Your headshot is the foundation of your personal brand. You will use it across all of your social media platforms, and this will be the first image people will see when they first encounter you and your brand.

Headshots are a little bit like email subject lines, if they aren't good enough, the person viewing it won't even bother opening up your profile (email) to see what you have to say.

Bonus tip: you can use a different headshot on each SM platform, eg, a more professional styled image on LinkedIn and a more comfortable and relaxed shot on Instagram.

Every Entrepreneur needs a good strong power pose. Show your audience that you are confident, empowered and an expert in your field.

The power pose is a great choice for PR opportunities

Showcase your work environment to reveal your dedication and values.

This is a perfect opportunity to let your picture tell a thousand words;

ie, tell your brand's story.

Think about what it is that you do, what problems you solve for your customer and how you make people feel when you deliver on that...

Capture yourself in the midst of your work. 

Again, here you want to tell a story of what you do/sell and how you do it/ what that product will help them with, this allows your viewers to picture themselves in the frame, and get them imagining what they can achieve by working with your/ using your product.

Action shots should highlight your expertise and convey your brand's energy and voice through the consistent use of your branding, aesthetic.

This is where you let your viewers 'peek behind the curtain' and get to know YOU a little bit more.

Authenticity is key, you want to build the 'know, like, trust factor here.

Candid photos will reveal your genuine personality and build a strong connection with your audience.

Focus on the specifics – highlight your hands at work or the finer elements of your product or service.

This is obvious for those selling a physical product, but for those selling a service, it should not be overlooked, get creative about how you can capture the 'details' of your service.

Offer a glimpse into your daily life, showing what you love and what fuels your passion. Use these lifestyle images as a pathway to connect with your tribe.

You know those persona's you came up with in your business plan... here is your opportunity to speak directly to them. If your target customer loves long walks on the beach and hiking, then it would make sense for you to show images of you in those settings... make sense?

If you have a team or collaborate with other businesses, share them in your content. Showcasing your partners builds trust and transparency, which are essential for branding, not to mention the opportunity for cross promotion, expanding your reach to your partners network.

This is specifically shots of your products and services. Quality images will show your potential customers that your business is legitimate, and takes itself seriously. When you see poor quality images on sales pages, you generally find yourself questioning the quality of the business and product.

It's always a good idea to include customer interactions where possible.

This is an opportunity to capture a testimonial or review as 'social proof' from your clients.

Everyone loves a good BTS, share some honest and authentic experiences from 'behind the scenes'. BTS type content are great story starters, use on stories to spark engagement, ask questions and interact with your audience.

Similar to lifestyle shots, Location shots will expand on the story of your business. If you have a physical location where customers can visit, like a studio, office, retail space ect, show it!

People like to know what to expect before they visit, and having a visual reference can alleviate some anxiety when someone is visiting for the first time.

Use visual metaphors or props that represent your brand's core values. Get creative, the opportunities here are endless, every image you share is another piece of your branding that connects you to your ideal customer, make sure the aesthetic of these images are consistent with your branding and values.

Capture and share images and video of you out doing you, If you are speaking at an event, collaborating with a new business, travelling, exploring new opportunities or networking, share it.

Show your audience that you are active in your business, that you are valuable within your business community, that you work in different locations, whatever it is, share it, people value transparency and authenticity.

Share what inspires you!

This is another opportunity to connect with your ideal customer. Sharing little pieces of yourself will forster deeper connections, as well as weed out people who may not share the same values.

Provide a mix of formal and casual shots to cater to different aspects of your brand.

It is also important to use the right mix of formal and casual imagery when posting on each SM platform.

The visual content you share on LinkedIn will have a different energy to the content you share on facebook, Instagram and TikTok.