If you’re planning a brand photo session — or just starting to realize your visuals need a refresh — it can feel overwhelming to figure out what photo and video you actually need.
The good news? You don’t need 100 different looks or props to show up professionally online.
In fact, most coaches, creatives, and service-based business owners really only need three types of brand visuals to cover everything from their website to Instagram to podcast guest spots.
Here’s what they are — and why they matter.
A Modern, Personality-Forward Headshot
Gone are the days of stiff, corporate-style headshots with crossed arms and blank backdrops. Your headshot should feel like a natural extension of your brand — polished, confident, and approachable.
Where you’ll use it:
- Website (About page, Contact page, Home page)
- Instagram bio
- Podcast guest graphics
- Media kits + press features
- Zoom profile
- Speaking or workshop materials
Pro tip:
Don’t stop at just one! A few variations — smiling, serious, looking at camera, looking away — give you flexibility across platforms.
Behind-the-Scenes or “In-Action” Shots
These are the scroll-stoppers. They’re the visuals that help your audience feel what it’s like to work with you.
Whether it’s you leading a client session, on a Zoom call, or putting together a meal — these images build trust and credibility by showing the real work behind your business.
Why it matters:
Your audience wants to see how you actually work. In-action photos offer social proof and help potential clients visualize what it’s like to work with you.
Where you’ll use them:
- Services pages
- Social posts (“what working with me feels like”)
- Email newsletters
- Sales pages or launch content
- Proposals or onboarding guides
Don’t forget video:
This is a great place to interject video: professionally shot B-roll (great for your website) or behind-the-scenes of your photo shoot. Video spices up your visuals and gives you so many other options than brand photos only.
Connection & Personality Visuals
These are the visuals that feel most like you. They might show you laughing, dancing, walking with your favorite drink (hello, video!), sitting in your favorite space, or simply relaxing between takes.
They bring warmth, authenticity, and personality to your brand — and they’re crucial for creative entrepreneurs and personal brands.
Why you need them:
People don’t just buy what you do — they buy into you. These visuals help you build the kind of connection that makes someone say, “She’s the one I want to work with.”
Remember to stay on brand…
If you’re a leadership coach and your clients are academics, photos of you dancing and drinking champagne in a gown probably won’t make sense. But they will if you’re a wedding planner! Personality visuals are a great place to inject your true personality and vibe to attract your ideal clients.
Where to use them:
- Social media
- Blog post graphics
- Email newsletters
- About page
- Lead magnets or digital downloads
TLDR — The 3 Brand Visuals You Really Need:
✅ Headshots that reflect your current vibe
✅ In-action shots that build credibility
✅ Personality-driven images that connect
When these 3 types of images are planned with intention, you’ll walk away from your brand session with a library you can pull from for months — and visuals that actually work for your business.
Need a refresh?
If you’re ready to update your visuals and want photos that actually feel like you, my Power Hour Sessions are designed to give you these exact types of images — with strategy built in.
One hour. One storyline. A gallery of images you can use across your entire brand.
