What is the difference between a Leadership Portrait and a Team Headshot?

I’m often asked whether a leadership portrait is just a more premium version of a team headshot.

It’s a fair question. If we’re already organising a Team Headshot Day, why not use the same setup?

My reply? Because they’re doing different jobs.

Brand alignment versus your executive presence

When I photograph a team, the goal is brand alignment.

Everyone needs to look like they belong to the same organisation. The lighting and background are consistent. The tone reflects your business. It’s structured and efficient - usually 10 to 20 minutes per person - and the result is clean, professional imagery that works across LinkedIn, websites and internal platforms.

Leadership portraits have a more strategic function.

Why your visibility matters as a leader

When you move into more senior roles, the purpose of your image changes. It’s no longer simply about looking professional.

When leaders are visible in a considered, deliberate way, it signals steadiness. It builds familiarity. It shapes the messaging rather than leaving it to assumption. When leaders are absent, people fill in the gaps themselves.

Strong imagery supports all of that before you say a word.

That’s why I approach leadership portraits differently.

Before we shoot, I look at how you currently show up in the public domain - LinkedIn, your company website, press coverage, video clips - and I build a picture of your visible personal brand.

Then I’ll send you a short questionnaire to understand your perspective. Sometimes there’s a subtle mismatch between how someone sees themselves and how they’re presented. Questions might include:

• How would you describe your personality and leadership style?

• How do you want to be perceived?

• What feels most important to communicate?

We then have a conversation about how to translate this to your portraits and I come up with creative treatment ideas. Everything is intentional - lighting, framing, environment. We collaborate on reaching portrait concepts you feel will be a good fit.

I also recommend a select set of portraits for a leader.

• A composed portrait that signals authority.

• A warmer image that shows approachability.

• Photographs at work, engaging with people.

• Natural moments that feel grounded.

• Images that show you thinking, listening, leading - perhaps even taking time out.

Your team, your investors and your clients are all looking for slightly different signals. Your imagery should support those contexts.

When to commission and update your portraits

Most people assume you update leadership portraits after a promotion. It’s a jump from website headshot to Executive headshot photography (This is when I most often get urgent calls.)

I don’t agree.

If leadership is your pathway, your imagery should reflect that before the title arrives. Visibility often increases before the role is formalised - speaking publicly, leading larger teams, representing the business in new ways.

I often say, “dress for your next role” (which has only once backfired, when a gentleman informed me his next step was retirement in the garden!) but the principle is sound.

Once you have your set of portraits, I also recommend updating or adding to them annually. Not because your appearance changes, but because your role and influence do - and your story may shift with them.

Headshots deliver your brand. Leadership Portraits tell your story.

Both matter. They simply require different thinking.

As your influence grows, so should the quality and intention behind how you’re seen. If you’re ready to approach your leadership portraits more deliberately, get in touch to start the process.

People also ask…

Do you provide executive headshots in London City and Canary Wharf?

Yes. Executive headshots are delivered on-site across the City of London and Canary Wharf using a professional mobile setup designed for discretion, consistency and minimal disruption to your day.

The experience is structured and considered, with space to create images that feel aligned with your presence.

How much do executive headshots cost in London?

Executive headshot sessions in London typically start from around £850. Pricing reflects the level of preparation, creative direction, retouching standards and overall experience delivered. Leadership portraits are developed with long-term brand positioning in mind and are structured differently from team headshot days.

How long does an executive headshot session take?

Executive headshot sessions are structured around achieving the right result. Each session begins with a short discussion around messaging and positioning. From there, the creative treatment, lighting and direction are shaped to support how you wish to be seen. At this point I could give you an indication of how long the session might take.