Salt Lake City Professional Headshots & Personal Branding Photos

Professional Headshots That Actually Look Like You | Salt Lake City Personal Branding Photography

I have a lot of friends who have somehow managed to avoid getting in front of my camera over the years. 😂

My friend Aly Hilbert was one of them!

I recently had the opportunity to photograph Aly as part of Jennifer Drummond's Somedays project, and it was the perfect excuse to finally make it happen.

Aly works at Renaissance Financial, and I absolutely loved the looks she brought to her session.

Every outfit was professional, but every single one was also SO her.

And that's exactly what I want people to think about when they're planning professional headshots!

Professional Headshots Don't Have to Be Boring

I think sometimes people hear the words "professional headshots" and immediately picture themselves in a black blazer standing in front of a gray background.

And there's absolutely a time and place for that!

But professional photos can look so different depending on who you are, what you do, and where you plan to use them.

Aly brought several different outfits to her session, including a gorgeous pink blazer, a more traditional navy suit, and a patterned blazer that worked beautifully for some closer portraits.

Each look gave us something different to work with.

Her navy suit was perfect for a more traditional business portrait. The pink blazer brought in a little more color and personality. And her patterned blazer gave us some beautiful, approachable headshots that still felt completely professional.

I love having that kind of variety in a gallery!

Your Personal Brand Is More Than Your Job Title

One of my favorite things about Aly's session was that she brought a golf dress.

Aly is also the president of the Salt Lake City chapter of LEGS (Ladies Executive Golf Society), and she wanted a photo she could use for that role.

I LOVED that she thought to include it!

When we talk about personal branding photography, we're really talking about how you want to represent yourself professionally.

And for a lot of people, that includes more than one role.

You might have your full-time career, serve on a nonprofit board, volunteer in your community, speak at events, or participate in professional organizations.

Those things are all part of your professional identity, too!

Aly needed images that made sense for her career in financial services, but she also needed something that represented her involvement with LEGS.

And we were able to do both in one session.

Now I just need to actually get out on the golf course with her one of these days. 😂

What to Wear for Professional Headshots

I get asked what to wear for headshots ALL the time.

And while I have plenty of recommendations, one of the first things I tell people is that they should wear something that feels like them.

If you never wear a blazer, you don't necessarily need to buy one just because you're having professional photos taken.

And if you love color, there's no reason every outfit needs to be black, navy, or gray.

Of course, your industry and how you plan to use the images matter.

For someone working in financial services, having a more traditional professional portrait is useful. But that doesn't mean every photo needs to look exactly the same.

For Aly, I loved the combination of her tailored business looks, her bright pink blazer, and her golf outfit.

She had options for different professional settings without losing her own style.

When you're planning your own headshot or brand session, I recommend thinking about where you'll actually use your photos.

Your LinkedIn profile might call for something different than your website bio, a speaking engagement, or an announcement for a professional organization.

And that's a great reason to bring more than one outfit!

Why I Love Lifestyle Headshots

One of the reasons I've shifted so much of my photography business toward lifestyle headshots and brand content is that I love giving people more options than a single traditional headshot.

I want my clients to have photos they can use for all kinds of things.

LinkedIn profiles, company websites, social media, professional bios, speaking engagements, and even the occasional golf organization!

I also love being able to photograph people in environments that feel a little more natural.

For Aly's session, we worked with several different backgrounds and settings, which gave her a really nice variety of images without needing a completely different location for every outfit.

Some photos were more formal, and others felt a little more relaxed.

But they all looked like Aly.

And that's exactly what I want from a personal branding session.

Salt Lake City Professional Headshots and Personal Branding Photography

I'm so glad Jennifer Drummond's Somedays project gave me the excuse to finally photograph Aly!

I loved getting to spend time with my friend, and I especially loved seeing how much personality she brought to a professional photo session.

If you're looking for updated professional headshots in Salt Lake City, Davis County, or anywhere along the Wasatch Front, I'd love to work with you!

Whether you need one great LinkedIn profile photo or a full collection of personal branding images for the different roles you have, we can plan a session that fits what you actually need.

And please don't feel like you have to leave your personality out of your professional photos!