What Makes Great Branding Photos (And How to Actually Get Them for Yourself)
Here’s something I’ve learned over the years after photographing hundreds of entrepreneurs, founders, and creatives:
The best branding photos aren’t really about “looking professional.”
They’re about looking like yourself.
The version of you that shows up when you’re not bracing.
Not performing. Not thinking about the camera. Just you… present.
And when that happens, when someone relaxes into themselves, the whole frame changes.
Expression softens. Shoulders drop. Presence arrives.
That’s when the real photograph happens.
So, let’s talk about what actually makes incredible branding photos. And even more importantly, and how to get them for yourself.
Blog by Jama Finney. Portraits shot in digital medium format - #fujigfx100ii
1. They tell the real truth about your brand.
If you’ve been here for awhile, you know I talk about this a lot. Your audience isn’t looking for just a beautiful image. They’re looking for a sense of:
Who is she?
What’s she like?
Do I connect with her?
Can I trust her to guide me?
A great branding photo answers those questions quietly and confidently. No shouting, no trying too hard, no copying other images.
It just reveals what’s already true about you.
2. You stop looking uncomfortable the second you stop trying to “get it right.”
I’ve never had a client walk in saying, “I just freaking love being photographed, let’s go.” (If you do… we might need to build a shrine!)
And almost everyone arrives with the same concerns:
What if I look stiff? I forgot to paint my toenails. I look like my mom from that angle.
What if I make that weird face I make when I’m nervous?
So we start working.
I guide, we laugh.
I direct, we take up space.
Together we build the energy of the room.
And slowly, they stop trying to “pose” and start… interacting.
That’s the moment I’m always waiting for, the moment you actually show up in your photos. Pure BLISS. And it always happens, promise.
3. The best branding photos evolve with your business.
Brands are living things. To build momentum and longevity they have to shift, grow, clarify, expand.
If your photos don’t match the vision and vibe of today,
that disconnect creates drag in your presence, your confidence, and your marketing.
Your visuals should support where you’re going, not where you’ve been. Your next chapter deserves images that feel aligned, intentional, and elevated.
4. You need a photographer who guides you & not one who expects you to self-direct.
Branding photography isn’t about showing up and hoping for the best.
You need someone who understands YOUR expression, story, and strategy.
Someone who can see your strengths before you do.
Someone who makes space for you to step into your brand instead of playing a character.
That’s where the transformation happens.
Not in lighting or outfits (though of course both of those are key)… but in how comfortable you feel.
5. So, how do you actually get great branding photos?
Here’s the truth, getting branding photos you love doesn’t require being “photogenic” or confident. It requires a clear plan and space to be yourself. Here is how we make this happen:
Step 1: Get clear on the story your brand is stepping into.
Step 2: Build a wardrobe that reflects your presence and not only on trends.
Step 3: Choose a photography experience that mirrors your goals, in vision and personality.
Step 4: Let the session be collaborative, and allow yourself to be guided.
Step 5: Trust your presence! It’s more photogenic than you realize.
When your photos finally reflect your identity, not your insecurities, other people feel it too.
That’s what great branding photography actually does: it helps your audience see the real you… and choose you.
If your brand is evolving, your photos should evolve too.
I work with women who are stepping into new levels with clarity, new confidence, new chapters.
If that’s where you are right now…
January branding sessions are now booking.
Let’s create photos that feel aligned, elevated, and unmistakably you.
Q: What makes branding photos effective for growing a business?
A: Branding photos work when they reflect your personality, your message, and the direction your business is heading. The best images feel natural and honest and not posed and help people understand who you are and why they’d want to work with you.
Q: How do I prepare for a branding photoshoot?
A: Focus on clarity first: who you serve, what you offer, and how you want people to feel when they meet you online. Then choose outfits that feel like your best self, and work with a photographer who guides your expression and presence so you feel comfortable and confident.
Q: What should good branding photos communicate?
A: Great branding photos quietly answer three questions: Who are you? What do you do? Why should someone trust you? When your images reflect your confidence and clarity, they become powerful tools for marketing and connection.
Creative Credits
Locations: Loft Creative Studio, Dogmetology, The Retreat Ranch Texas, Louisville Thoroughbred Society
Hair and Makeup: Pam Butler with The Beauty Patrol
Client: Kristyna Zaharek, Dogmetology, Jonathan W, Native American Cultural Center
Photography: @jamafinneybrandphoto
