What to Expect at a Personal Branding Photo Shoot in Austin
Updated: 5 days ago
Most of the founders and executives I work with have never done a personal branding shoot before. They know they need better photos for the website or LinkedIn, but they aren't sure what the day looks like or how to prepare.
I've been behind the camera for over 30 years, and I've photographed a lot of Austin business owners, consultants and practice owners. The sessions that go best are planned well before anyone steps in front of the camera. This is what to expect, start to finish.
It starts with a planning call
Before we pick a date, we talk. The first question I ask is simple: where will these images live?
Your answer shapes everything else. A few common ones:
Your website. Home page banners, an about page, service pages.
LinkedIn. A profile photo plus images for posts and articles.
Speaking. Headshots for event organizers and photos that look good on a program or a slide.
Proposals and pitch decks. Clean, confident images that sit next to your company name.
If you already have a website designer or marketing lead, bring them into this conversation. They often know exactly which sizes and crops they need, and that saves us time later.
We build a shot list together
Once I know where the images are going, we turn that into a shot list. This is a short, practical document, and it keeps the day focused.
A typical list for a consultant or founder might include a classic headshot, a few photos at a desk or laptop, a conversation shot with a colleague or client, close-ups of your hands on your tools, and a few wide frames.
Those wide frames matter more than most people expect. Web designers love an image with open space on one side, because it gives them room to place a headline or a button. I plan for that on purpose.
Choosing the location
You have a few good options, and each one tells a slightly different story.
My studio. Controlled lighting, clean backgrounds and no distractions. This works well for headshots and polished portraits.
Your office or practice. Shooting where you work shows clients what it's like to walk through your door. For law firms, clinics and med spas, this is often the most useful choice.
A spot around Austin. A downtown street, a coffee shop or a building with good architecture can add some local character.
Plenty of clients do a mix, starting in the studio for headshots and then moving to their office for working shots. Travel within about 25 miles of my Austin studio is included, so most locations around town are easy.
Wardrobe and props tied to your work
Wear what your clients see you in on a normal workday, just pressed and polished. If you meet clients in a blazer, wear the blazer. If your team knows you in a branded polo, bring that too.
Plan on a couple of outfits for a branding session. Solid colors and simple textures photograph best. Bring options and we'll decide together on set.
Props should come from your actual work. A financial advisor might bring a notebook and a favorite pen. A dentist might use the operatory and a few instruments. A founder might have a product, a laptop with the company site open, or a whiteboard sketch. These small details make the photos clearly about your business.
My Session Preparation page goes deeper on wardrobe and what to bring. If you're curious about having your hair and makeup done that day, ask me about hair and makeup options.
What happens on shoot day
A branding session usually runs one to two hours. My assistant and I set up the lighting before you arrive, so we can start as soon as you're ready.
You see your photos as we go
My camera is connected to a monitor on set, so each image appears on screen a moment after I take it. You can look over my shoulder whenever you like.
That keeps the session moving. When you see an angle you love, we do more of it. When something feels off, we adjust on the spot. Nobody leaves wondering how it turned out.
I direct you the whole way
Feeling awkward in front of a camera is normal, and helping you past it is my job.
I'll tell you where to stand, where to put your hands and when to shift your weight. For working shots, I'll give you something real to do, like walking me through a project or explaining a process to a colleague. People relax when they talk about their work, and it shows in the photos.
A mix of images
By the end of the session, we'll have a variety you can use in many places:
Headshots for LinkedIn, speaker bios and your about page
Working shots that show you in action with clients, at your desk or with your team
Detail shots of hands, tools, products and your space
Wide frames with room for text, built for website banners and social graphics
After the shoot
Your gallery. You receive an online gallery of edited images within two business days after the session. Every image is professionally edited for color, exposure and contrast so the set looks consistent.
Retouching, if you want it. Once you've looked through your gallery, you can choose images for detailed retouching. This is an optional paid add-on that covers things like flyaway hairs, skin and finer detail work. You decide after you see the photos, so there's no pressure to commit up front.
Download window. Your gallery stays available to download for 90 days. Save everything to your own drive or cloud storage early, and share the files with your designer or marketing team.
How to use your images over the year
A good branding session should keep working for you long after shoot day. A simple way to spread the images out:
Update the big pieces first. Swap in your new headshot on LinkedIn, your website and your email signature.
Refresh your website. Use the wide frames for banners and the working shots on your service and about pages.
Build a small library for posts. Pull one or two images a week for LinkedIn or Instagram so your feed shows real moments from your business.
Keep a folder for proposals and speaking. When an event organizer or a prospective client asks for a photo, you'll have one ready.
Note the gaps. As the year goes on, you'll notice what's missing. Maybe a new hire, a new office or a new service. That list becomes the plan for your next session.
If you're mainly after a headshot, my Professional Headshots page covers that session in more detail. For the full branding experience, see Personal Branding.
If you run your own company, my business owner and entrepreneur photography page shows how I plan sessions around your business.
Need fresh images every month?
Some businesses go through photos fast. If you post often, add team members or launch new services regularly, take a look at my Monthly Retainers. We agree on a monthly scope of photography, so your images keep up as your business changes.
Thinking about a personal branding shoot? Reach out through my contact page and tell me where the photos will be used. That first answer is where every good session starts.
