If you're a female entrepreneur building your online presence, you've probably heard both terms thrown around: brand photography and headshots. And if you're wondering whether they're the same thing (spoiler: they're not), you're not alone. This is one of the most common questions I get asked at Eyes of Love Photography.

Let me break it down for you.

What Are Headshots?

Headshots are exactly what they sound like: professional photos of your head and shoulders, usually against a simple background. They're designed to show your face clearly and professionally.

Headshots are perfect for:

LinkedIn profiles
Email signatures
Speaker bios
About pages
Media kits

A great headshot answers one question: "What do you look like?" It puts a face to your name in a polished, approachable way. You'll typically walk away with one or two strong images, and honestly, that's often all you need for these specific purposes.

Think of headshots as your professional "hello" to the world.

*Headshot of Anna Hutchins, captured by Eyes of Love Photography*

What Is Brand Photography?

Personal branding photography is an entirely different experience. It's not just about capturing your face. It's about capturing your essence, your story, and the feeling of what it's like to work with you.

Brand photography is about storytelling. It invites your ideal clients to connect with you and learn about your values, how you work, and even insights into your personal life and interests.

During a brand photography session, we're creating a complete visual library for your business. This means multiple outfits, various locations, lifestyle shots, detail shots, and images that showcase you doing what you do best.

The Key Question I Ask My Clients

"If I were your client, what would you recommend that I do?"

This is where the magic happens. Your personal brand photography should show your expertise in action.

For example:

Nutritionist: You might recommend eating protein with every meal. We'd capture images of you prepping food in a kitchen, creating smoothies, or arranging a balanced plate.
Accountant: You might recommend reviewing finances quarterly. We'd photograph you at your desk with spreadsheets, having client consultations, or working through financial planning documents.
Graphic Designer: You might recommend consistent branding across all platforms. We'd capture you at your computer designing, reviewing colour palettes, working with a mood board, or collaborating with clients.

See the difference? Brand photography tells the story of what it's actually like to work with you.

Personal branding images of Lillie of Studio LaLuna, captured by Eyes of Love Photography

So do I need headshots or a personal branding shoot?

Go With Headshots If:

You're a professional who just needs the basic - a LinkedIn photo, an ‘about me’ photo for a services page on your website or business card imagey. You’re not the face of your brand and therefore, you’re now actively showing up on socials or featured heavily in your marketing collateral or emails.

A Personal Branding Shoot Is a Great Investment If:

You want to show up online consistently and make being visible easy. You're building a library of content that feels effortless. Photos that align perfectly with your messaging, your values and your intention to invite your dream clients into your world.

Brand photography is for you if:

You're populating an entire website with imagery
You're creating marketing collateral
You're posting to social media multiple times per week
You're the face of your business and showing up is part of your strategy

Here's the thing: you need a library of images ready to go that align perfectly with your messaging. We discuss this extensively in the planning phase. What are you launching? What's your brand aesthetic? What story are you telling? What platforms are you using?

Then we create imagery that actually works for your business; not just pretty photos, but strategic content you can use across all touchpoints of your business.

Honestly? Most female entrepreneurs I work with need brand photography. One headshot just doesn't cut it when you're trying to build connection and trust online.

Ready to Create Your Visual Library?

I work with female entrepreneurs across Australia who are ready to show up boldly and consistently.

Explore my packages:

Brand Kick-Starter ($795 + GST) Perfect for professionals stepping into the spotlight. One hour, one location, 10 polished images. Quality imagery that connects, resonates, and makes you feel proud to share.
Brand Refresh ($1,495 + GST) You've been making magic for a while and want to shake things up. Two hours across multiple locations with multiple outfits gives you 30 professionally retouched images. Fresh content that honours your growth and aligns with where you're headed next.
Brand Deluxe ($2,595 + GST) You're established, visible, and ready for imagery that matches the influence you hold. Three hours creating your complete visual library: 50 retouched images plus 150 social ready images. We deep dive into your brand direction, map your launches, and create with intention. Every image is planned with purpose and aligned to your next chapter.

Or get in touch and let's chat about what you need. I'd love to help you create imagery that makes showing up online feel effortless.

Book your Photoshoot

Michelle Swan is a personal branding photographer working with entrepreneurs across Australia. Based on the Gold Coast, she regularly welcomes clients from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and internationally. Her work has appeared on New York billboards and Hay House book covers, and she specialises in natural light portraits that help business owners show up confidently online.

Brand Photography vs Headshots: What's the Difference?