Both headshots and brand photography feature people in professional settings, but they serve different purposes. Understanding the difference will help you choose the right investment for your business.

Technically speaking, a headshot is a close-up portrait focused on your face and shoulders. However, the term "headshot" has evolved — today, many photographers and clients use it more broadly to refer to any professional business portrait, which may include more of the body depending on the photographer's style and the client's preference.

Headshots are commonly used for:

• LinkedIn profiles
• Corporate websites and About Us pages
• Actor/talent portfolios
• Author websites
• Professional directories

The goal: Present a polished, recognizable version of you. It's focused, consistent, and says "I'm a professional."

What you get: This varies by photographer. Some include a set number of edited images in their session fee; others charge per image or offer à la carte pricing. Always confirm deliverables and pricing directly with your photographer before booking.

The vibe: Consistent, professional, and reliable. You want people to recognize you in real life and feel like they know what to expect.

Brand photography is a broader category that encompasses two distinct styles — personal branding and commercial brand photography — and understanding which one fits your needs makes all the difference.

Personal Branding Photography

Personal branding is typically focused on one to three people, often with one primary subject. Think of a realtor who leads a small team, a coach, a consultant, or a solo entrepreneur — someone whose personality is the brand.

What makes personal branding photography unique is that it goes beyond just the professional. It's an opportunity to connect with your audience on a human level by weaving in the real details of your life and personality alongside the business side of things. A shoot might include:

• Working in your office or a meaningful workspace
• Behind-the-scenes of your day-to-day work
• Collaborating with a colleague or team member
• Your favorite coffee shop or local restaurant
• A moment with your spouse, kids, or close friends
• A hobby or passion — bike riding, cooking, hiking, reading
• Behind-the-scenes glimpses of your daily routine

These personal touches help potential clients feel like they already know you before they ever reach out — and that's a powerful thing.

Commercial Brand Photography

Commercial brand photography typically involves four or more people and takes a more structured, corporate approach. It's ideal for larger teams, established companies, or businesses where multiple people need to be featured and a variety of scenes and settings need to be captured. The focus is more on the brand as a whole rather than any one individual's personal story, though a key leader may still be featured prominently.

Both types might include:

• Team members in your office or workspace
• Interactions with clients or colleagues
• Products or services in action
• Moments that reflect your business culture

The goal: Communicate who you are as a business — and as a person, if it's a personal brand. Build trust and connection with potential clients before they ever meet you.

What you get: A wide variety of edited images showing different aspects of your business, people, and environment — different scenes, lighting, and interactions. Quantities and pricing vary by photographer.

The vibe: Authentic, varied, and strategic. These photos tell the story of your business, and for personal brands, snippets of you personally — your life, your personality, your world.

Everyone — regardless of your business, industry, or career stage.

No matter what you do, you'll need at least one or two professional headshots. They show up everywhere: your social media profiles, LinkedIn, your website's About Us page, email signatures, speaking bios, and more. These are the places people look you up — and what they find shapes their first impression of you.

If you're just getting started in business and aren't yet ready to invest in a full branding session, that's completely okay — but at a minimum, get professional headshots. They are the most essential, most versatile professional image you can have, and they're the foundation everything else builds on.

Every business with a website and online presence benefits from brand photography. If you want to take things to the next level — if you want potential clients to take you seriously as the professional you want to be seen as — this investment helps tell your story, build connection, and set you apart long before anyone picks up the phone.

Why? Generic stock photos don't work anymore. Real photos of your business, your team, and your space help you:

• Stand out from competitors using cookie-cutter imagery
• Build trust by showing real people, not models
• Create recognition so potential clients feel like they know you before they even call
• Tell your story in a way that words alone can't

Brand photography isn't limited to any one type of business. If you work with people and want them to trust you, it's relevant. That includes (but is certainly not limited to):

• Attorneys, physicians, therapists, and healthcare providers
• Financial advisors and wealth management professionals
• Realtors, mortgage brokers, and insurance agents
• Coaches, consultants, and agency owners
• Acupuncturists, chiropractors, and wellness professionals
• Hair stylists, makeup artists, and beauty professionals
• Photographers, videographers, and other creatives
• Local business owners of all kinds

If you serve clients and want to be taken seriously as a professional, brand photography belongs in your marketing toolkit.

It can be tempting to use a photo snapped on your phone — it's free, it's convenient, and phone cameras have come a long way. But resist the urge when it comes to your professional images.

Camera phone photos used as headshots or profile images can undermine the impression you're trying to make. They signal that you're not willing to invest in your business or take it seriously — and that perception can cost you clients before you've even had a conversation. The lighting, the quality, the composition, and the overall polish of a professional image simply cannot be replicated with a selfie or a snapshot.

The goal of professional photography is to help people see you the way you want to be seen. Using a phone photo works against that goal.

A note on social media: Camera phone images can be acceptable for casual social media posts, depending on your content strategy — behind-the-scenes moments, stories, and candid content can feel authentic and relatable. However, even there, professional images are preferred wherever possible and will always make a stronger impression.

Headshots are standardized. The photographer uses similar lighting, backgrounds, and poses for consistency. Your LinkedIn photo should look like you but professional and polished.

Brand photography is strategic and custom. The photographer works with you to understand your business goals, audience, and brand personality, then captures images that reflect those values. It's not about looking a certain way — it's about showing who you are.

For brand photography, the creative and their team are typically more strategic in their approach, really bringing out key differences in your business's brand through thoughtful styling, location choices, posing, and interactions.

The good news: you don't need two separate sessions to get both. Most photographers who specialize in brand photography build headshots into the shoot — so you walk away with polished, professional portraits and a full library of brand imagery, all in one session.

A well-executed brand session will give you plenty of close-up portraits alongside more contextual, environmental shots. Any image where your face is clearly visible can serve as a headshot — whether that's a clean studio-style portrait or a natural shot of you at your desk. Which ones you use for LinkedIn vs. your website vs. social media is a matter of personal preference and strategy. Some people prefer the classic, clean headshot for LinkedIn; others find that a more natural, in-context image communicates their personality better. Either can work, and having both gives you options.

If you're just starting out and working within a budget, begin with professional headshots. They're the most essential image you can have and will immediately serve you across LinkedIn, your website, and anywhere you show up professionally.

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