The Difference Between Professional Headshots and Brand Photos and How They Can Both Help Your Business

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between professional headshots and brand photos? Let’s talk about the two and how they can both be helpful in advertising for your business. 

Most people are familiar with the idea of a professional headshot. It typically features a person’s head and shoulders and is typically in front of a non-distracting background. Sometimes they are in front of an actual backdrop in a studio setting.

Other times it is outdoors in a park or in an office complex. It all just depends on a person or company’s style.

While there are benefits of having a classic headshot like this, there is a limitation in what you can communicate about your personality and your brand’s story.

Let’s look at this example of an online fitness coach. She runs a Facebook group where she posts daily workouts and keeps her group members motivated and focused on their fitness. She’s a mom and she’s doing this business not just for herself but to teach her boys the importance of an active lifestyle. She is consistently sharing with her clients the ways she incorporates her young sons in with her workouts, even when it turns into a crazy silly mess for all of them! But that’s something she couldn’t possibly have communicated through a classic headshot.

Another example is this web designer. He is unique from other web designers in that he still does a lot of his work with analog methods, despite the fact that he works in a tech-heavy industry. So we showcased him using his notebooks and post-it notes during his photo shoot since it’s something he’ll be able to connect with his clients about. Again, something that’s not communicated through a standard headshot.

In both instances, their customers were able to learn more about their personalities, more about how and why the run their business and how their businesses are different from their competition. 

That’s the power behind brand photos. 

There’s still an important time and place for the classic headshot. It’s important to make a good first impression on things like LinkedIn or Facebook. And it’s really helpful to use a consistent headshot across all of your social platforms as the consistency helps build brand trust.

So as you can see, both have an important place in your greater marketing plan.

I offer both headshots and brand photos to business owners and entrepreneurs in the Orlando, Florida area but I’m happy to travel worldwide. I can’t wait to work with you! Get in touch for a complimentary consultation so we can discuss the ways that custom photos that represent your brand can help you!