written by Angelina Mitschke, Membership and Social Media Officer, photographer

Humans are visual creatures, and first impressions are often formed within seconds. This is especially true in today's digital age, where social media and online presence are part of our daily life and often crucial to business success. For a business owner or any professional really, headshots and or branding images can be a powerful tool to create a good first impression and establish a personal brand.

Benefits of Professional Headshots and Branding Images

Professional portraits can convey credibility and professionalism. They show that you take your business seriously and that you are willing to invest in yourself and your (personal) brand. A lot of times, people seem to use snapshots or phone pictures as their headshots. A professional headshot/branding image will make you stand out and set yourself apart. And even if your “competition” all are using good portraits, they can still serve as a visual reminder of you and your brand. Especially branding photos will help with consistent (personal) branding across multiple channels as they will be easily recognizable and form a “visual pattern.”

Difference Between Headshots and Branding Images

Now, what is the difference between headshots and branding images? Both terms are frequently used interchangeably and there is no exact line as to when an image is a headshot or branding image. As a rule of thumb a headshot is that a “shot of one’s head.” It is usually tightly cropped, showing the chest and up, and well-lit and in front of a solid colored background so that the focus is on your face. Headshots can be used in a variety of ways, including on websites to introduce team members, social media, business cards, email signatures, or guest blog posts.

Branding images you and your brand, and show more personality and character. They are not tied to a specific format like traditional headshots are and can include action shots, interactions with the product you sell, the tools you use, or maybe even include your clients. That type of picture is more engaging and a lot of times more casual. Branding images can be used on websites, and are especially suited for social media, print, and marketing purposes.

Things You Should Consider When Having Pictures Taken

If you are thinking about having headshots or branding image takes, there are some things you should consider.

Planning

Every photoshoot, no matter the genre, should be well-planned. Your photographer should be able to guide you through that process by asking the important questions and making you aware of things you need to do, prep or bring to the session. One thing you can think about before even talking to a photographer is how and where you want to use the images. Knowing and communicating this will ensure that the setup, formats, and composition will be suitable for those uses. For example, the brand colors are blue and grey but all the team members shown on the website have been photographed on a white background in the past. Knowing and telling your photographer that the white (not a grey or blue) background has been used before will ensure consistency on the website.

Set-up

For the set-up, the things to consider might slightly differ depending on whether you are planning on taking headshots or branding images. As the focus for headshots should be on you / your face, you will usually want to stay away from brightly colored or very busy backgrounds. For branding images, however, a bright orange background might be perfect because it is your brand color. The same goes for lighting. Headshots generally should be well-lit without any harsh shadows while your branding images could have that “edge” if it is in line with your brand. Props and poses really only come into play for branding photos. Think about what tools, products, or objects you use in your business or what things could showcase what you do. Posing usually falls somewhat naturally into place as a “fun personality” will not only be more comfortable with “fun poses” but also have that part incorporated into their business and vice versa. It is always a good idea, however, to look for examples or images that speak to you so you have something visual as a reference.

Clothes

Whether headshot or branding images, you should “dress for success” or as if you were to meet a new client. It should be authentic and fit to your brand but still thought through. Clothing for example is a great way to incorporate brand colors, especially in branding images but potentially in headshots as well – depending on the color and overall feel/mood of the brand. Generally, you should avoid busy patterns, large logos or prints, and the clothes should be well-fitted and without wrinkles. You also want to make sure that the color of the clothing won’t clash with the background colors. For headshots, you should wear little to no jewelry.

Make-up

For the best results, have a professional artist do your hair and make-up. Not only do they know all the tricks to get you camera-ready but they will also take some stress off your should and boost your confidence. Overall, the make-up and hair should be simple and professional. This is not the time to experiment with a new haircut or color or any new make-up techniques.

Some general tips

Be mindful of your posture
Practice your smile and expression in the mirror
Drink lots of water and get a good night’s rest before your session
Clean your glasses if you wear any
And have fun!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out: info@bigpixelcreations.com.

Headshot and Branding Pictures – Why and How