Why Doing Branding & Headshot Photos are an Important Step to New Business Success

Congrats! You started your business, or maybe it is still just an idea that keeps you awake at night dreaming about the possibilities. Or, maybe you are an already established business needing rebranding or a change in your social media presence! As a business owner as well, trust me, I get it! I know your to-do list seems endless and the budget is likely thin, I know, I've been there too.

No matter what stage you are at in your business, adding a “professional branding and headshot photo session” should be at the top of your list. It is often a forgotten and overlooked step in the process. So let’s dive into why as a business owner, having a professional branding session is important. As a bonus tip for my fellow photographers out there, I want to share some fun ideas and poses for helping your clients rock their headshot and branding session.

The first reason that a professional headshot and branding session is important is because your images and headshots are usually your potential client’s first impression of you and your business. How many times have you been looking up a business and either their website wasn't great or the photos that popped up were iPhone selfies or low quality / you could barely tell what they looked like?I have done this countless times and the unfortunate reality is that it often causes me to look for other options and most people are similar! As humans, we like something pleasing to the eye and when looking to spend our money somewhere, we want it to be professional and look good!

Another reason that headshots and branding photography is important is that it gives a personality and face to your business. We are relational creatures and being able to put a face to a name or brand is key in creating that connection with your ideal clients and customers. When they feel drawn to you and create a connection with your image, they are more likely to use your services, purchase your products, and remember your business. 

Thirdly, taking the time and budget to invest in headshots and branding is important for content creation! Getting photos done professionally gives you postable content for your social media platforms, covers for videos, website images, and a face to put on your business card. When finding someone to take your pictures, I highly recommend finding someone who will help you get a wide variety of poses, vibes, outfits, and even locations. This gives you plenty of content and pictures to use and post for months and years in the future and it can all be done in one day!

Now that I told you why I really believe that headshots and branding photography sessions are a key step in business building, I want to touch on some of the ways I make my professional sessions stand out and give my clients a huge amount of content to work with. 

I’ve worked with all types of clients and businesses throughout my time doing photography from real estate agents, to health and wellness instructors, to boutique owners, and medical teams. Some sessions are individual and focused on one person as the sole business professional and others are whole teams. 

Let’s get started with some posing ideas. I have 4 favorite posing styles I like to include in my sessions:

Head On Classics

This sounds relatively easy right? Take a picture of someone face on. Well, it isn't as simple as just clicking a button on a camera. You want to make sure that your angles are current and give your client the best possible shot. Remember, they are paying you for your expertise! Usually they have no idea where to put their hands or where to stand. If they wanted a simple selfie or poorly edited portrait mode, they could have done that themselves! A simple go to headshot for females that I love is feet at a 45 degree angle away from me, one arm across abdomen holding onto their opposite elbow, slight knee bend, and whala! Magic!

Walking

Walking and motion shots are my absolute favorite because they loosen up the client and allow them to feel comfortable in front of the camera, at least ever so slightly. This is the prompt  I usually like to start with because it sets a very fun and casual vibe for the session that really captures the personality of the client. These photos also turn out as a happy medium of professional and client personality  and are often favorites among clients. 

Candids

I think candids are some of the most important images you can capture. These show the personality of your client as well as create amazing content for them. Catching them mid laugh creates one of the most authentic images they could ask for and truly lets their personality shine.

Storytelling

Another fantastic addition to this session is telling the story of your client’s brand through props, products, and routine.. What does your client do? What are they marketing? Show this and capture it beautifully. These images are key for their website to show their potential clients and customers what they do and what it looks like!

I hope that these tips for both clients, as well as photographers are helpful! If you are interested in booking your own branding or headshots session with me, you can reach out to me here. I’d love to hear from you and your vision about your brand!