Essential Branding Photos for Your Website
Guest blog by my favourite brand photographer, Michelle Swan - Eyes of Love Photography
I will also be adding comments under the photos from a website designer perspective
By Michelle Swan - Eyes of Love Photography
Over the years, working as a personal branding photographer and having photographed hundreds of incredible women just like you, I have learned a little secret. Your web designer feels genuinely excited when they open your photo gallery, if you have given them the right images to work with.
When it comes to building your website, your branding images are more than just beautiful pictures. They are strategic tools that help tell your brand story. Today, I want to share my go-to shots that will make your web designer’s job easier and help your website look polished, cohesive, and perfectly aligned with your business.
Start With a Warm Welcome: Your Virtual Handshake
First impressions count. The headshot where you are looking directly into the camera is one of the most important images you will ever have for your brand. This is the image your clients will see on your About page, your Work With Me page, and potentially your LinkedIn profile or media features.
A strong welcoming headshot should include:
Friendly eye contact
A natural, genuine smile
Relaxed, comfortable posture
A photo that reflects who you truly are, combining approachability with professionalism
This is not about stiff corporate poses or forced expressions. It is about capturing your natural energy and creating an instant connection with your audience.
Text can be placed off to the left on this image and will be easy to see because there is not much various in colour behind ( hard to find in stock photos)
The Magic of Banner Shots: Give Your Web Designer Room to Create
This shot is often overlooked but incredibly important. Your website banners and headers need space for your designer to work with.
I always ensure we capture wide-angle shots where you are positioned slightly to one side of the frame. This provides your designer with the flexibility to place text, buttons, or design elements without covering your face or cropping you awkwardly.
These wide shots give your brand room to breathe and work beautifully across website headers, sales pages, email banners, and social media graphics.
Consistency is Queen: Wardrobe Planning
Your clothing choices play a key role in creating a consistent visual brand. During our pre-shoot planning, I guide clients in selecting outfits that either complement their brand colour palette or remain in timeless neutrals that will work across many backgrounds and website designs.
This thoughtful approach means your images stay cohesive and usable, even as your brand evolves and your website is updated in the future.
Consistency visually communicates professionalism and helps establish trust with your audience.
Wearing neutrals is not boring as we can put your brand colours around it without clashing in shades. It also means you can change your colours and still use the same photos
Portrait images are great for when you need large amounts of text off to one site. In this image, because its set far away, you would also be able to crop to a landscape as well
Orientation Matters: Portraits and Landscapes
One of the most helpful things you can provide your designer is a variety of image orientations.
Throughout your session, we intentionally capture both portrait (vertical) and landscape (horizontal) images. This gives your designer the flexibility to create different layouts without feeling restricted.
More variety allows for more creativity in building your website.
If you need to choose between two similar shots where one is portait and one ls landscape, choose the landscape one as it can be cropped down if needed
Authentic Action: Show Your Zone of Genius
Stock images cannot replace the power of showing you in action. When your audience sees you working in your natural environment, whether you are coaching, consulting, creating products, or teaching, they gain a better sense of who you are and how you work.
These authentic lifestyle images allow potential clients to picture themselves working with you. They build trust, connection, and familiarity before you even have your first conversation.
Elle holding colour pallets up to demonstrate her focus on visual design
One photo I struggle sometimes to find with stock images is of you consulting or talking to a client (most stock photos of this looked very fake).
Do Not Forget the Details
While portraits are essential, I also love capturing smaller details that tell the full story of your brand.
Some of these detail shots might include:
Your hands working on a laptop
Writing in a journal or planner
Tools or products you use
Flat lays of your workspace or materials
Simple visual elements that reflect your work environment
These additional shots add visual variety to your website and give your designer plenty of options for creating interest throughout your pages.
Set the Scene: The Power of Environmental Shots
Sometimes, the strongest image for your website does not include you at all.
Environmental or scene-setting images such as workspace vignettes, styled corners, or nature backdrops help create mood and atmosphere across your website. These images are perfect for banners, content dividers, blog posts, or background layers that bring balance to your overall design.
For natural health pracs, photos of your supplements or herbs, your clinic room/desk or waiting area are great
Pulling It All Together: A Complete Visual Story
When we plan your personal branding session, we are not just working through a list of poses. We are building a complete, versatile image library that your designer can use to create a cohesive and professional website that truly reflects your brand.
The essential elements we include are:
Connection-building headshots
Versatile wide banner images
On-brand wardrobe styling
A variety of portrait and landscape orientations
Authentic action shots showing you at work
Beautiful detail images that add depth
Environmental and scene-setting images
Together, these images create an online presence that feels polished, professional, and deeply aligned with who you are and how you serve your clients.
Ready to Create Your Own Visual Story?
If you are reading this and thinking that this is exactly what your brand needs, I would be honoured to guide you through the process.
At Eyes of Love Photography, my focus is helping women feel confident, relaxed, and truly themselves in front of the camera. Even if you have never enjoyed being photographed before, I will guide you every step of the way so you feel empowered and proud of the images we create.
Let us elevate your online presence with a gallery of images that reflect the heart of your business. Let us capture your true essence with authenticity and care. Let us create a beautiful visual story that allows your ideal clients to connect with you before you even speak a word.
Book your personal branding session today by visiting www.eyesoflove.com.au.
I would love to help you create the perfect visual story for your brand.
