January 21, 2025
Your boss just told you that you needed a headshot. But let’s face it, traditional corporate headshots can be, well, boring. The stiff poses, plain backgrounds, and forced smiles do little to capture your personality or connect with your audience.
How ‘bout this, instead?
Let’s have you standing in the same suit, looking just as fabulous, but leaning forward in a chair with those beautiful geometric windows at the Central Calgary Library. (A fantastic spot for lifestyle headshots, by the way!)
Doesn’t that feel VERY different from a stiff headshot? It’s much more dynamic and approachable than you standing in front of a plain studio backdrop.
✨ Curious about booking a brand session for your business? Take a peek at my services right here!
Let’s face it, traditional headshots can be downright boring. Not only do they lack personality, but they can actually hinder your professional image, because they make you look unapproachable or outdated.
Think about it — a professional headshot is literally the same thing as your junior high school photo, but you’re playing dress-up. Do we really need yearbook vibes for grown-ups?
Traditional headshots often force you into unnatural poses and expressions, making you appear less genuine and personable… which is the opposite of what you’re trying to do, especially in the online space! You don’t have your sparkling, real-life personality to back it up here, so your photos need to do all the heavy lifting for you.
We can do better.
✨ Curious about booking brand photos for your business? Take a peek at my services right here!
The first question when someone approaches me is this — what are you using the photos for? Just telling me they’re for the website isn’t enough. Are they for your about page? An announcement? Something else entirely? Is there a reason beyond needing to physically show that you’re a part of this company? Usually, there is.
That’s when it comes to using your photos as tools rather than just another pretty picture. They serve a purpose.
Lifestyle photography is not just for beauty, fashion, or influencer brands.
Think about lawyers, financial advisors, or tech entrepreneurs. Even the most stuffy, buttoned-up industries (guys, I love you but you know exactly what I’m talking about) could stand to freshen things up a bit. Your photos should tell a visual story about your brand, helping your viewers understand the role or industry you’re in. More importantly, they should connect emotionally with your audience.
When we take lifestyle photos for your brand, we still use all the lovely lighting techniques that make you look strong and confident. But putting you in a real-world setting—an environment where people actually live and work—gives your audience a sense of who you are before they’ve read a single word of your content.
I recently had a client who is a financial advisor. She wanted to stand out from her competitors and establish a more personal connection with her clients. So, I had her bring her English bulldog for the shoot.
Bam.
Instant human.
When you’re creating a brand on the internet, you need that touch of humanity to build trust. You can sit here, ankles crossed, in a blazer and professional slacks.
There’s absolutely a context where this image works. But when it comes to standing out online, try this instead:
She got so much traction on these photos. People were commenting, “OMG, she’s so cute!” And you know what? Those comments turned into conversations. That’s the goal—engagement that leads to connection.
PS: If you do happen to be looking for a qualified financial advisor, I can’t recommend Brooke enough.
Question: What if I just have a website? I’m not necessarily trying to start conversations on social media.
Answer: STILL super important! You want to stand out in the sea of sameness — I mean, it’s bad out there. It’s so refreshing when you don’t look like every other financial planner, or (maker, or author, or business owner, or clothing designer, etc).
✨ Pssst… still not sure? Read this post to find out if you’re a Calgary business that could use brand photos. (The answer isn’t always yes!)
Question: I work for a bigger company / in network marketing and they provide my marketing materials for me. Still worth it?
Answer: This is when it’s the MOST worth it! 99+ percent of the folks working for these companies are using the stock photos provided by the company.This is your chance to create something unique and memorable.
Question: I’m not photogenic at all.
Answer: Let me stop you right there! A skilled photographer can fool EVEN YOU into thinking that you are photogenic! We’ll work together to find flattering angles and poses… plus, lighting is magical. That’s not a reason to avoid having your photo taken.
Question: How often should I update my headshots?
Answer: Every 2-3 years is a good rule of thumb… but really, whenever you have a big change in your appearance or your career. That way, people will actually recognize you when they see you!
The really great thing about there being so many corporate branding photographers in Calgary (or within driving distance) is that there’s someone for everybody.
The downside is that if your photographer doesn’t understand marketing or design – you’ll end up with whatever is trendy – and that’s all. When you’re choosing a photographer for your business, look for someone who not only creates beautiful work, but also really understands your brand and target audience. Ask to see their portfolio (or do some light creeping on their social media!) and read client reviews to make sure they can deliver results.
You might find a photographer who can take gorgeous images, but if those photos are not doing a job, that’s a lot of money to ask a small or mid sized business to spend on just a pretty picture. And honestly, that hurts my soul.
It’s not just about looking good. It’s about connecting with your audience.
✨ Curious about booking a brand session for your business? Take a peek at my services right here!
When we work together, we focus on the brand, first. That means:
1. Your brand story — We dive deep into your unique style and narrative to create images that reflect your actual personality (no staged laptop-gazing with a cup of coffee in hand here! Unless of course that works for your messaging…)
2. Human connection — We aim to capture your genuine self, and I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to make sure you look as friendly and approachable as possible.
3. Professionalism — Of course, you want to look professional. We’ll make sure that even when you’re having fun, you still come across as competent and credible.
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