In a nutshell, the purpose of a headshot is to capture a clear and professional image of you to show people what you look like. They are generally only taken of the face and upper body. They're mainly used for profile pictures, About Me web pages and email signatures.

Headshot photography sessions are generally shorter in duration and you usually only need a handful of photos.

WHAT ARE PERSONAL BRANDING IMAGES? 

Personal branding shoots, on the other hand, are photoshoots that are designed to help you build and promote your personal brand. These shoots go beyond just capturing your face and rather aim to showcase the entire personality of your brand and business. I consider them more 'lifestylish' images (it's a phrase in my world haha) where we share more of your personality, capture you in action and behind the scenes, and sometimes even show other aspects of your life that contribute to the overall story of who you are. Personal branding shoots are typically taken on location, and may include a variety of different outfits, props, and settings.

WHAT ARE THE KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HEADSHOTS AND BRANDING IMAGES?

PURPOSE

The main difference between headshots and personal branding shoots is the purpose and focus of the photoshoot. While headshots focus on capturing a clear and professional image of your face, personal branding shoots focus on showcasing your personal brand and telling your story.

LOCATION

Another key difference between headshots and personal branding shoots is the location of the photoshoot. Headshots are typically taken in a studio setting, while personal branding shoots are taken on location or across multiple spaces. They may also include a variety of different outfits, props, and settings.

IMAGES

The final difference between headshots and personal branding shoots is the type of images that are produced. Headshots typically produce a single, tightly cropped, clear and professional image of your face and body. While personal branding shoots produce a larger variety of images that showcase different aspects of your personal brand.

IN SUMMARY

Both headshots and personal branding shoots are important for different reasons. In the end, it comes down to what you're looking to achieve. If you just want a couple of images to help can increase your level of expertise and professionalism, go for a headshot. But if you are wanting to build and promote your personal brand with a variety of images to share your personality, then a personal branding shoot is probably the way to go.

P.S. Of course at the end of the day, there can be a cross over, there are no hard and fast rules to what you can have for a headshot image. My aim here was to explain the difference because it can be a grey area and can get confusing if it's something you've not encountered before.