Personal Branding Photography for Local Artist Marlene Maier
From Photographing the Art to Photographing the Artist
It was great working with Marlene last fall making photographs of her paintings in her studio. So when she called me about this time having a branding photography shoot, I was looking forward to returning to her studio for an entirely different shoot. She had plenty of artist props and settings to get a wide variety of branding shots, but she also wanted a couple of the photos we made to be able to be cropped to a more typical headshot style. The flexibility of my lighting setup and the high resolution of my mirrorless camera allowed me to get just what she wanted in terms of both a branding photo ,and one that could be cropped to a headshot. This provided max value “two in one” photos for Marlene to use on her website. I had one idea for the final shot if Marlene was game for it. I asked if she would be willing to lie on the floor and surround herself with brushes and tubes of paint for a straight down perspective branding photo. She said sure! I turned out to be my favorite photo of the shoot. Thank you Marlene for continuing to choose me as your photographer!
Check out her creative paintings on her website!
Personal Branding for the Artist Behind the Canvas
Last fall we photographed Marlene’s paintings. This time, we photographed the artist behind them.
There is something powerful about that shift. When the creator steps into the frame, the story becomes more complete. Visitors to her website do not just see beautiful abstract paintings — they see the person who imagined them, mixed the colors, and brought them to life. That connection builds trust and depth in a way artwork alone cannot.
I recently outlined five specific reasons why personal branding photography matters for professionals and creatives alike, and Marlene’s session is a perfect example of those principles in action.
Personal branding matters just as much for fine artists as it does for executives, real estate professionals, or business owners. Your audience wants to know who you are. They want to see your face, your environment, your process. Strong personal branding photography gives that visibility in a refined, intentional way.
And when those branding images are composed and lit thoughtfully — and captured with professional high-resolution equipment — they can also serve double duty. In Marlene’s case, we created expressive branding portraits that could be cropped into polished headshots, delivering two powerful assets from one frame. That “two-in-one” approach adds real value without requiring additional time or cost.
If you are an artist, creative, or business professional ready to elevate how you present yourself online, I would love to collaborate.
Personal Branding Portraits with Built-In Headshots
Two powerful images from one thoughtfully composed frame
Creative Vision Meets Collaboration
For this personal branding session, I photographed Marlene in her Pacific Grove art studio — the space where her creativity comes to life. One of the standout moments from the shoot was this lead image concept. I suggested she lie on the studio floor surrounded by paint tubes, brushes, and the natural textures of her workspace. Without hesitation, she was open to the idea, and together we brought the vision to life. That willingness to collaborate is what elevates a branding session from a simple portrait into a storytelling image. The result is a photo that feels artistic, authentic, and unmistakably hers.
Two Photos in One: The Value of Shooting with Intention
One of the advantages of working with a professional photographer — and with high-resolution Sony mirrorless equipment — is the ability to create multiple deliverables from a single thoughtfully composed image. From Marlene’s full personal branding portrait, I was able to crop a clean, polished headshot with plenty of resolution for her website and Instagram profile.
That means one image serves two purposes: a storytelling branding photo and a professional headshot. This adds real value without requiring a separate setup, outfit change, or additional session time. Shooting with this level of foresight ensures flexibility for social media, website “About” pages, exhibition materials, and future marketing needs.
Black & White Branding Portraits
Timeless variations that expand your visual library
More Than Just Color Corrections
In addition to delivering Marlene’s personal branding portraits in full color, I also created black and white versions of select images to give her even more variety in how she presents herself online. Black and white portraits bring a different mood — more timeless, more focused on expression and character. For artists especially, this aesthetic can feel classic and refined while still remaining modern.
These variations were not a separate add-on or additional session. They were created as part of the same shoot, simply by thinking ahead during lighting and composition.
Creative Range Without Additional Cost
One of the benefits of working with an experienced photographer is knowing how to light and compose an image so it works beautifully in multiple formats. Because the images were captured with intention, they translate seamlessly from color to black and white without losing depth or impact.
Offering these variations adds flexibility for website updates, exhibition announcements, press features, and social media posts — all without requiring additional time in front of the camera. My goal in every branding session is to maximize what we create together so clients leave with a versatile library of images they can use for years.
The Artist in Her Element
Where process becomes part of the brand
Beyond the Portrait
Personal branding photography is not only about standing in front of a backdrop and smiling. For artists especially, the studio itself becomes part of the visual identity. In these images, Marlene is surrounded by paint tubes, brushes, natural light, and the quiet focus that defines her work. These photographs show more than her face — they show her process.
When viewers visit her website or Instagram, they are not just seeing a painter. They are seeing a working artist in her creative environment. That authenticity builds connection.
Process as Storytelling
These environmental branding images add depth to her visual library. They can be used for website banners, “About” pages, exhibition announcements, newsletters, and social media storytelling. They feel real because they are real.
For creatives, showing the workspace, the materials, and the hands at work often tells a stronger story than a traditional portrait alone. Personal branding photography should reflect not only who you are, but how you create.
Real-World Branding in Action
When your personal branding photography becomes part of your online identity
From Studio to Website
One of the most rewarding parts of any personal branding session is seeing the images move beyond the gallery and into real-world use. Marlene selected one of the portraits from our session to feature prominently on her About page. It now represents her to every visitor who lands on her website.
This is where personal branding photography does its real work — not just looking good, but building trust. When someone visits her site, they immediately see the artist behind the paintings. That connection matters.
Photography That Serves a Purpose
The goal of a branding session is not simply to create beautiful images. It is to create photographs that function — on websites, social media profiles, press features, exhibition announcements, and marketing materials.
When a client confidently integrates the images into their online presence, it confirms the success of the session. The photographs are not sitting in a folder. They are actively representing the brand.
That is the difference between portraits and personal branding photography.
Why Personal Branding Photography Matters
If you are curious why branding photography is so important — even for artists — I recently wrote a deeper breakdown outlining the key reasons professionals and creatives benefit from investing in intentional personal branding images.
👉 Read the full article below.
Personal Branding Photography for Artists and Creatives in Pacific Grove
Photographing Marlene’s paintings was the first step in helping her present her work professionally online. Photographing her as the artist behind those paintings was the natural next step. Together, those images tell a complete story.
Whether you are a painter, sculptor, designer, musician, writer, or small business owner, your audience wants to connect with the person behind the work. Personal branding photography gives you more than a headshot. It gives you a cohesive visual identity you can use across your website, social media, exhibition materials, and marketing.
Sessions are available in my Pacific Grove studio or on location in your workspace so your environment becomes part of the story. If you are ready to elevate how you present yourself and your work, I would love to collaborate.