Headshot? Personal Branding? I can help!

Headshot vs Personal Branding…What’s the difference? Do I NEED these things?

Do I REALLY need a headshot? And what’s this Personal Branding stuff about?

I hear this all the time! And the short answer, is ….most likely, YES!

If you’re like me and in the Gen X era, or Baby Boomer era, you are probably more familiar with the term “headshot”. We know that actors and models used these things (which were typically printed) to advertise their services (well, mostly their faces). 

 Times have changed! While we occasionally do need a printed headhot for our business, we have advanced with technology, meaning so much of our professional lives and identities are less “in-person” and more online.  And while we may still use a headshot, we’ve moved more into Personal Branding.

So, what’s the difference? A headshot is exactly like it sounds. It’s an image usually from shoulders up, focusing on your face. I liken it to a passport photo, ID badge photo, or driver’s license photo…though those are far from professionally executed. A professional headshot will take things into consideration such as which colors and patterns will compliment your skin tone, your best angles, and will likely include professional hair and makeup. 

Personal branding can include headshots, but also includes ¾ length and full-body images to show you interacting inn your professional environment, whether it’s your clients, skill set, or products you create.  But a personal branding session does SO MUCH MORE.  Here are the top 10 reasons you might consider a personal branding session.

1.    Storytelling:  These images tell your story to your clients and tell their stories to other potential clients. See how cool that is? Images of you interacting with your client base tell a story without words that speaks directly to your audience.

2.    Social Media Presence:  It is critical that you are present on social media these days, as that’s how most clients and customers will search for you. Having professional images will speak volumes to your clients.

3.    Networking:  Professional branding photos will certainly help you remain memorable when you are attending events and conferences.

4.    Career Advancement:  If you’re looking to advance in your career, you are hopefully thinking of your online profile. A potential employer will be much more wow’d by a professional image instead of the cellphone selfie you might currently have.

5.    Set Yourself Apart:  I love the idea of community over competition, but having an edge over your competitors certainly doesn’t hurt! Professional branding photos will certainly help to level you up above competitors.

6.    Building Authority:  This is a great opportunity to build trust and authority with your clients and audience. Imagery combined with text can highlight your skillset, further positioning you as the expert that you are.

7.    Professional Imagery: Having professional branding images allows you to appear with your best foot forward across platforms such as your website, LinkedIn, social media sites, blogs, and your business cards along with other marketing materials.

8.    Keeping it Fresh:  A branding session gives you a multitude of looks, outfits, backgrounds, etc. so that you may change your images quarterly (or more often) to keep clients engaged as well as boost your SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which Google LOVES!

9.    Rebranding:  If you are in a season where you are rebranding or reinventing yourself, a branding session is an excellent way to provide concise messaging to your ideal audience. SHOW them the places you are headed!

10. Confidence:  Perhaps the best thing you obtain from a personal branding session is self-confidence. Not only do you hone in on the client-facing messages you want to convey, but you are showing it through imagery as well. You will feel so much more empowered knowing your brand presentation has been professionally crafted.

I recommend personal branding sessions for all sorts of people, all sorts of trades, so whether you are an executive, entrepreneur, small-business owner, or provide services in any capacity, your messaging and imagery is pivotal to keeping your portfolio updated and to engage with clients and other professionals.

Your photographer (even if it’s not me) should be narrowing in on colors, mission statements, your ideal client or customer, and the message you want to convey.