The Difference Between A Headshot And A Branding Photo Session.
Today image is everything and having our best self portrayed online is extremely important for your professional reputation.
Both headshots and branding photos are used by professionals and creatives to portray their likeness and personality. A professional headshot focuses on the individual, where as branding session will include headshots, they go further to encompass an entire brand’s identity.
So how do you decide which type of session is right for you?
Consider the purpose of your session. Are you the face of your business? Is it important for you to make a connection to your audience? Do you need a number of cohesive images to be used on your website, across marketing platforms, email campaigns and social media?
Then a branding session might be the solution for you.
WHY DO YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL IMAGES FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
A professional headshot might be right for you if you are looking for 1-2 images. Typically you use a headshot in a professional capacity on a “meet the team” page of a website, the signature line of your email, your professional social media profile pictures or even dating profiles. These images can be in-studio with a plain background or on-location with a lifestyle vibe. Headshots focus solely on you the individual and capture your personality. They are well lit photos of you looking at the camera. They are your first visual introduction to a client, allowing clients to put a face to your name.
Brand photos showcase you, your personality, your interests and what makes your brand/business unique. Brand photos tell a story to the audience you are trying to attract, so they see the real you, connect with you and want to work with you. They are typically more engaging and interesting than a standard headshot, as they are glimpses behind the scenes or into your life. They will include traditional headshots, lifestyle images, images of you in your workspace, illustrating your creative process, and working with clients. Branding sessions intentionally create a cohesive gallery of images that include your vibe, colors, tools of your trade, services you provide, and highlight your unique value proposition that sets you apart from others in your industry.
SESSION PREPARATION
I prepare my clients for headshot sessions by reviewing the basics of outfit choices as well as hair and makeup. I encourage my client’s to bring a couple of clothing options, so we have the options to flatter your body and create contrast in the picture
Branding sessions are customized to each business and therefore the pre-shoot preparation is in-depth, and requires much more planning. I spend time with you clearly to ensure your vision and ideas are communicated to me so your brand’s values, personality and purpose is accurately captured in the session. I have created tools to help you clearly communicate your brand’s narrative to me (who you are, what are your mission and values, as well as your ideal client). We work together to identify locations that will support your ideas and story, pick outfits that align with your brand’s style, and include props that showcase your products or services. We stay organized with detailed shot lists, and inspo images
SESSION LENGTH
My headshot sessions last approximately 30-40 minutes. We use one location, either in my home studio or at one location of the client’s choice. I photograph you at various angles and different poses to provide you options to choose from when selecting your favorites.
Brading sessions are much more involved. They last 2-3 hours, aim to capture you in multiple locations, showcasing your interests, products, services and stories that make you unique. Each scenario will offer the opportunity to capture many different poses.
NUMBER OF IMAGES
If you are looking for just a few great, well lit images (2-5) that convey your likeness and personality, a headshot session is for you.
A branding session, depending on your session package, may capture some key images to be used to build your website, marketing materials and client guides. A more comprehensive package could provide a bank of images to be used for months for social media posts, email campaigns, websites and blog posts.
INVESTMENT
The investment in a branding session is more substantial than that of a headshot session. Branding requires significant planning and preparation. The sessions are longer and result in a larger number of images than a traditional headshot session. While family photos also have larger galleries of images, those are for personal use, not for profit. Branding photos are used with the intention to increase your profit and build your business through marketing and promotional use. Therefore all branding sessions include commercial usage rights.
I hope this helps give some clarity to the differences between a headshot and a branding session.
I pride myself on preparing my clients prior to their sessions so they feel comfortable and confident when they get in front of the camera.
If you would like to start a conversation, just reach out!