Picture This: Photography Tips That Make Your Brand Shine Online

Excellent photography is one of the most powerful tools you have for shaping your personal brand. Whether you’re a consultant, creative, small business owner, or executive, the way you show up visually across your website and marketing platforms sends an immediate message about who you are and what it’s like to work with you.

Why Photography Matters for Your Personal Brand

Great photos can build trust, spark connection, and elevate your brand presence in a way that words alone simply can’t. That’s why it’s so important to approach your next photo shoot with intention. Not just for aesthetics, but for functionality across the full spectrum of your digital media footprint.

The Power of High-Quality Photography

We work with a lot of clients who invest in high-quality photography, and we love seeing the incredible results. It is so fun to see our clients’ personalities shine! More often than not, the photographers are incredibly talented and deliver striking images that are clean, vibrant, and often zoomed in tight to the subject. This style makes for beautiful holiday cards or printed materials where you want to be front and center. But when it comes to using those same images on a website, we often run into a bit of a challenge.

The Website Challenge: Why “Padding” Matters

For digital design – especially websites – we need a little breathing room in the photos. What we’re looking for is called “padding,” which simply means extra space around you on all four sides: above your head, below your feet, and on either side. This space gives us the flexibility to crop and adjust the photo across different screen sizes without compromising the image. In some cases, we’ve had to pass on gorgeous client favorites because they were just too tight – cropping into the top of a head or cutting off part of the subject. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference in your overall brand presentation online.

Go Wide: Why Landscape Orientation Photography Wins

Another detail that makes a huge impact is orientation. Landscape photos – that’s the wider, horizontal format – are best for website use. We often need images that can stretch across the full width of a screen, particularly for homepage banners or section headers. While we can always crop a landscape shot into a portrait for smaller spots or your About page, we can’t do the reverse. If your photographer can shoot in both orientations, great! But if you have to prioritize one, go with landscape.

Outfits Matter: Show Range and Personality with Your Photography

While you’re planning your shoot, we also recommend putting together a variety of outfits. A mix of casual and more polished looks will help give your brand a well-rounded presence. Think one outfit that’s laid-back and approachable, and another with a jacket or blazer to show a bit more polish – whatever feels true to how you want to show up in your brand. This range lets us use different images for different platforms while keeping things cohesive.

Capture Connection: Collaborative and Action Shots

If your work involves collaboration, it’s also a great idea to stage a few shots where it looks like you’re working with a person or team. This could be as simple as a conversation at a desk, a shared look at a laptop screen, or an in-motion moment that suggests your day-to-day interactions. These types of images help humanize your brand and give your audience a sense of your working style.

Plan with Intention, Not Perfection

The goal isn’t perfection – it is intention. By planning ahead with these small adjustments in mind, you’ll walk away from your shoot with a set of images that are not only beautiful, but truly functional for your website, social media, and other brand materials. That’s when photography becomes a real asset to your digital presence – and we can’t wait to help you bring it all to life.

Let’s Elevate Your Brand Together

Ready to make your brand stand out online? Contact NG Media today to learn how we can help you get the most out of your photography and build a cohesive, compelling digital presence.