Personal Branding Photography in Metro Detroit

Most people who book a branding session with us start the same way: “I hate having my picture taken.”

Susan told us it had been years since she’d had professional photos, and that she had no idea where to even begin. Courtney came in nervous because she never knows what to wear or how to pose. Paula expected it to feel stiff and posed.

That’s the normal starting point, and it’s the whole reason our sessions are built the way they are. You don’t need to know how to be photographed. That part is our job.

Headshots or branding photos — which one do you actually need?

These get used interchangeably, and they’re not the same thing.

A headshot is one strong image of you, usually cropped close, built to work as a profile picture. LinkedIn, your company’s team page, a conference bio, a real estate listing. If you need one great photo of your face and nothing else, that’s a headshot session.

Branding photography is a set of images that covers everything you publish. The headshot, yes — but also working shots, environmental portraits, detail images, verticals for stories and horizontals for a website banner. If you’re building a website, running social accounts, or pitching, you need range, not one photo.

The practical test: am I filling one slot, or feeding a content calendar? One slot means a headshot. Anything more means a branding session.

Not sure? Tell us what you’re trying to fill and we’ll tell you honestly which one you need.

What a session actually looks like

The thing our clients mention most isn’t the camera work. It’s that they didn’t have to organize anything.

One client put it exactly right in a survey: she booked on a “gut feeling with the comprehensive experience without having to coordinate everything.” That’s the design goal. You’re busy. Sourcing a makeup artist, finding a location, figuring out wardrobe, and coordinating three schedules is how a branding session stays on your to-do list for eight months.

So here’s how it works instead:

Before your session. We talk through what you’re building and where these images are going to live. Website, LinkedIn, a pitch deck, a media kit — the destination changes what we shoot. We’ll plan wardrobe with you (bring three to five options), talk through locations, and sort out anything you’re unsure about.

The day of. Hair and makeup are included and happen at our Rochester studio before we shoot. Then we photograph — studio, on location, or both. You’ll be guided the whole way. Every pose, every angle, every expression. Nobody expects you to know what to do with your hands.

Afterwards. You’ll come in for a viewing appointment to choose your images together. A note worth making clearly: this is where you select and purchase your images, so come ready to make decisions. Everything you choose is retouched properly, and we offer albums and wall art if you want the images somewhere other than a hard drive.

“I’m not photogenic”

You are. You’ve just never been directed.

This is the single most common thing we hear and the thing our clients talk about most afterwards. Not the gear, not the editing — the fact that they relaxed.

“I went into the shoot nervous because I never know what to wear or how to pose, but she instantly put me at ease and helped me every step. She genuinely listened to my insecurities and worked with me not around them, which made the entire experience comfortable and actually fun.”
— Courtney, branding headshots

“She has an incredible ability to make you feel instantly comfortable, guiding you just enough while letting your natural expressions shine through. Nothing felt posed or stiff — she captures moments that truly reflect who you are.”
— Paula B., branding and headshot session

“It took her only a few minutes to have me relaxed and actually enjoy being in front of a camera. The results were perfect! I’ve never said that about any photograph I’ve ever taken.”
— Susan Lauermann, branding session

If you’ve been putting this off because you don’t like photos of yourself, you’re not the exception here. You’re the typical client.

What to wear

The short version: bring three to five options, favor solid colors and good fit over anything trendy, and bring one thing you feel genuinely good in even if it seems too simple.

The long version is its own guide — we wrote What to Wear for Headshots & Branding Photos in Metro Detroit, including where to shop locally for it.

And if you’re stuck, ask us before you buy anything. We’d rather help you plan than have you spend on something that photographs badly.

Where we photograph

Our studio is in Downtown Rochester, which is the reliable option — controlled light, no weather, and hair and makeup happen in the same building.

On location works when the setting is part of the story: your own office or workspace, downtown Detroit for something urban and architectural, Birmingham for polish, a park or trail for something softer. We’ll scout what fits.

More detail on that in Where to Shoot Corporate Headshots in Metro Detroit.

Who books these sessions

Across the professionals we photograph, a few situations come up again and again:

• A career move. Leigh came to us for an updated headshot as she moved into real estate. New industry, new face to the market.
• Building or rebuilding a brand. Yana needed a full plan, not just photos — Jasmine ended up helping with her logo alongside the session.
• Photos that stopped matching reality. The headshot is six years old, or it’s cropped out of a wedding photo, and it no longer looks like the person clients meet.
• Teams. Consistent headshots across a group so the team page doesn’t look assembled from whatever people had.

“Jasmine truly listened to what I needed and was able to deliver even more than I expected. She went above and beyond in helping me from truly putting together a plan to helping me with the logo, which was vital for the branding photoshoot. She helped create a better logo than a professional did! Can’t recommend her enough for branding.”
— Yana S.

What’s included starting at $1290

• Professional hair and makeup at our Rochester studio
• Creative direction and wardrobe planning before the session
• Studio, on-location, or both
• Full posing and expression guidance throughout
• Expert retouching on every image you choose
• Album and wall art options if you want them
• Turnaround in 7-10 business days
• Common questions

How long does a branding session take?
Depends on your need but most people spend 2-4 hours at their branding session.

How many images do I get?
This entirely depends on your needs. Most branding professionals are purchasing 25 images or more so they have portraits for many years.

Can I get both headshots and branding images in one session?
Yes. Most branding sessions produce a strong headshot along the way — we’ll make sure we get it.

Do you photograph teams?
Yes, individually or as a group, at our studio or on-site at your office.

What if I don’t like being photographed?
That describes most of our branding clients before their session. You’ll be guided the entire time, and you’ll see images as we go so you’re never wondering how it’s going.

Do you serve outside Rochester?
We photograph throughout Metro Detroit — Oakland County, Macomb County, and Detroit.

Ready to book?

Tell us what you’re building and where the images need to go. We’ll handle the rest — the planning, the hair and makeup, the direction, all of it.

Reserve your branding session →