Personal branding photos: what to plan for a session that works
Personal brand photos need more than a headshot. Learn how to plan a shot list that covers your website, social media and press.
Coaches, consultants, creators and business owners need a library of photos that show who they are and what they do. A single headshot is not enough.
Start with where the photos will go
List every place you will use them: website home and about pages, LinkedIn, Instagram, podcast covers, speaker bios, press kits. Each has different shapes and needs.
Build a shot list
- Classic headshot, horizontal and vertical
- Working shots: at a laptop, with clients, presenting, writing
- Details: hands, tools of your trade, products, notes
- Lifestyle: walking in the city, coffee, at a favorite café
- Images with negative space for text and quotes
Wardrobe and props
Bring two to four outfits that match your brand colors. Props should reflect your actual work.
Locations
Combine an office or home workspace with an outdoor location that reflects your personality, like Mérida’s Centro, a modern café or a hacienda.
Plan for a year of content
A half-day session can produce 60 to 100 edited images, enough for months of posts if planned carefully.
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