What Is The Difference Between Headshots and Branding Photos?

So glad you asked! There’s a time and a place for both; let’s dive into the differences between headshots and branding photos.

Headshots

Almost all of us can clock a headshot when we see one, but for the sake of this post, humor us. A headshot is a photo of a person with a tight crop, usually from the chest up, usually showing a clear view of your face looking at the camera. Typically shot in a studio space with flattering and even light, in front of a non-distracting backdrop. No bells and whistles, just a clear photo of the face behind the business.

Consider these your ‘trading card’ when it comes to networking your job. You’ll use these on your website, when writing articles, as the literal face of your business when representing your brand.

While most of our clients come to us for branded photos which you can read about below, we always recommend that we capture at least one solid headshot during our time together because they’re a small, yet necessary, element of your brand.

Branded Photos

Now into the guts of this post: the branded photo. These can be defined slightly differently depending on who you’re talking to, so I’ll define what a branded photo session means coming from us, your friendly neighborhood brand photographer.

A branded photo can include a subject’s face, or not. If a brand photo does include your face, you can have a more candid appearance, and include more of your body than the average headshot. You could be in a work setting, a studio setting, or anyplace that could be on-brand for you. Lighting could be more creative or less traditional, and posing could be more relaxed. if a branded photo does not include your face, it can include your hands completing a task, your back turned towards the camera as you work on something, or any shot relating to the process of doing your job.

The goal of a brand session is to communicate what you do, to your audience viewing the brand photos. That being said, now let’s talk about…

The Similarities

Headshots and brand photos have a similar goal: to build trust with your audience. When they see photos of your face or of you doing the work for your brand that they may potentially invest in, most people want to know who they’re connecting with. It is so simple.

If you’re missing a key ingredient to legitimizing your brand by having professional brand photography, or simply need updated professional imagery, it makes a world of a difference with how your brand is perceived.