Branded Portraits with Kacie
One of the most frequently asked questions we get is,
“what is the difference between a branded photo/ portrait and a headshot?”
We’ve answered it in a blog post here if you need a thorough run through with examples, but if you’re cool with a quick explanation, continue ahead with this post.
In my thinking, a headshot has a pretty structured list of elements it adheres to:
traditional headshot crop containing from the chest of the subject, upwards
subject is looking at the camera
typically fairly diffused, even lighting
Alternatively, we consider a branded portrait to be less structured:
can be any crop; full body, waist up, close ups, creative framing, etc
subject can be looking at the camera or captured candidly
any posing is fine
any lighting
If you’re wondering what that looks like in practice, meet our client Kacie.
Kacie came to us needing updated portraits that felt professional but still true to her personality and style. Her session included both headshots and branded portraits, and we loved how she embraced the full process. Clients like Kacie are such a joy to photograph — she trusted our direction, was open to creative ideas, and showed up ready to collaborate.
To get the most out of her session, she booked hair and makeup, and brought in wardrobe stylist extraordinaire Paulina Padilla to help craft looks that were elevated yet approachable. That kind of preparation always makes a big difference — not just in how the photos look, but in how our clients feel during their session.
Scroll through to see some of Kacie’s final images — a mix of classic headshots and expressive, personality-filled portraits that tell the full story. Can you count how many headshots are in her gallery below based on the criteria above?
If you’re curious about what a session like this could look like for you, get in touch. We’d love to help you plan something that feels aligned and true to you.
