You’ve Outgrown the Headshots. Let’s Capture the Leader You Are Now. The Power of Personal Brand Photography

Your photos are often the first time someone experiences you. Learn how to prepare for brand photography that reflects your leadership presence, not a persona.

"How you are experienced matters."

"You cannot outsource presence."

"When you feel like you, you lead like you."

"Your photos are often the first time someone experiences you."

"Presence is built, not born. Your images are one of the fastest ways to build it with intention."

If you want a magnetic personal brand and an authentic leadership presence, your images are not a nice-to-have. They are part of how you lead.

How you are experienced matters.

You cannot outsource presence.

Your photos are often the first time someone experiences you.

This is why photography sits within what I call the DEFINE phase of my 3D Impact Framework™—it's where your leadership identity becomes visible. Your images are part of your visual identity, and visual identity is part of how people experience you before you ever say a word.

In this episode of the Style and Strategy podcast, I sat down with Jen Taylor of Vividity Photography, a portrait and brand photographer who has spent more than 20 years photographing women and helping them see themselves with fresh eyes.

What she does is not about perfect poses or "pretty pictures". It is about being seen truthfully and allowing that truth to support how you lead, sell, and show up.

Watch the Episode

This blog post is based on a podcast episode where Jen and I walk through everything from preparing for a shoot, to what great photographers actually look for, to why so many brand photos look the same.

In this post, I walk you through the key insights from our conversation and add my own lens as a leadership presence and style strategist, so you can:

Understand what powerful photography really is
Stop postponing your shoot and start using imagery strategically
Prepare for a shoot in a way that feels grounded, not staged
Use photos as a tool to support your presence

Presence is built, not born. Your images are one of the fastest ways to build it with intention.

Meet Jen Taylor: The Photographer Women Trust With Their Image

I first found Jen when I was looking for someone I could trust with my own photos. She described her work as "more than taking pretty pictures", and that line stopped me.

Jen is:

A professional photographer who specialises in women
A writer, teacher, and ex-academic
Someone who holds space for women to see the parts of themselves they were taught to hide

She has spent the last two decades creating portraits for women that reflect beauty, power, and the spirit of the girl they once were.

All the things society tells women to tone down or tuck away, she invites to the surface.

Most of her clients walk into the studio overwhelmed at the idea of a photo shoot that is just for them. No kids, no partner, no dog. Just them.

They leave with a big hug and a feeling of lightness and surprise that I know very well.

As Jen puts it:

"On the surface, it looks like pretty pictures. Hair and makeup, posing, all the fluffy stuff. But there is something deeper that happens in that space. It is a reconnection, a reuniting with yourself."

That is exactly what I want for every woman who works on her leadership presence and style with me. When you feel like you, you lead like you.

What Brand Photography Really Is (And What People Get Wrong)

There are two main reactions I see when women hear "personal brand photography" or "portrait session".

"I don't need that. I'm not a brand."
"I must need hundreds of photos all the time."

Both are off.

"I'm not a brand"

If you are in business or leadership, you have a brand. Full stop.

You might not be an influencer or a founder on the front of every campaign, but at a minimum, you need:

A strong, accurate headshot (LinkedIn, bio, speaker profile)
A small set of images that establish your visual identity

If you are the CEO of a large company that sells a product and you are not the face of it, you might get away with one or two images for formal use.

If you run your own business or you are building a visible profile, that is not enough anymore.

"I need endless content all the time"

The demand for imagery has exploded in the last 10 to 15 years. We used to be able to live online with one static headshot. Today you need a smarter mix.

At a minimum, you want:

A clear professional headshot for professional platforms
A set of images that show how you work and what you stand for
A few more personal images that build connection and trust

These are not vanity shots. These images help people feel like they know you before they ever speak to you.

That is where a magnetic personal brand starts. People feel something when they see you. They sense your energy, your standards, your presence.

This is the Perception element of my Visibility Equation™—how others see and experience you. Your images shape that perception before you walk into the room.

Why So Many Brand Shoots Look The Same (And How To Avoid That Trap)

Scroll Instagram for five minutes and you will see it:

Confetti toss
Sitting on a chair at an angle
Laptop, coffee, laughing at nothing in particular

There is nothing wrong with any of those on their own. The issue is when everyone copies the same list of "must-have shots" without asking the only question that matters.

Does this feel like me, or am I hiding behind what feels safe?

Jen said something I strongly agree with: if someone gives you a list of "10 must-have images", run.

Context matters.

If you are a funeral director in the space of calm support and quiet care, you probably do not need a confetti toss. Unless your entire identity is about celebrating life as a party, in which case, maybe you do.

You do not know until you do the deeper work.

Before The Camera: Know Your Brand Identity

Before you book a photographer, you need clarity on a few core pieces of your brand identity.

I always walk my clients through these questions, and Jen does the same from her side:

Who are you?
What is your voice? Warm, direct, playful, sharp?
Who is your ideal client or audience?
Who are you happy to repel?

Your images are not about pleasing everyone.

They are about attract and repel.

Your photos should pull the right people closer and quietly push the wrong ones away.

Practical decisions that change your images

You also need to know where your images will live:

Website headers or banners
About page or speaking page
LinkedIn and other profiles
Media kits or book jackets
Print collateral or billboards

This shapes:

How your photographer frames the shot
Where they leave negative space for text
What orientation and resolution they shoot in

If you skip this thinking at the start, you end up with "pretty" photos that do not actually work for your needs or your platforms. That is expensive clutter, not strategy.

Corporate Headshots With Personality, Not Perfection

Corporate headshots have gone through a shift since COVID.

Before, it was all stiff posture, formal suits, and the same expression. Many of those people are now coming back to update their professional images.

Here is what I want for any woman who is updating her photos:

A photo where your personality is visible, not just your title
A sense that you are approachable and credible
A style that lines up with your actual wardrobe—not a one-off costume

That does not always mean a bold colour. Personality can show up in:

Contrast and texture
Interesting but subtle accessories
A softer or stronger colour story that supports your natural presence

This is where my work on Strategic Colour Identity™ connects directly to photography. The colours that work for you in person are the same colours that will photograph well and support how you want to be experienced.

Jen said it perfectly. The difference from one photo to another is not about the lens, the lighting, or complex camera settings.

It is about how much of your real self is allowed to come through.

Some people are big smile, teeth out, full laughter. Others are more quiet, more still, more grounded. Both can be powerful on camera when they are honest.

Your presence should feel like you—not a persona.

Why Women Put Photos Last (And Why That Hurts Your Brand)

This one is common. I see it. Jen sees it. You might have done it.

The classic scenario sounds like this:

"I am updating my website and I need new photos."

"Great, what is your timeline?"

"The site launches next week."

By that point, most good photographers are booked out.

So why do smart, capable women leave photos to the last minute?

Discomfort. They hate having their photo taken.
Old stories. "I never like photos of myself."
Avoidance. They do every other task first and keep pushing this one aside.

The cost of putting it off

When you leave photos to the final hour:

You rush the planning and the creative thinking
You do not give your photographer space to partner with you
You often accept "good enough" because the deadline is louder than your standards

If you are serious about your leadership presence, treat your imagery like a core piece of strategy—not decoration.

Book your photographer early.

Share what you are building. Invite their input. Photographers who specialise in this work look at people and images all day. Let them widen your thinking.

Most women who work with Jen walk in saying:

"I hate being photographed. I have never seen a photo of myself that I like."

They walk out saying:

"Oh my God, that was so much fun."

And here is a useful reminder: nobody sees the photos you do not choose.

You are not stuck with unflattering images. You are choosing the photos that represent you best.

Get out of your own way. Bring in the right experts. Take their advice. Then let yourself enjoy it.

What A Great Photographer Actually Looks For

This is where the difference between "person with a camera" and "true portrait photographer" shows up.

Jen shared something important. If you do not like being photographed, look for photographers who work with everyday people—not only with professional models.

Models are easy to photograph. Their faces are symmetrical, their features catch the light in precise ways, and they already know how to move for the camera.

That is not most of us.

A photographer who spends all their time with models may not know how to:

Teach you what to do with your body
Read your tension and help you release it
Direct you in a way that feels supportive, not awkward

Jen brings something extra into her work—she is also a trained yoga teacher.

She describes a shoot like a yoga class. She puts you in a position that feels a bit odd, then guides you to relax and drop the tension.

Her eye is on:

The fake smile that does not quite reach your eyes
The hand that is stiff instead of soft
The shoulder that is raised a touch too high

The images on her website look natural, but they are the result of a lot of thoughtful direction outside the frame.

What she is hunting for is what she calls your "perfect imperfection"—the real lines, quirks, and expressions that make you you.

That is what people respond to.

That is what builds trust.

That is what supports an authentic leadership presence.

The 80/20 Approach To Preparing For A Shoot

Jen has a simple framework I love and use in my own way with clients.

Eighty percent prepared, twenty percent loose.

The 80%: Plan With Intention

Before a shoot, she walks through everything:

For personal brand photography:

Brand colours, fonts, and tone
The feel of your business
Who you want to attract and who you want to repel
Where the images need to be used

For a personal portrait shoot:

What season of life you are in
What you want these images to remind you of
How you want to feel when you look at them

Then comes wardrobe, which ties directly into my work:

Shapes that flatter your body, not the mannequin
Colours that suit your natural colouring
Outfits that feel like an elevated version of your real life

She gives guidance ahead of time so you can bring a small, thoughtful set of options into the studio.

The 20%: Leave Space For Magic

The remaining 20 percent is where the unexpected happens.

This might look like:

Pairing items in your bag in a way you have never tried
Grabbing a jacket you almost left at home, which becomes the star piece
Catching the moment right after you laugh at something, when your whole body softens

You often leave saying, "It feels like I have a whole new wardrobe."

Those unplanned pieces often become the most loved images.

For your next shoot, aim for this:

Do your homework.
Choose outfits with intention.
Leave space for your photographer to play, adjust, and catch the in-between moments.

Presence is built, not born. You build it choice by choice, frame by frame.

AI Images: Helpful, But Not A Shortcut To Real Presence

We cannot talk about photography now without touching on AI.

Jen does use AI in some parts of her business, and so do I in mine, but we are aligned on this:

AI cannot replace real photography for honest, recognisable personal brand imagery.

She shared a story about a woman who showed her an AI-generated LinkedIn photo. It was stunning. The problem was simple.

It did not look like her.

The face was changed just enough. The proportions were closer to a model than a real person. It looked like an "everywoman" version of her—not her.

If you are tempted to use AI images as your primary imagery:

Use them as a tool, not the foundation.
If you try one, test it with people who will be blunt with you. Ask, "Is this obviously me?"
Be honest and label AI images where appropriate.

There is another layer most people do not think about. Many reference photos on platforms are AI-generated. They defy real physics. Hair flows in ways it never will in a studio. Fabric hangs in ways that do not match actual clothing.

When you walk in with one of those and ask a photographer to "do this", you set yourself up for frustration—because it is not real.

A magnetic personal brand is built on you being recognisably you, online and offline.

You cannot outsource presence to an algorithm.

How A Photo Shoot Can Shift Your Confidence And Leadership Presence

Most of Jen's male clients tell her they would rather have a root canal than a photoshoot. Many of her women feel the same—they are just more polite about it.

This is not a "nice day out". It can be a turning point.

Here is what I see when a woman invests in strong, accurate professional images:

She starts treating her work like a real business, not a side project.
She shows up online more often, because she has photos she is proud to use.
She speaks about her work with more conviction, because she now sees herself as the expert she is.

Your visuals become a standard. You rise to meet that version of yourself.

Jen said it well:

"When you have images you are proud of, you start treating yourself as a proper businesswoman—a real grown-up in the business world."

It is the same with style. When you walk into a room in an outfit that feels aligned, intentional, and comfortable, you carry yourself differently.

Your images are part of that feeling.

We all have that person on Instagram we love to follow, because their photos are beautiful and consistent.

Having your own shoot that reflects you makes you feel like her—in your own way.

One Simple Practice To Feel More Grounded On Camera

Let's keep this practical.

If you feel stiff, fake, or "photo-smiley" in front of a camera, use this simple reset. Jen uses it, I use it, and it works.

Ask for a moment.
Close your eyes.
Take a big breath in.
Exhale through your mouth.
Open your eyes and look straight down the lens.

That tiny gap lets your body reset. Your shoulders drop. Your jaw softens. Your real self comes forward.

As Jen said:

"Suddenly there is you there. You have let go."

A good photographer will give you that pause. It only takes a few seconds.

Use this same breath before you step into:

A high-stakes meeting
A difficult conversation
A keynote or panel
A negotiation

How you are experienced matters. A small reset like this changes how you enter the moment.

Jen's Favourite Mindset Reframe: "You're Not That Special"

This one made me laugh—and also made perfect sense.

Along with the breath, Jen has a phrase a friend shared with her:

"You're not that special."

Not in the "you do not matter" way. In the "you are human, like everyone else" way.

When she feels intimidated by photographing someone with a big title, an honour, or a public profile, she reminds herself:

They are just a person.
She is just a person.
They are both human, with strengths, flaws, and fears.

It works just as well when you are spiralling about a small mistake, overthinking how you look, or blowing something out of proportion in your mind.

You are not that special. Nobody is watching you as closely as you think. That can be freeing.

It pulls you out of self-focus and back into connection and kindness—with yourself and with others.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Jen Taylor / Vividity Photography

Website: vividity.com.au
Instagram (main): @vividity_photography
Instagram (personal brand photos): @vividity_personal_brand_photos

Book Recommendation

Kitchen Table Wisdom by Rachel Naomi Remen A series of stories from a medical doctor who works with people facing serious illness. It is honest, human, and one of Jen's most gifted books.

Key Takeaways

You have a personal brand, whether you like that language or not. Your images need to reflect that.
A strong brand photography shoot is not about copying "must-have" shots—it is about knowing who you are, what you stand for, and who you serve.
Your brand is attract and repel. Your photos should pull in the right people and quietly send away the wrong ones.
Stop leaving photos to the last minute. Book early and involve your photographer in the bigger conversation.
Look for photographers who work with real people, not just models. Directing non-models is a different skill.
Use Jen's 80/20 rule: 80 percent planned and intentional, 20 percent loose and open to magic.
AI can support your process, but it cannot replace honest, recognisable images of you.
Presence is built, not born. Your images can help you step into the leader you already are.
When you feel like you, you lead like you. That includes how you show up on camera.

Your Next Step

If this stirred something in you, do not put it back on the shelf.

Ask yourself:

Do my current photos represent the woman I am today?
If a dream client or opportunity landed on your profile right now, what story would my images tell?

If the answer does not match who you know yourself to be, it is time to upgrade.

Book the photographer. Plan the shoot with intention. And if you want support to align your wardrobe, personal brand, and presence so your photos feel like you—not a costume—let's talk.

Resources to Support Your Next Step

Work With Me on Your Leadership Presence

If you're a senior leader ready to align how you're seen with who you actually are, we can start with a strategy call to explore what's possible.

Book Your Leadership Presence Strategy Call

Resources to Deepen Your Presence

Private Podcast: Get four focused episodes to support your next level of presence and positioning. Access Own The Room

Wardrobe Checklist: Your style is part of how people experience you. Download my checklist for professional women. Get the Checklist

Full Services: Explore how we can work together on identity, style, and presence. View Services

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