Headshot, Personal Branding, or Promo Shoot? Which One is Right for You?
When booking a photoshoot, it can be tricky to know exactly what type of session you need. Do you just need a quick headshot, or would a personal branding shoot be better? Or maybe you're wanting something more conceptual and creative, to really showcase what you do? In this post, I’ll break down the key differences between headshots, personal branding sessions, and promo shoots - so you can choose the perfect option for your needs.
Headshot Session: Simple, Professional & Polished
A headshot session is ideal if you need a clean, professional image for your portfolio, website, social media, or promotional materials. It’s typically a close-up shot (shoulders up) with a neutral or simple background, focusing on your expression, confidence, and personality.
Best for:
✔ Actors, musicians, and performers needing professional headshots for casting and portfolios
✔ Business professionals and entrepreneurs who need a polished LinkedIn or website photo
✔ Anyone looking for a fresh, high-quality portrait for social media or personal use
What’s included?
30-minute session
3 high-quality images
1 outfit
Natural or studio lighting
Simple indoor or outdoor background
Ideal if: You need a quick but professional portrait that makes a strong impression.
Personal Branding Session: Showcasing You & Your Brand
A personal branding session goes beyond a headshot by capturing a variety of images that represent you, your work, and your personality. These sessions help you tell your story visually, making them perfect for entrepreneurs, fitness trainers, creatives, and performers who need a mix of portraits, lifestyle shots, and action images to create a bank of content for their websites and social media.
Best for:
✔ Entrepreneurs, business owners, and creatives building a personal brand
✔ Fitness professionals and coaches who want lifestyle and action shots
✔ Musicians, authors, and artists looking for diverse promotional images
What’s included?
1-2 hour session (Mini or Full options)
10-30 images (depending on package)
2-3 outfits for variety
Mix of headshots, action shots, and environmental portraits
Indoor, outdoor, or a combination of locations
Lifestyle approach to showcase your personality
For an additional fee, these sessions can also include video, providing you a bank of clips you can use in your social media reels.
Ideal if: You need more than just a headshot—you need a full set of professional images that reflect your personality, brand, and work.
Promo Shoot: Bold, Creative & High-Impact
A promo shoot is designed for creatives, performers, and artists who need dramatic, striking images for their press kits, album covers, promotional materials, and social media. These shoots are often more conceptual and involve more complex lighting, styled setups, studio hire, and creative direction to capture something unique and high-impact. You may also want to get a stylist or makeup artist involved on the shoot!
Best for:
✔ Circus and cabaret performers or event companies needing bold promotional images
✔ Personal trainers, dancers, and fitness professionals looking for striking action shots
✔ Musicians, bands and DJs needing imagery for album covers, posters, press kits, and social media marketing
✔ Fashion designers, makeup artists and hairstylists in need of a creative lookbook to showcase their work
What’s included?
1.5 to 2-hour session
5 high-quality, heavily edited images
1-2 outfits
Natural light (outdoor) or studio lighting
More creative/artistic setups and locations
For an additional fee, these sessions can also include video, providing you a bank of clips you can use in your social media reels.
Ideal if: You need eye-catching, creative, high-impact images that stand out and make a statement.
Which Photoshoot is Right for You?
Still unsure which session suits you best? Here’s a quick guide:
You just need a clean, professional photo for work, auditions, or social media → Choose a Headshot Session
You need a mix of headshots, lifestyle images, and behind-the-scenes shots → Choose a Personal Branding Session
You’re a performer, artist, or creative needing bold and striking promotional images → Choose a Promo Shoot
If you’re thinking of booking a shoot, get in touch, and we can chat about what would work best for you!