A six-look studio portfolio shoot with model Gigi
In August 2025, model and content creator Gigi booked a personal branding photography session to create a completely new set of safe-for-work images for her professional portfolio.
The photographs needed to work across her online profiles, press opportunities and agency submissions. Rather than producing a collection of similar portraits against one background, the aim was to create enough variety for the finished gallery to look as though it had been photographed across several different locations.
We achieved that in one 105-minute studio session in High Wycombe.
The shoot at a glance
Client: Gigi, model and content creator
Location: Photography studio in High Wycombe
Shoot date: August 2025
Session length: 105 minutes
Setups created: Six
Main uses: Portfolio, press, online profiles and agency submissions
Lighting: Predominantly natural light, with one flash-lit setup
The brief for Gigi’s new portfolio
Gigi already had plenty of experience in front of the camera, but she needed a fresh set of professional images that showed more range.
The brief was not simply to produce a new headshot. She needed portraits that could serve several purposes, including polished agency images, more relaxed photographs for her online presence, and stronger editorial-style images to accompany press features.
This is where a longer personal branding photography session can be more useful than a basic headshot appointment. Instead of creating a single finished look, we can build a broader library of photographs that can be used separately over several months.
Selecting six different looks on the day
Gigi arrived with a large selection of outfits rather than a fixed shot list.
We went through everything together at the studio and chose the clothing that would give us the strongest variety. Some options were more casual and relaxed, while others had a bolder editorial or fashion-led feel.
Planning every detail before a shoot can be useful, particularly when the photographs need to follow strict brand guidelines. However, leaving some decisions until the day also gives us room to respond to the studio, the available light and how different outfits work on camera.
The important part is bringing enough choice. It is far easier to remove an outfit that does not work than to create six varied setups from two almost identical options.
Making one studio look like several locations
The biggest creative challenge was preventing the entire gallery from looking like it had been photographed in the same room.
The High Wycombe studio included large windows, textured walls, furniture, plants and several areas that could be photographed from different angles. By changing the background, posing, framing, outfit and direction of light, we could make each section of the shoot feel separate.
I also used the 70-200mm lens for much of the session. The longer focal length allowed me to isolate Gigi from parts of the studio, compress backgrounds and avoid showing distracting areas outside the frame.
For other images, I worked closer and included more of the room to create relaxed lifestyle portraits.
That combination gave Gigi:
- Clean professional portraits
- Relaxed lifestyle images
- Full-length fashion photographs
- Closer headshots
- Editorial-style content
- Images with space for text or editorial layouts
The aim was not to make every photograph dramatically different. They still needed to feel like part of the same personal brand. However, someone viewing the finished images should not immediately assume they were all taken within the same 105-minute session.
Using natural light for most of the shoot
Most of Gigi’s session was photographed using the studio’s natural window light.
Natural light suited the relaxed and approachable style we wanted for much of the portfolio. It also allowed us to move quickly between outfits and areas without rebuilding a complicated lighting setup every time.
For one of the six setups, I introduced a single flash. This gave the images a more controlled and deliberate look, helping that part of the gallery feel distinct from the softer daylight portraits.
Good personal branding photography is not about using as much lighting equipment as possible. It is about choosing the approach that suits each image.
Sometimes that means a complete studio lighting setup. On other shoots, the best option may be a window, an outdoor location or the client’s actual workplace.
For comparison, my fitness branding photoshoot in Hitchin was created inside a working gym, while this professional headshot session in Hitchin used outdoor locations and several outfit changes.
Creating photographs for press and agency use
Photographs intended for agencies and press need to be useful, not merely attractive.
That means creating a mixture of portrait and landscape frames, close and wide compositions, varied expressions, and some images with clear space around the subject. A tightly cropped photograph might work well as a profile picture but be difficult for a designer to use across a magazine spread or website banner.
During Gigi’s shoot, I deliberately varied the framing so she would not be left with dozens of near-identical vertical portraits.
We created photographs suitable for:
- Profile pictures and online biographies
- Agency portfolios and submissions
- Press articles and interviews
- Social media posts
- Website pages
- Promotional graphics
- General portfolio updates
Discussing the intended use before and during the shoot helps ensure the final gallery contains images that work in practice.
The finished personal branding gallery
Gigi loved the finished photographs and continues to use them across her portfolio and online presence.
We have also worked together on further shoots since this session, which is one of the strongest signs that the original photographs did what they needed to do.
A successful personal branding shoot should leave someone with more than one new profile picture. It should provide a flexible collection of images that can support different opportunities without looking repetitive.
Is a studio right for your personal branding shoot?
A studio is particularly useful when you need several looks in a relatively short amount of time.
It provides privacy, reliable facilities, room for outfit changes and greater control over the backgrounds and lighting. A well-chosen studio can also offer enough furniture, textures and shooting areas to create far more variety than a plain backdrop might suggest.
However, a studio is not automatically the right choice for everyone.
A business owner may benefit more from being photographed in their workplace. A fitness professional might need images inside their gym. Someone wanting relaxed professional portraits may prefer an outdoor location.
I am based in Hertfordshire and photograph personal branding sessions across Hertfordshire, London and the wider UK. Where necessary, I can also recommend or hire a suitable studio based on the look you need.
Planning your own personal branding shoot?
Whether you need one strong professional headshot or a larger portfolio library, I can help you decide on the location, outfits, session length, and image style.
View my personal branding photography packages or get in touch to discuss your needs.
Personal branding and model portfolio photography FAQs
What should I bring to a model portfolio photoshoot?
Bring more outfit options than you expect to use, including different colours, layers, shoes and accessories. We can review them together and select the combinations that provide the best range without making the final gallery feel inconsistent.
How long does a model portfolio shoot take?
A straightforward headshot can be photographed relatively quickly. For several outfits and backgrounds, around 90 minutes or longer is usually more realistic. Gigi’s six-setup session took 105 minutes.
How long does it take to get our photos?
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer.
Can personal branding photographs be used for press and agencies?
Yes, provided those uses are discussed as part of the brief and covered by the agreed image licence. Mentioning press, agency and commercial requirements beforehand also helps the photographer create suitable crops and compositions.
How much does personal branding photography cost?
My current headshot and personal branding photography packages are listed online. Longer portfolio sessions, studio hire and larger image requirements can also be quoted separately based on what you need.
About Lee Charlton
Lee Charlton is a Hertfordshire photographer with more than 16 years of professional experience photographing people, businesses, brands and organisations.
Lee spent nine years working for TUI, including as its Global Photography Manager and sole in-house photographer. He also worked at the RHS for four years, producing photography for marketing, press, events and corporate communications.
His work includes professional headshots, model portfolios, personal branding photography, corporate teams, events and commercial campaigns throughout Hertfordshire, London, the UK and internationally.
