What Makes a Branding Session Different from Standard Headshots?

When most people think about professional photos, the first thing that comes to mind is a headshot—a clean, polished image often used for LinkedIn profiles, resumes, or company websites.

Headshots are important, but if you’re building a personal brand, running a business, or connecting with clients online, you need more than just one great photo. That’s where a branding session comes in.

A branding session goes beyond a single professional headshot—it helps tell your story, highlights your personality, and communicates the values of your brand. It’s about capturing authenticity and approachable confidence so your audience feels an instant connection.

So, what really sets a branding session apart from standard headshots? Let me walk you through my process.

Planning Outfits with Intention

For a headshot, you may just need one outfit that looks polished and professional.

A branding session, on the other hand, involves planning multiple looks that reflect different aspects of your personality and business.

I guide my clients through outfit choices to ensure we have variety while staying consistent with their brand colors and overall aesthetic. Think of it as creating a visual representation for your brand: polished yet approachable, professional yet true to who you are.

Location Scouting That Matches Your Brand

Headshots are often taken in a studio or office setting with a simple background. With a branding session, the environment is just as important as your wardrobe.

I help figure out the best locations for you that align with your business and messaging—whether it’s a modern office, a cozy coffee shop, or an outdoor setting with natural light or the studio. These spaces set the tone and add depth to your story, making your images feel authentic and relatable.

Capturing Personality + Professionalism

For headshots, expression is also important, but there’s typically less variety in posing.

Branding sessions allow us to show the many sides of you—your approachable smile, your focused “at work” look, through different expressions and poses.

I encourage and guide natural movement and genuine expression throughout the session so the images feel real, not staged.

The goal is to highlight your personality while still keeping professionalism front and center.

Authenticity and Approachability at the Core

Your audience doesn’t just want to know what you look like—they want to know who you are. A branding session captures authentic moments that show your confidence and your expertise and what it’s like to work with you.

These are the images you’ll use across your website, social media, newsletters, and marketing materials. Instead of blending in, your brand presence stands out with consistency, clarity, and personality.

Branding Sessions Tell Your Story

Recently, I worked with Kaylee and Hailey of Golden Haus Realty Group to create a library of images for their brand/business. Together, we planned a branding session that included multiple outfit changes and chose a location that perfectly matched their modern, approachable style and the values of their real estate brand.

And guess what? It’s so easy to also capture headshots during your branding session! And that’s just what we did for Kaylee and Hailey.

While standard headshots are absolutely essential, branding sessions are a way to truly uplevel your business and personal brand. They provide a complete visual library of images you can use across platforms to create trust, connection, and recognition.

If you’re ready to move beyond the standard headshot and step into a visual story that truly represents who you are, a branding session may be exactly what you need.