Personal Brand Photography vs. Headshots: What’s Best for Your Maine Business?

When it’s time to update business cards and email signatures, a lot of business owners open their search engines and type in “headshot photographers.”  

And of course, everyone needs a good headshot! But a headshot only shows a small part of who you are as a business. What most entrepreneurs need – whether they realize it or not – is a personal brand photographer.

In this blog post, I’ll break down the difference between personal brand photography and headshots so you can decide which option is best for you! 

What Is a Headshot?

• Definition: A headshot focuses entirely on the business owner, usually from the waist up.
  
• When it’s right: Headshots are great for corporate roles, job applications, team directories, and websites like LinkedIn.

I take headshots during personal brand shoots (they’re an entrepreneur must-have), but with a little twist! Instead of corporate-looking headshots, I love focusing on personality (though sometimes, you do need a classic headshot). Business owners are the heart of their businesses, so headshots need to show off what makes them unique!

What Is Personal Brand Photography?

• Definition: A full gallery of images that tell the story of your brand, showcase your personality, and highlight your work beyond just a single portrait.
  
• When it’s right: Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, creatives, coaches, and anyone marketing themselves online!

As a Maine brand photographer, my goal is to provide clients with an experience – I don’t just take a couple headshots and call it good! If you’re looking for a true luxury personal branding session, I designed The Brand Alchemy just for you! This experience is created for entrepreneurs who are ready to grow their business – whether you’ve had a brand shoot before or not. If you already have content, this will add fresh, next-level content and video to support your growth, launches, and visibility!

If you’re not ready for The Brand Alchemy experience, check out my Silver, Gold, & Quarterly personal brand photography packages to find the perfect fit for you and your business!

How to Choose the Right Fit for Your Business

If you’re not sure whether headshots or personal brand photography is the best fit for your business, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you only need one professional image or a gallery of on-brand content?
   
2. Will these images be used for a business profile or across your website, social media, and marketing materials?
   
3. Do you just need to showcase your face, or do you want to show your workspace, products, or personality in action?

If you’re still not sure, check out the chart below!

Why Maine Business Owners Are Upgrading from Headshot to Brand Photography

Let’s be honest: many Maine business owners simply don’t know that personal brand photography exists! But once they discover it, many come to understand just how powerful a gallery of on-brand content can be. 

Personal brand photography builds connection and trust with potential customers because they’re able to see not only the face behind the business, but the complete vibe of what you offer! It also makes marketing and content creation so much easier (and consistent!) because you have a full gallery of images to pull from. Who doesn’t love a streamlined process?!

Ready to Elevate Your Business Images? 

Headshots are important, but they don’t tell your whole story – that’s where personal brand photography comes in. By hiring a brand photographer, you’re signing up for a full gallery of on-brand images (including headshots!) that you can use on websites and social media, in email signatures and marketing, and so much more!

Oh, and if you’re in Maine, let’s chat! I’d love to pamper you with the luxury Brand Alchemy experience, designed especially for business owners who want a one-and-done, all-inclusive solution! 

If you want to do a little more research into personal brand photography before you commit, check out What Is Personal Brand Photography and Is It Worth It and 5 Reasons Why a Brand Shoot is the Best Investment for 2025!

Once you have your brand photos, make sure you put them to work! I’ve created this Brand Photo Checklist with 50 different ways to use your brand photos. 🤍