyers, real estate agents, Doctors, and many other professionals that have mobility with their working space opt for the studio shoot option.

There are benefits of branding photography on location or in an office. Showcasing the physical location of your own business is effective personal brand building.

Whether you are a doctor, dentist, lawyer, salon owner, or small shop owner, if you have a brick-and-mortar place of business, include it as part of your images. It's essential for the person using your services to understand where they are going clearly.

Branding photography can also be taken outside the studio and outside of where the company is located. For example, branding photos can be taken with the background of your favorite coffee shop or somewhere you enjoy spending a lot of time working.

This will give more context and meaning to your brand and provide something extra fun for your clients to connect with besides office or studio branding photography.

3. Don't be afraid of colors

Focus on statement pieces you feel comfortable and confident in when working on your wardrobe selection. If you usually sport bold colors, select unique outfits representing your style. Loud colors are eye-catching for a client and make you stand out in personal branding photography.

As attention-getting and personality-showing bright colors can be, it's understandable that that style genre is not for everyone. If your closet palette is neutral, create outfits around those colors.

There are unique ways to make neutral color tones stand out. One way to do this is with monochrome outfits - matching shirts and bottoms in a similar color tone. This is a very eye-catching and fashion-savvy look.

You can leave your comfort zone and bring bold, neutral colors for your personal branding photoshoot. Work with a professional photographer to assemble the looks that are the best to photograph for personal branding photography.

4. Accessorize

In professional headshot photography, we do not recommend wearing any accessories. For personal branding photography, on the other hand, having your favorite accessories will speak more about your brand and describe your personality.

Think of what kind of accessories to include in your photo shoot. Items like your favorite scarf, statement earnings, or if you are a die-hard fan of a particular sports team - show it all off.

Don't forget that you can include your glasses in your branding shoot. Bring your favorite pairs to your personal branding sessions if you have multiple pairs.

Personal branding photography images are the ultimate tool for connecting with your dream client. Take full advantage and create a strong presence that has powerful images to go along with it.

5. Use Props That Highlight Your Personality Traits

Use props to sell the scene. What are your hobbies and interests? How will you capture and captivate your dream client's attention? Develop ideas for showcasing your hobbies to your ideal customers.

Bring in a variety of props to have options on the day of your branding shoot. Some ideas on the kind of props to bring for branding photography are:

Laptop - If you work on your computer, showcase that laptop in your branding session. Plus, it's a fun way to get your mind off being in front of the camera.
Headphones & microphone - This is a must if you are a podcaster or spend time meeting with your client online or over the phone. Setting up how you work in real life is an excellent example of how to showcase the behind-the-scenes of a podcast interview or online meetings with the client.
Stack of reading material - Bring in your favorite books if you love to read. It can make you look like an expert in your field and radiate confidence for potential customers. Think about the kind of books you want to include that define your person and evoke curiosity by bridging a connection to your branding photos.
Paintings or artifacts - Some of the clients we photograph have a high appreciation and love of art, and in each personal branding session they have with us, they subtly show their personality by styling the setting with their favorite art pieces in their branding photos.
Smaller props like a coffee mug, cell phone, or paperweight - If done tastefully, adding small details can create a warmer environment and show personality. Also, having a selection of close-up photos of the props on a flat lay can be used on your website, blog post, and social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Work with the photographer to show behind the scenes of the process. This is a fun tool to post on social media platforms to show your creative side to your client.

Personal branding photography is all about adding elements that make you unique and give your audience a personal approach to who you are.

6. Showcase your Personality in Brand Photos

No one wants to see stock photos of a business because that screams a lack of personality. That sends the wrong message to your client about the personal brand eliminating the personality aspect.

Personal branding photos don't mean anything unless you bring your personal touch of fun to the photo. This is an opportunity to get to the camera and sell yourself to your dream audience. Don't be afraid to be goofy in your personal branding photo. If you get anything out of this post, it's to show your personality in your images.

Whether you are a small business owner or are a big fish in the corporate world, we all have a human side that the client needs to see. Being generic and not thinking outside the box about showcasing your image and personality is a significant disadvantage to your business.

Mentally prepare yourself for your branding session so that you will have a good time and make the best of it. Both you and the photographer should have fun. That's why it is essential to find a photography studio that catches your attention through the images in their portfolio.

The branding photos in the portfolio should capture the business owner's personality. Validate your decision to select the proper photography studio by reviewing their favorable reviews from past clients and reviewing their images ahead of time.

Discuss ahead of time to incorporate a professional hair and makeup artist on set. You can change your image through different hairstyles and makeup depending on the type of outfit and backdrop you select for personal branding photography.

Fun tips for enjoying the experience are to be bold and switch up your looks from something safer and every day to something more striking with extra va-va-voom. Having the makeup and hair team onset will make the experience memorable and set a good vibe for branding photos.

7. The Right Facial Expressions

This is so important we are going to repeat the statement. It is ok to be goofy in your branding photos. Show your human side. Think of the type of profile photo that would catch your attention.

Having different facial expressions in your image selection is gold. Your brand will stand out from the mass-produced stock images your competitors have displayed on their websites and social media profile photos.

The WASIO faces team are expert on facial expressions. We coach our clients through the whole photography process. Be prepared to be thrown off your guard in front of the camera. Why? That's the best way to relax and not overthink the faces you are making.

A professional personal branding photographer has to wear many hats and have skills in more than one category in the professional photography genre. Dive deeper into a personal branding session and what is personal branding photography.