Jaimié Birtel's photography blog
The Psychology of Color in Your Headshot and Branding Wardrobe
The colors you wear in your headshots and branding photos can shape how potential clients perceive you. Learn how color psychology can help you choose wardrobe colors that communicate the right message for your personal brand.
LinkedIn Profile Photos That Actually Work
Your LinkedIn profile photo is often your first professional impression. Learn what makes an effective headshot feel polished, authentic, and true to your personal brand.
Headshots vs. Branding Photos: What’s the Difference?
Not sure whether to book headshots or branding photos? Both help you show up professionally online, but they are not the same. Headshots give you a polished professional portrait for places like LinkedIn and your website, while branding photography creates a full collection of images that tell the story of your business. As a Seattle-area branding photographer, I’m explaining the key differences so you can choose the right session.
How I Emphasize Authenticity in Brand Photography
Let’s be honest about this: your branding photos have a huge job to do! They need to visually give potential clients a sense of who your brand is and what their experience with your business will be, all without saying a word.
How Professional Branding Photography Gives You Brand Consistency
You’ve heard the phrase “consistency is key” when it comes to health habits, budgeting, and personal growth, but it’s solid advice for your business, too! Everything that’s attached to your business’s name impacts the mental image that customers have of your brand (whether you want it to or not), so if you want them to have the mental picture of your brand that you do, you need every photo and every message to communicate that same brand. And professional branding photography goes a long way toward that goal.
Why I Limit My Clients Each Month
I always advise clients to try to book a couple of months in advance if they can, because my schedule may fill up (although if you’re on a tighter timeline, it’s always worth reaching out to me to check because cancellations do happen). Sometimes people ask in response, “Wow, you have photo shoots every day for the next two months?!” Thankfully, no, but instead I have a limit on the number of clients I book each month, and there are very important reasons for that - reasons that benefit every client I work with.
Can You Take Branding Photos Outside?
While most branding photo shoots are indoors, I can absolutely do an outdoor branding photo shoot too! It’s simply a question of what is the best fit for your business and your brand. Many of my clients want an image that’s more traditionally professional, which does lend itself to indoor portraits. But if outdoor photography is a better fit for your brand, this is certainly an option.
What Goes Into the Price of Premium Photography?
Every time you make a purchase, even if you don’t realize it, you look for the “sweet spot” between cost and quality. A $10,000 car and a $100,000 car are both cars, but they’re very different - what’s your sweet spot where you’re getting the quality you want with a price that’s acceptable? Every purchase has a sweet spot, and the same goes for photography.
We all have budgets to stick to, and some clients ask, “Why shouldn’t I just hire the lowest-cost photographer I can find? What’s the difference between their service and yours?” A lot, actually! In premium photography, like the custom service I offer, the value comes from so much more than the time I spend on your photo shoot.
Tips for Photography Wardrobe Styling on a Budget
A professional photo shoot is worth investing in - quality matters, and whether you’re looking for branding photos for your business or personal portraits for your family, choosing an experienced, qualified photographer can make all the difference in getting photos you love. When it comes to your wardrobe for the photo shoot, on the other hand, you don’t have to spend a pretty penny to look fantastic. Try these tips for putting together a photo shoot wardrobe that looks great on you AND your wallet.
Tips for Urban Photo Shoots IN SEATTLE
If you love the look of a photoshoot in town, either in a chic city environment or in a sweet small town, I’ve got you! Explore these tips for enjoying and getting the most out of your urban photo shoot.

