How to Use Your Brand Photos to the Max: 13 Places You NEED to Put Your Branding Images
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You spent time, energy, and money on your branding photoshoot—so why the hell are those gorgeous images sitting on your hard drive untouched? Your brand photo session isn’t just about getting a nice headshot—it’s about creating a visual library that elevates every corner of your brand. Too many business owners invest in killer branding photos and then barely scratch the surface of what they can do. I’m looking at you, business owners who only ever use one headshot and stop there. . . I won’t let that be you!
As a branding photographer who’s shot hundreds of sessions, I’m here to drill it into your head: your brand photos are your most versatile marketing tool.
Your photographer should be giving you a wide variety of shots, set-ups, and orientations so that you can use them a zillion ways (This Way to Fabulous always gives you a goldmine of branding images—check out our branding photography packages to find out more). Let’s make sure you’re squeezing every ounce of ROI out of your images and treating them like the strategic powerhouses they are meant to be.
Research says that imagery featuring faces is eleven times more likely to get noticed in the world of scrolling and short attention spans. So how do you use your brand photos to the max? Keep reading for 13 ways you should be using your branding photos, with some examples of real-life brand images in action!
Your Website (Duh!)
From homepage banners to service thumbnails, your website is prime real estate and it should be dripping with your branding photos. Your website is likely the context where a potential client will make the decision to work with you or buy your product, so make it count! You don’t need to feel weird featuring yourself on your own website—insert your brand images on page headers, about pages, blog posts, and sales pages to keep visitors engaged and aligned with your vibe.
Here are some examples of my clients who have used their branding images all over their websites—just notice how you feel that immediate personal trust factor! (Sidenote: don't forget that you can use your branding photos in interesting ways, like as thumbnails for your services!)
(Featured brands: Smalltown Storyteller, Stephanie Seija Content Marketing, PowHerHouse Fitness & Breanna's Business Boutique)
Social Media
Profile pic? Check. Post graphics? Check. Story highlights? Double check. Your branding photos are gold for consistent, high-quality social content across all platforms. Stop recycling random stock images and use your very own branding photos as the background imagery for reels, informational carousels, and stories. They’re the secret to a cohesive feed that actually converts.
Remember—while a few followers will actually check out your profile, the vast majority of people engage with your social content on their home feeds, which means they need visual cues to remember who you are (and they’re not seeing all of your content together). So use your branding photos as much as possible so they feel like they are getting to know you!
(Featured brands: Handled by Hamlin Events, Stephanie Seija Content Marketing & Smalltown Storyteller)
Email Marketing
Don’t let your email newsletters and sales funnels feel faceless. When people can see who’s behind the email, they’re more likely to click and trust. Plus, they’ll connect the dots from their inbox back to the other places they’ve seen and engaged with you! So be sure to use your branding photos in welcome sequences, monthly newsletters, and launch promos to humanize your brand and boost engagement.
(Featured brand: This Way to Fabulous)
Printed Branding Materials & Signage
Print isn’t dead, babe. Use your branding photos to make brochures, packets, trade show banners, and even old-school business cards pop. Consistency builds recognition—using the same set of branding photos everywhere communicates professionalism at a glance and keeps your brand cohesive across every touchpoint. When your print materials reflect the same polished vibe as your online presence, you’re instantly more memorable (and who doesn’t want to be memorable?).
(Featured brands: Hola Lashes & First Choice Insurance Agency)
Lead Magnets & Digital Booklets
PDF guides and digital workbooks don’t have to be boring! Your lead magnet is a sneak peek of your brand—make it gorgeous by sprinkling in your brand photos to add personality and break up walls of text. Using your branding photos in your freebies will add instant visual appeal and build that personal connection to keep your audience thinking about you long after they’ve used your digital resource.
(Featured brands: Stephanie Seija Content Marketing & This Way to Fabulous)
Branded Merch
Branded merch isn’t just for swag bags—it’s a marketing move. Print your brand photos on t-shirts, stickers, mugs, water bottles. . . the sky’s the limit. It’s a subtle but powerful way to make your brand part of everyday life.
Bonus idea: get custom workspace decor featuring your images. It’s a clever way to turn even an entirely remote business into a branding powerhouse—and it levels up your Zoom background to boss babe status, too!
(Featured brands: Monika Bhondy Luxury Real Estate, PowHerHouse Fitness & Handled by Hamlin Events)
Client Onboarding & Experience
A good first impression with a client is essential for long-term partnerships, retention, and referrals. Use your branding photos to add a personal touch to onboarding packets, welcome workflows, client portals, and even gifts and thank-you cards. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference in building trust and connection, and it shows you care about every part of their experience—not just the sale.
(Featured brand: Tamara Makeup & Hair Artistry)
Digital Branding & PR
Press release going out? Updating your email signature? Pitching investors with a Powerpoint presentation? Use your brand photos for all of your outreach and PR efforts. Professional visuals make you look legit—and in business, perception matters. A polished image next to your name boosts credibility and keeps you top-of-mind.
(Featured brands: This Way to Fabulous, Stephanie Seija Content Marketing, Sitting Tree Spa, Carina for Senate & Mom Like a Boss)
Portfolios & Pricing Guides
Nothing sells your work like a beautifully branded portfolio. Your portfolio isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about how you present it. Wow your potential clients by using your branding images to design service guides, proposal templates, and case studies so they reflect your unique vibe, not a generic Canva template they’ve seen a million times before.
(Featured brand: LTH Beauty)
Google Business Profile
It's SO easy to forget about that Google Business profile you set up when you first launched your business. But it's one of the very first things people see when they Google you (go try it for yourself—it's right there on the right-hand side of the search results) and you don't want to let it go to waste! While clients and customers can also upload images to your profile, you as the business owner get to upload the official photos. Add some of your branding photos here so your visuals pop on the Google search results pages!
(Featured brand: This Way to Fabulous)
Podcast Artwork
Stepping into the world of podcasting? Your podcast cover and episode graphics are the first thing listeners see—make them pop with your branding photos. Consistent imagery keeps your show instantly recognizable and professional, plus you can use them for episode marketing, too.
(Featured brand: This Way to Fabulous)
Courses & Memberships
Running an online membership or coaching program? Your course materials deserve more than clip art and stock imagery. Branding photos can make online learning spaces feel elevated and cohesive while boosting your credibility as a teacher or consultant. Use brand photos to design course slides, membership portals, and launch promos to create a premium experience.
(Featured brands: Reel Home Care Consulting, Hola Lashes & Elizabeth Plancon)
Products
Even product-based businesses need branding photos! Use your brand photoshoot images to create a cohesive look for e-commerce product pages, ads, and packaging. Show your products in action with lifestyle shots that tell a story, using them as secondary product visuals and extra listing photos. People want to see your product in real life—not just a plain, AI-generated image!
(Featured brands: Hola Lashes & Sitting Tree Spa)
How to Get the Most Use from Your Brand Photos
Stop letting your brand photos collect digital dust. Your brand photoshoot was an investment—now make it pay off! From websites to swag, they should be used across every platform to build consistency, credibility, and connection. Let’s create a library of images you’ll actually use—book your branding photoshoot with This Way to Fabulous today!
