When someone tells me they need new branding photos, there’s usually one thing at the top of their list: a really good headshot.
And YES. We absolutely need that photo. The one where you look professional, confident, approachable, and ready to put your face all over your website.
But here’s the thing. Your headshot is only one piece of the puzzle.
As a Denver branding photographer, I want you to walk away from your session with more than a handful of pretty pictures of yourself. I want you to have images that actually help people understand who you are, what you do, and what it might feel like to work with you.
That’s why I think about three different types of branding photos during every session.
The clean, professional headshot. The personality-filled lifestyle photo. And my personal favorite, the REAL you photo.
Let’s talk about why all three matter, using Jen Derse of Derse Dental Strategies as an example!
ONE | The Professional Headshot: The Photo That Introduces You
First things first, we need a REALLY good headshot.
I’m talking about the kind of photo you can confidently put on your website, LinkedIn profile, email signature, speaking bio, or anywhere else your business needs a face.
A strong professional headshot doesn’t need a lot happening in the background. In fact, I usually want the opposite. Clean composition, beautiful light, a great expression, and YOU.
For business owners, this image does an important job. It’s often one of the first things a potential client sees when they’re researching your business.
And people make quick judgments based on photographs.
A clear, approachable headshot helps someone put a face to your name. It also gives your brand a consistent, recognizable presence across different platforms.
During Jen’s branding session for Derse Dental Strategies, this was one of the images I wanted to make sure we created. A professional portrait she could use wherever she needed to show up as the face of her business.
But a headshot can only tell people so much.
It introduces you. Now we need to give people a better idea of who they’re actually meeting.
TWO | Lifestyle Branding Photos: The Ones That Show Your Personality
THIS is where we get to have some fun.
Lifestyle branding photography gives us room to show more of your personality. These are the photos where you might be laughing, talking, working, thinking, or interacting with something that relates to your business.
They feel a little less formal than a traditional headshot, but they’re still created with your brand in mind.
And they’re incredibly useful.
Think about the last time you visited someone’s business website or Instagram profile. Chances are, you weren’t only looking for their credentials. You were also trying to get a sense of the person behind the business.
Do they seem approachable? Would you feel comfortable working with them? Can you picture yourself having a conversation with this person?
That’s where lifestyle branding photos come in.
With Jen’s session, I wanted to create images that showed more than her professional side. Her expressions, energy, and personality deserved to be part of the gallery too.
A photograph of someone mid-laugh can communicate something completely different from a polished headshot. Neither is better than the other. They simply serve different purposes.
Where Can You Use Lifestyle Branding Photos?
These images are especially helpful for social media, website content, newsletters, blog posts, and marketing materials.
For example, a professional headshot might be perfect for your website’s About page. Meanwhile, a relaxed photo of you laughing could work beautifully alongside a social media post about your business, a personal story, or something you’re excited to share.
Having both gives you more flexibility when you’re creating content.
As someone who LOVES giving my clients options, that makes me very happy.
THREE | The Real You Photos: The Ones You Don’t Even Know I’m Taking
Okay, now we’re getting to my FAVORITE part.
These are the photographs that happen between the photographs.
Maybe you’re telling me a story. You might be laughing about something that happened earlier in the day or explaining something you’re really passionate about.
While you’re busy talking, I’m still photographing you.
Because sometimes the moment when you stop thinking about the camera is when I get to see the most natural version of you.
There’s something different about those images.
Your expressions aren’t being held for a photograph. You’re not wondering what to do with your hands or whether you’re standing correctly. You’re simply being yourself.
During branding sessions, I pay close attention to these moments because they can reveal parts of someone’s personality that don’t always come through in a traditional portrait.
Why Candid Branding Photography Matters
People want to know who they’re doing business with.
Of course, your experience, credentials, and the quality of your work matter. But the way you communicate and connect with people matters too.
Candid branding photos can help potential clients get a glimpse of that side of your business.
For someone like Jen, whose work through Derse Dental Strategies involves sharing her knowledge and working with others, those natural expressions add another dimension to her professional image.
They give her a way to show up online that feels a little more personal.
Here’s something I want every business owner to know: you don’t have to perform your personality for the camera.
You don’t need to suddenly become the loudest, funniest, most outgoing version of yourself just because you’re having branding photos taken.
I want the version of you that actually shows up when you’re comfortable.
That’s the person your clients are going to meet anyway.
Why Your Branding Photography Gallery Needs All Three
Here’s where everything comes together.
A great branding photo gallery isn’t about having 75 versions of the same headshot. It’s about having different images that can do different jobs for your business.
Think about it this way:
| TYPE OF BRANDING PHOTO | WHAT IT COMMUNICATES | WHERE YOU MIGHT USE IT |
| Professional Headshot | Who you are and your professional presence | LinkedIn, website bio, speaking engagements, email signature |
| Lifestyle Branding Photo | Your personality, energy, and approachable side | Instagram, website pages, newsletters, marketing campaigns |
| Candid, Real-You Photo | A more natural glimpse of the person behind the business | Storytelling posts, personal updates, About pages, social media |
Together, these images give you more ways to introduce yourself and communicate with your audience. That’s one of the biggest benefits of investing in professional branding photography rather than simply updating your headshot.
You’re creating a collection of images that supports how you show up in your business.
Your Branding Photos Should Reflect the Experience of Working With You
One thing I talk about often is that your brand is more than your logo, your colors, or even your face.
It’s also the experience people have when they work with you.
Are you the person who makes clients feel immediately comfortable? Do you bring a ton of energy into every meeting? Maybe you’re more thoughtful and quiet, with a way of making people feel heard.
Those things are part of your brand too.
While one photograph can’t communicate an entire client experience, a thoughtful collection of branding photos can help give people a sense of the person they’re going to work with.
That’s why I don’t want every business owner to have the same perfectly polished gallery.
Jen’s branding photos should feel like Jen. Your photos should feel like YOU.
The goal is to create images that support your business while still looking and feeling like the person behind it.
What to Expect During a Denver Branding Photography Session
If you’re wondering how we get all three types of branding photos into one session, don’t worry. You don’t need to arrive with a detailed shot list or a folder of 200 Pinterest poses.
We’ll talk through your business, where you plan to use your images, and what you want your branding photos to communicate.
From there, I’ll help guide the session so we create a good mix of professional portraits, relaxed lifestyle images, and natural moments.
Some photographs will be more intentionally posed. Others might happen while we’re talking or transitioning between setups.
I’ll give you direction when you need it, but I’m also going to leave room for your personality to show up naturally.
Because the goal isn’t to make you look like somebody else who happens to own a business.
It’s to create images that make sense for your business and the way you actually work.
Ready for Branding Photos That Show More Than Your Face?
If you’ve been using the same headshot for the last five years, or you’re realizing your website doesn’t really show much of the person behind your business, it might be time for an update.
Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, consultant, or creative professional, having a variety of branding photos makes it easier to show up consistently and confidently.
If you’re in the Denver area, I’d LOVE to help you create them.
We’ll get the clean, professional headshot. We’ll make room for personality. Ssomewhere in the middle of all that, I’ll probably capture a few of those moments you didn’t even realize were happening.
Learn more about Andrea Flanagan Photography and let’s plan a branding session that tells your story!
