What to Expect When Booking a Personal Branding Photography Session

If you're building your business, growing your online presence, or just want to step up your professional image, personal branding photography is one of the smartest investments you can make. A strong set of branding images helps you stand out, connect with your audience, and present yourself in a polished, authentic way.

But if you've never booked a personal branding session before, you might be wondering: What actually happens? What should I expect?

Let’s break it down so you can go into your session feeling confident and prepared.

Step 1: The Pre-Session Communication

Every branding session I do starts with a plan. Well before I even pick up the camera, we’ll have a chat to map out your session. This is where we dig into the details:

• Your Brand & Goals – Who are you trying to reach? What message do you want your photos to convey? Do you need images for social media, your website, marketing materials, or all of the above?
• Shot List & Locations – Do you want polished studio portraits? Candid shots of you working in your element? A mix of both? The locations and backgrounds should match your brand’s personality. Whether it's a sleek indoor studio in S.E. Portland, a chic office vibe in the Pearl District, or a gritty urban backdrop like the metalsmith branding photos featured in this post, we’ll choose a setting that enhances your story.

• Wardrobe & Styling Guidance – Your clothing should reflect your brand, industry, and personality. I’ll help guide you on what works best on camera and also helps you tell your story. This can make or break a session, so we'll spend plenty of time on this aspect.

By the end of this consultation, you'll have a clear vision for your session, so there are no surprises on shoot day.

Step 2: The Day of the Shoot

On the day of your branding session, my job is to make the experience smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free. Here’s what you can expect:

Arrival & Warm-Up

I know that most people aren’t used to being in front of a camera for an extended period, so we’ll ease into things. I’ll walk you through some natural posing, and we’ll take some warm-up shots to get you comfortable.

Variety of Images

A great branding session gives you more than just a good headshot — it provides a collection of images that showcase your personality, expertise, and your business's personality. Expect a mix of:

• Professional Headshots and Portraits – Clean, approachable, and polished.
• Lifestyle & Candid Shots – More relaxed images of you in action, whether that’s working or engaging with clients at your business location.
• Detail & Branding Elements – Close-ups of action, workspaces, tools, or anything that tells the story of your business.

Wardrobe & Background Changes

To give you the most variety, I recommend bringing a couple of outfit changes. A quick jacket swap, rolling up sleeves, or adding a statement piece can shift the feel of your images without a full wardrobe change.

If we’re shooting in multiple locations, we’ll plan the order strategically so everything flows efficiently. A mix of indoor and outdoor photos can work great. For example, in this branding photo shoot we spent some time in my client's workshop to show her business's jewelry making process:

Step 3: After the Session – Editing & Delivery

After the shoot, I’ll go through and select the best images (no need to worry about blinking or awkward in-between shots—I take care of that for you!). Here’s what happens next:

Proofing Gallery

You’ll receive a proofing gallery where you can choose your favorite images. This ensures you get exactly what you want before final edits are applied.

Professional Retouching - Optional

While retouching is an optional service, I highly recommend it. If you go with retouching, here's what I do:

• Image toning and color correction
• Natural skin retouching and blemish removal
• Teeth whitening
• Under eye softening
• Other subtle enhancements
• Cropping

Final Delivery

Your final high-resolution images will be delivered in an easy-to-download online file hosting service like Dropbox. If you need specific sizes for LinkedIn or social media, I have you covered. I always deliver web-sized images as well.

Conclusion: Why a Personal Branding Session is Worth It

A personal branding photography session is more than just a headshot — it’s a way to tell your story and present yourself in a professional way. After a branding session, you’ll have a collection of photos that you can use across all your platforms, making sure you always look polished and professional.

If you’re in Portland and ready to take your branding to the next level, let’s chat! Whether you’re an entrepreneur, creative professional, or small business owner, I’d love to help create images that truly represent you and your business.

-Chris