6 essential images every business owner needs for personal branding

You know that feeling. You need to post. You have the idea. The text is almost ready to go. But the image? Still not there.

You scroll through your phone. Your face looks unsure in every photo.

The confident one? From a job you left three years ago.

The one with good lighting? Not your current haircut.

The rest? Just don’t feel like you anymore.

So you close the app. Again.

That’s not a confidence problem. That’s a visual identity problem.

Your content is falling flat because your visuals don’t match who you are now or who you’re becoming.

I’ve worked with professionals, founders, creatives, and consultants. They have stong ambition, but they’re stuck with images that reflect the old version of themselves. Outdated, misaligned, or over-polished.

You deserve a personal brand that feels cohesive, current and real.

That’s why today, I’m showing you how to build a photo bank that makes content easier and way more powerful.

What is a Visual Bank (and why your future self will thank you)

A visual bank is your ready-to-go image library. Not random photos.

The visual bank is built with purpose. Photos you can use across your website, LinkedIn, email, press features, even your launch slides.

Here’s the difference:

→ Generic brands collect photos.

→ Aligned brands create them strategically.

In this post, I’m sharing the 6 essential image types I create for every personal branding client during a business photoshoot in Amsterdam.

Plus: where to use them, what to avoid, and why most people get stuck.

Skroll to the and to find ChatGTP prompt to research your visual bank.

1. Professional headshot

If your photo doesn’t spark trust in 1 second, people move on. But most headshots scream, “I’m trying too hard.” And that kills curiosity.

Where to use it: LinkedIn, speaker pages, website bio, press kits.

What works:

• Clean background or subtle brand texture

• Direct eye contact, current haircut, confident but not stiff

• Light retouching that keeps you looking real (yes, smile wrinkles included)

What breaks trust:

× Photos that are clearly from another life phase

× Over-edited skin that looks like plastic

× Boring posture that says “I showed up, but I didn’t want to”

Transformation: 

You’ll go from hiding behind a cropped wedding photo to having a confident image you actually want to use.

People will click more.

They will reply more.

They will remember you.

2. Lifestyle portrait

People want to work with people. This is your chance to show you not just your resume or LinkedIn porfile.

If your lifestyle portraits feel like stock images, you're doing it wrong.

Where to use it: Instagram intros, newsletter headers, “About” pages.

What works:

• Real moments (your morning routine, sketching ideas, biking through the city)

• Brand-aligned outfits and colors

• A balance of calm and energy that fits your tone

  
  

What kills connection:

× Props that mean nothing to you

× Photos that feel like someone else’s Pinterest board

× Inconsistent colors that confuse your audience

Transformation:

You’ll go from generic “entrepreneur in cafe” shots to portraits that tell your story.

When people land on your page, they’ll feel like they already know you.

3. Behind-the-scenes / in-action photos

These images show what it feels like to work with you. That matters more than your credentials.

No one believes the fake “working at a laptop while smiling at salad” shots. Show the real process.

Where to use it: Sales pages, case studies, presentations, email launches.

What works:

• Photos of you prepping, sketching, writing, presenting

• Wide angles + close-ups of tools or gestures

• Real workspace (tidy and styled, but still yours)

What breaks credibility:

× Staged "fake work" poses

× Distracting clutter or cables everywhere

× Using stock photos that erase your uniqueness

Transformation: 

Your clients will stop guessing.

They'll see themselves inside your processand trust you faster.

4. Client or team interaction

Connection is contagious. These images signal that people like working with you.

Forced group shots where everyone stares at the lens? Out.

Natural energy? In.

Where to use it: Testimonial pages, sales decks, recruitment posts.

What works:

• Candid collaboration, focused faces, shared laughter

• Genuine clients or colleagues, not models

• Neutral but coordinated clothing (so no one distracts)

  
  

What turns people off:

× Everyone wearing different levels of formality

× Posed handshakes or forced smiles

× Lack of warmth or authenticity

Transformation: 

You’ll have proof you’re trusted. And that social proof makes all the difference.

5. Environment & workspace

This is about visual atmosphere. People remember you faster when your space looks like your brand. A cluttered desk says more about your brand than your words ever will.

Where to use it : Website banners, media features, background for text posts.

What works:

• Brand-colored accents, clean lighting, intentional layout

• Wide shots and close-up vignettes of your environment

• Visuals that look like they belong to you

  
  

What kills consistency:

× Dark, moody lighting unless it fits your tone

× Random decor that doesn’t match your brand feel

× Unstyled chaos (papers, wires, coffee stains.. yes, I’ve seen it all)

Transformation: 

You’ll stop cropping out your space and start using it to reinforce who you are.

6. Detail / branded stock photos

Not every post needs your face. But it does need your fingerprint.

If you’re still pulling stock images from Canva, you’re watering down your brand.

Where to use it: Blog headers, quote cards, slides, PDFs.

What works:

• Flatlays of your tools, hands in action, objects in your brand palette

• Negative space for adding text later

• Consistent editing that matches the rest of your content

What breaks visual trust:

× Random Pinterest-style filters

× Props with no connection to your work

× No visual system tying it together

You’ll have filler content that doesn’t feel like filler. Every visual becomes part of your strategy.

Your next step: make your visuals work for you

A strategic photo bank means no more scrambling, no more outdated bios, and no more wondering, “Do I even look like my brand?”

I help my clients create this in one focused photoshoot. A half- or full-day personal branding session gives you:

• 6 categories of images tailored to your story

• A custom shot list built around your brand message

• Photos that actually feel like you and not a polished version of someone else

  
  

→ Ready to build your visual bank with an  Amsterdam branding photographer  who gets it? Book a discovery call and let’s create visuals that do the talking.

Want to explore your personal branding gaps right now?

Use this ChatGPT prompt to start mapping your visual identity:

"Act as a personal branding strategist. Based on my profession [..], audience [..] and goals [..], suggest categories of images I need for a strong, consistent personal brand.  The image should reflect [style, e.g., minimal, futuristic, rustic] and be optimized for visual appeal and brand identity. Include specific design elements like [colors, materials, shapes] and ensure the background supports branding context and my why.

You’ll be surprised how clearly your gaps and opportunities show up.

Let’s stop hiding.

Ready to update your visual bank?

If you’re done hiding behind old photos and want to show up fully - I’m here.

I offer guided branding sessions with direction, lighting, posing support and editing, so you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

📍 Based in the Netherlands? I work from Amsterdam and Amstelveen - and yes, we’ll make photos that actually feel like you.